Visual Lesson
Figurative Language
See the silly literal meaning first — then flip to what the phrase really means.
If you took it word-for-word: animals falling from the sky!
What is figurative language?
Figurative language means words that say more than their literal meaning — comparisons, exaggerations, and images that make writing vivid. Taken word-for-word they’re often funny; the skill is hearing the real meaning underneath.
The kinds you’ll meet
- Simile — a comparison using like or as (“as busy as a bee”).
- Metaphor — says one thing is another (“time is a thief”).
- Idiom — a saying whose meaning you can’t guess from the words (“break a leg”).
- Personification — human actions given to things (“the wind whispered”).
- Hyperbole — a big exaggeration (“a million times”).
- Onomatopoeia — words that sound like their noise (“buzz”, “sizzle”).
Why it helps
Flipping between the literal picture and the real meaning makes the “trick” of figurative language click — and turns a confusing phrase into a joke you’re in on.
Good for
Upper-elementary reading through middle- and high-school literary analysis.
Bring it to a lesson
These tools pair with the full curriculum — guided lessons that teach each concept, then send you here to see it and practice.