What is Hyperbole?
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggerated comparisons or overstatements for emphasis and literary effect. Like all figures of speech, hyperbole is not meant to be taken literally. “Loving with the fire of a thousand suns” refers to the “burning” passion of loving someone. It wouldn’t make sense to take its literal meaning and pair it with unconditional love. While hyperbole may sound ridiculously impossible, it leaves us with a visual grasp of the things compared.
Purposes of Hyperboles:
When used wisely, hyperbole injects energy and color to our writing and paints a picture of what we mean to say. Here are some ways in which a brilliant exaggeration evokes vivid imagery.
1. Use in Everyday Conversations
Use a well-crafted hyperbole to stress a point or insert humor in everyday conversations.
- He is so cute I want to put him in a keychain and carry him around.
- It smells so bad as if a bunch of toddlers threw up on it.
- Our math class is taking forever.
- Mom is going to kill me if she knew I lost the car keys.
- She visited last weekend and brought a decade’s worth of laundry.
- She is so rich she can buy you a car for a birthday gift.
- He is as smart as Sheldon Cooper, but as quiet as a mouse.
Related Reading: Allusion – Implied or Direct Reference
2. Use in Literature, Speeches, Songs, and Films
Hyperbole brings life to characters and plots in novels; grabs the audience’s ears during speeches; conjures emotions in music; and boosts cinematic scenes.
- “My parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.” – JD Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
- “Yes, but was it possible to sleep peacefully through that noise which made the furniture shake?” – Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis
- “He could clear the savanna after every meal.” – Lion King
- “I’ve got a hundred million reasons to walk away. . . I just need one good one to stay.” – Lady Gaga, Million Reasons
- “In the naked light I saw ten thousand people, maybe more. People talking without speaking. People hearing without listening.” – Simon & Garfunkel, The Sound of Silence
- “If our parents and grandparents could toil and struggle for us…if they could raise beams of steel to the sky, send a man to the moon, and connect the world with the touch of a button… then surely we can keep on sacrificing and building for our own kids and grandkids.” – Michelle Obama, DNC Speech, 2012
3. Use in Advertising
Exaggerated claims and visuals captivate consumers and actually result in product retention. Hyperbole is not only useful in crafting legendary slogans; it’s also evident in over-the-top ads and posters.
- Mints so strong they come in a metal box. (Altoids)
- Smell like a man, man. (Old Spice)
- “Tastes so good, cats ask for it by name.” – Meow Mix
- The world’s most refreshing can (Coors Light)
How to Come Up with a Hyperbole
Hyperbole ignites the readers’ imagination. But an overuse of overstatements can cause confusion, so make sure not to stuff your writing with too much hyperbole.
To come up with a hyperbole, list the attributes of the person, thing, or idea on which you want to use it. Choose which of these attributes or elements paint the most vivid imagery. Craft sentences and comparisons that play with the imagination. Decide which comparisons best justify the attribute of the person, thing, or idea you’re writing about. Go for the one with the most powerful and engaging effect. An example of hyperbole turns up when we talk about loss. No words can possibly express a mother’s mourning for her son’s death, so we can say “his death tore his mother into a million pieces and left her alone in a world where the sun never shines.”
Thank you for reading. We hope it’s effective! Always feel free to revisit this page if you ever have any questions about hyperbole.
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