Applying human traits to animals and things or ideas.

Comparison of characteristics of two different things using like or as.

The stock market is like a roller coaster ride--up and down.

My best friend was a backstabber. He told my girl friend I had been fired from my job.

No man is an island.

Metaphor

A repetition of initial consonant sounds.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, how many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?

Alliteration

Gross exaggeration

Words written like the sound they make.

Words used that have a different meaning than the literal meaning.

“ You can’t tell a book by its cover.” Meaning: You can’t know a person by their looks alone.

“live out of a suitcase” meaning traveling all the time.

“had a ball” meaning had a good time

“I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”

Meaning: I’ll deal with that when the time comes.

“Don’t burn your bridges.”

Meaning: Don’t alienate people that can help you, or don’t cut off your connections to opportunities.

Example: I was late because I was caught in a traffic jam.