Common figures of speech

Metaphor, simile, litotes, euphemism, hyperbole…

⚡Key points

Simile (comme)→fort comme un lion

Metaphor (no comme)→cet homme est un lion

Litotes (less = more)→Ce n’est pas mauvais = very good

Euphemism (softening)→il nous a quittés = died

Hyperbole / personification→exaggeration / bringing to life

Figurative comparisons

A simile (comparaison) links two elements with a comparison word (comme, tel, pareil à, ressembler à): fort comme un lion. A metaphor does it without the word, identifying them directly: cet homme est un lion, un torrent de larmes.

Simile and metaphor

Simile

Elle est douce comme un agneau. (gentle as a lamb.)

Metaphor

L’aurore aux doigts de rose. (a metaphor for dawn.)

Personification

Le vent hurlait dans la nuit. (the wind “howls” as if alive.)

Understatement, softening, exaggeration

Litotes says less to imply more, often through negation: Ce n’est pas mauvais (= excellent). A euphemism softens the unpleasant: il nous a quittés (= died). Hyperbole exaggerates: je meurs de faim. Metonymy swaps whole and part: boire un verre.

Figure → definition

Simile	rusé comme un renard	link via comme
Metaphor	une mer de blé	no comparison word
Litotes	Il n’est pas bête.	less → more
Euphemism	les non-voyants	softening
Hyperbole	mourir de rire	exaggeration
Metonymy	lire un Zola	part for whole (author → book)

💡⚠️ Litotes ≠ euphemism

Litotes implies more than it says (Va, je ne te hais point = I love you). A euphemism, conversely, softens to say less of the unpleasant (un demandeur d’emploi = unemployed). At C1 the goal is to recognise them; creating them is C2.

Litotes: Ce n’est pas un mauvais film. (= very good)

Euphemism: Il a un certain âge. (= he is old)

Dialogue: analysing a poem

Prof« Ses yeux sont deux étoiles » — quelle figure ?

ÉlèveUne métaphore : pas de « comme ».

ProfEt « Il n’est pas sans talent » ?

ÉlèveUne litote : on dit moins pour suggérer plus.

Teacher: “Her eyes are two stars” — which figure? | Student: A metaphor: no “comme”. | Teacher: And “He is not without talent”? | Student: Litotes: you say less to suggest more.