70 EXAMPLES OF SENTENCES IN A FIGURATIVE SENSE - LITERATURE - 2025

The figurative sense is the utterance of a word or phrase with an intention other than the common meaning. This means that the expression that is used is far from the concept true or real. For example, the sentence "I have studied so much that smoke comes out of my head" is figurative and conveys that the person has studied a lot.

Figurative language seeks to give an unconventional meaning to the message or idea that is transmitted, even if it seems absurd or incoherent. Words are used creatively to describe ideas, feelings, characters, settings, and events. These words help create images and moods.

"The eyes are the door of the soul", a much used figurative sense. Source: pixabay.com.

Another way to define the meaning or figurative language is as the expression of an idea or thought based on words that have a certain relationship, but their meaning differs from what the dictionary establishes. In this type of statements literary devices such as metaphor are used.

The figurative sense can make it difficult to understand what is said or written because it separates from the true definition of the word that is used. An example is: “Manuel is so hungry that he would eat an elephant”; This does not mean that the subject would eat the animal, but that his need is as great as the size of the elephant.

What is the figurative sense?

The figurative sense consists of expressing an idea or emotion through a word in common use, but to which a different meaning is given according to the message that is to be understood. In figurative language, a similarity is sought between the word and the thought that is meant.

The use of the figurative sense occurs within colloquial or ordinary language, either orally or in writing. To carry out this form of expression, the speaker or issuer uses literary elements such as: simile, exaggeration, humanization, metaphor, paradox and many others.

In general, children find the figurative sense difficult because they have yet to develop the intellectual capacity that allows them to realize that words can have more than one meaning.

Also, people like those with Asperger's syndrome have trouble understanding the use of figurative expressions. Even this resource can be challenging for second language learners due to its limited vocabulary.

Uses of the figurative sense

The figurative sense is not only used in colloquial conversation, it is also applied in other forms of communication. The following are some of the areas where it can be used:

- Poetic use

The figurative sense is used by poets to enrich and beautify texts. The author tries to associate his most intimate emotions with words that keep a certain similarity so that the verses have a special character.

Example

Pearls rolled down her cheeks.

- Use in literature

The sense or figurative language is widely used in novels, short stories and essays in order to change the normal or direct meaning of a word or phrase. Here the stylistic and literary resources come into play, which vary the meaning of the writing.

Example

His hands were velvet.

- Journalistic use

Journalists and the media often use figurative language with the intention of attracting the reader and making the information more attractive.

Example

The avenue is flooded by a sea of ​​people.

Characteristics of the figurative sense

"All roads lead to Rome," another popular phrase in a figurative sense. Source: pixabay.com.

- Figurative expressions are not always subject to reality.

- The figurative sense is not guided by the concrete meaning of the word or phrase.

- Figurative language can become difficult to understand, because it moves away from common meanings.

- Phrases in the figurative sense have various interpretations, because by changing the meaning each recipient understands them differently.

- The figurative sense is often used with the application of literary resources or elements.

- Similarities in figurative language can be real or imaginary.

- The figurative sense sometimes leaves comparisons aside to give way to exaggerations of a true action, that is, not imaginary.

Examples of sentences in a figurative sense

- "Juana created a concrete wall between her friends."

This phrase means that the subject withdrew from his friends, not that he built a real wall between them.

- "His grandfather was a well of wisdom."

The figurative meaning of this phrase falls on the term well, which comes to mean the depth of knowledge or knowledge of the grandfather.

- "Angelica is in the spring of life."

The expression refers to the girl's most beautiful, jovial and rozagant years.

- "The immigration office is a nest of snakes."

This means that the work environment in the immigration office is characterized by being dangerous and treacherous, therefore the figurative meaning is in the word snakes.

- "Leni defends her children like a newly calved tiger."

One of the variables of interpretation of this phrase is that the woman does not allow her children to harm her, consequently she acts with the ferocity of a feline.

- "The birthday children fell asleep like a stone in a well."

The figurative sense of the expression is in the similarity that exists between how deep a stone falls when thrown into a well and the sleep product of fatigue.

- "Pablo lost his head because of his girlfriend."

The phrase denotes that lovers generally do not reason when they love, but are carried away only by feelings and emotions.

- "Grandma lights up her grandchildren's house."

The figurative meaning of this expression lies in the joy that the grandmother brings to her grandchildren every time she visits them.

- "David's heart leaked out of his chest when he first rode the roller coaster."

This means that the subject had an extreme and intense experience, but his heart remained in the same place.

- "Manuel's daughter stayed to dress saints."

The expression refers to the fact that the girl never got married and remained single.

Figurative sense in metaphors

The metaphor connects two elements or ideas not closely related in order to create an image for the interlocutor.

- He drowned in a sea of ​​pain. (There is no sea that is filled with pain).

- Fishing in troubled river. (Look for something that is difficult to obtain).

- She broke his heart. (The heart is not literally broken into pieces, there is only a feeling of sadness).

- You are the light of my life. (The person described by this metaphor does not provide physical light. He is just someone who brings happiness and joy).

- Yesterday I lived a roller coaster of emotions. (There is no mechanical game built with emotions; it means that many emotions were experienced).

Figurative sense in simile

The simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things to provoke an interesting connection in the mind of the reader or listener. The word "like" is typically used in a simile.

- It tormented itself in its agony like a small bird that survives on the cruel wires of a cage.

- That person aroused my curiosity like a door that has no lock or key.

Figurative sense in personification

It consists of attributing human characteristics to something that is not human.

- «Even the earth was still breathing a little breath». - Theodore Roethke.

- "April is the cruelest month." - TS Eliot.

Figurative sense in hyperbole

It is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize a real situation. It derives from a Greek word that means "excess."

- I've told you a million times!

- It was so cold that I saw polar bears in jackets.

- I'm so hungry I could eat an elephant.

- I have a million things to do.

- If I can't buy the concert ticket, I'll die!

- He's as skinny as a toothpick.

- The taxi goes faster than the speed of light.

- That joke is so old that the last time I heard it I was riding a dinosaur.

- His brain is the size of a pea.

- I've been studying for an eternity.

Figurative sense in understatement

It is the deliberate description of something in a way that makes it seem less important than it really is.

- After seriously crashing his father's car: "Dad made a small dent in the car."

- When you return home you find that your dog has torn the cushions from the sofa and the stuffing has been scattered all over the floor: "The dog was only playing with the cushions."

- In the middle of an intense electrical storm: «There is a little rain».

- When you have lost a thousand dollars in a game of chance: «I lost only a couple of coins».

- After completing a marathon or after not having slept through the night: "I'm a little tired."

- The atomic explosion could be a bit noisy.

- Hitler was not a very nice person.

- Bill Gates has gotten some recognition.

- The 1,906 earthquake in San Francisco caused some damage.

- Mumbai is not the cheapest place in the world.

Other examples

- The joke was so good that we all started laughing.

- His girlfriend's question put him between a rock and a hard place.

- Only time will tell.

- Your girlfriend is crazier than a goat.

- I'm starving.

- He had to bite his tongue.

- Don't throw it I have butter fingers!

- That news hit me like a bucket of cold water.

- Threw the towel.

- He turned red with rage.

- I'm so hungry I'd eat a camel.

- You are still in the prime of youth.

- Take a look at the children.

- Give me a hand.

- Get up! You are in the clouds.

- I put my hand in the fire for him.

- We're going to have to tighten our belts.

- The time is gold.

- They broke her heart.

- My heart leaps for joy.

- That boy is as fast as lightning.

- That building is a rat's nest.

- I've already told you a thousand times.

- Today your brother was conspicuous by his absence.

Poems in a figurative sense

The house and I, the one who inhabits it

The house looked at me strangely, she was curious about me, by my free feet, without concrete, and for not having windows that let in the sun.

The house knew that I was something dark, and that's why he lived inside her.

The palm

The palm tree lives happily

carried by the breeze, are your smile palms

and her skirts a manger.

The one who breaks his coconuts, your thirst will calm all, because in them you will find

plenty of fresh water, laugh of your heart, sea ​​of ​​honey that gives everyone.

Themes of interest

Poems in a figurative sense.

References

1. Coelho, F. (2013-2019). Meaning of figurative sense. Colombia: Meanings. Recovered from: significados.com.
2. Pérez, J. and Gardey, A. (2011-2014). Definition of figurative meaning. (N / a): Definition Of. Recovered from: definition of.
3. Figurative language. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org.
4. Pimat, J. (2014). Figurative sense: words go crazy. (N / a): How to Write Well. Recovered from: comoesificarbien.com.
5. Cáceres, O. (2019). Difference between literal language and figurative language. (N / a): About Español. Recovered from: aboutespanol.com.