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Common Examples of Hyperbole

The document discusses hyperbole, which is an exaggeration used for emphasis. It provides everyday examples of hyperbole like saying "it's been ages" to see a friend after a short time. Hyperbole intentionally overstates things for humorous or emphasis effect, unlike similes or metaphors. Examples from literature show hyperbole used successfully, like Paul Bunyan describing a winter so cold that spoken words froze at night.

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Micaella Dano
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425 views2 pages

Common Examples of Hyperbole

The document discusses hyperbole, which is an exaggeration used for emphasis. It provides everyday examples of hyperbole like saying "it's been ages" to see a friend after a short time. Hyperbole intentionally overstates things for humorous or emphasis effect, unlike similes or metaphors. Examples from literature show hyperbole used successfully, like Paul Bunyan describing a winter so cold that spoken words froze at night.

Uploaded by

Micaella Dano
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Hyperbole

It is a device that we employ in our day-to-day speech. For instance, when


you meet a friend after a long time, you say, “It’s been ages since I last saw
you.” You may not have met him for three or four hours, or a day, but the use
of the word “ages” exaggerates this statement to add emphasis to your wait.
Therefore, a hyperbole is an unreal exaggeration to emphasize the real
situation. Some other common Hyperbole examples are given below.

Common Examples of Hyperbole


 My grandmother is as old as the hills.
 Your suitcase weighs a ton!
 She is as heavy as an elephant!
 I am dying of shame.
 I am trying to solve a million issues these days.

It is important not to confuse hyperbole with simile and metaphor. It does


make a comparison, like simile and metaphor. Rather, hyperbole has a
humorous effect created by an overstatement. Let us see some examples
from Classical English literature in which hyperbole was used successfully.

Short Examples of Hyperbole


1. A ton of worry was lifted from the beggar’s back when he received the
alms.
2. He saw a man as tall a power poll.
3. He saw his childhood friend after ages.
4. The weather was so hot that literally everything was on fire.
5. The boy was dying to get a new school bag.
6. The teacher told his students not to repeat that mistake for the
umpteenth time, but to no avail.
7. He was in such a hurry that he drove his car at a bazillion miles per
hour.
8. The minister told the guests that the couple’s friendship was deeper
than the sea, and sweeter than honey.
9. The blacksmith’s hand was harder than the rock.
10. Their headmaster was omnipresent, as he seemed to be all
around the school all the time.
11. The businessman was so busy that he was attending to a million
calls simultaneously.
12. The old man was older than the Himalayas.
13. The mule is able to lift tons of weight uphill.
14. His classmates laughed at him, saying he had a pea-sized brain.
15. John was called the elephant of the class for his clumsiness.

Hyperbole Examples in Literature


Example #1: Babe the Blue Ox (American Folklore)

In American folk lore, Paul Bunyan’s stories are full of hyperboles. In one
instance, he exaggerates winter by saying:

“Well now, one winter it was so cold that all the geese flew backward and all
the fish moved south and even the snow turned blue. Late at night, it got so
frigid that all spoken words froze solid afore they could be heard. People had
to wait until sunup to find out what folks were talking about the night before.”

Freezing of the spoken words at night in winter, and then warming them up in
the warmth of the sun during the day are examples of hyperbole, which has
been effectively used in this short excerpt from an American folktale.

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