Important terms that we should be aware of, to avoid confusion, ambiguity and dispute.

LITERAL
(Accessed at https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary and posted with minor edits.)

“Literal Meaning” and “Literally”
The term “literal meaning” tells us that all words are in strict accordance with their original meanings. Literal meaning of a word is its plain, simple sense, its primary meaning. Unadorned by qualifiers nor decorated by terms that alter its plain meaning. Primary means dominant, initial, principal.

Many words (e.g., to depart) have a literal meaning (to leave) and a figurative one (to die). To apply the literal meaning is to take the words in their most basic sense, i.e., not in their figurative sense or in any additional meaning.

Easy Examples of Literal Meaning
The comedian died on the stage.
(In the literal meaning, the comedian actually died. In the figurative meaning, the comedian struggled to make the audience laugh.)

We will all be in the same boat.
(In the literal meaning, all people will be in a boat. In the figurative meaning, they will all be facing the same issues.)

I have thrown out the proposal.
(In the literal meaning, the proposal paper was physically thrown out of the room. In the figurative meaning, the proposal was dismissed, but the proposal paper stayed in the room.)

More Examples of Literal Meaning
The literal meaning of a word contrasts with any figurative meaning.
(Remember that figurative language is the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner.)

John managed to escape the wolves.
(In the literal meaning, John succeeded in getting away from some real wolves. In the figurative meaning, he may have avoided a verbal bashing from aggressive colleagues at a meeting.)

The literal meaning of a word also contrasts with any additional meaning (i.e., not the original meaning).
Can I play outside, grandma?
You can, dear, but you’re not allowed.
(Here, grandma is taking the word can in its original, literal sense, i.e., to mean to have the ability to. The grandchild used can in its more recently developed, additional meaning of may or to have permission to.)

Homophones are words that are spelled and pronounced the same, but mean different things.
The word “left” has three different literal meanings.
1- On the west side when facing north.
2- Politically Radical
3- Abandoned

The word “day” has one literal meaning but several figurative uses.
1- Period of time from sunrise to next sunrise (24 hours), is the literal meaning of “day.”
Figurative uses of “day” are:-
1- Light part of every 24 hours.
2- Sunlight
3- Era
4- Age
5- Epoch, etc.

What Does “Literally” Mean?
The word “literally” used to mean in a literal manner or sense or exactly. It was used to highlight that the surrounding words were not being used figuratively (e.g., metaphorically).

John literally put all his eggs in one basket.
(In the past, the word literally could only be justified if John placed all his eggs in a basket.)

However, nowadays, “literally” is regularly used for emphasis (i.e., as an intensifier). Therefore, the example above would be understood to mean something like the following:

John really did put all his eggs in one basket [fail to spread his risks].

Why Should I Care about Literal Meaning?
Here are two noteworthy issues associated with “literal meaning”:
(Issue 1)
Strive for words in their literal meanings (i.e., avoid figurative language) when writing for an international audience.
Non-native speakers of any language often fail to understand the non-literal or additional meanings of words. Therefore, if you’re writing to an audience that includes non-native English speakers, you should tune your diction (i.e., choice of words) towards literal meanings. This can be challenging.

Janet was thrown to the wolves.
(Obviously, Janet wasn’t thrown to any real wolves. She was sacrificed. Well, she wasn’t actually sacrificed. She was abandoned to harm. Well, she wasn’t physically abandoned.)

Here’s a confession. I can’t find a definition of to throw to the wolves that employs all the words in their literal meanings. So, avoiding figurative meanings and additional meanings will be difficult.

Here’s a tip: You’re not striving for a text of literal meanings. You’re just looking to find alternatives to any non-literal terms that could hinder a non-native speaker’s understanding. Saying “Janet was sacrificed” (even though sacrificed is not being used in its literal sense) would be safe.

(Issue 2)
Be aware that “literally” literally does not mean literally these days.
Nowadays, the adverb literally does not always mean in the literal meaning. It is often just used as an intensifier.

She was literally on fire during her lecture.
(This means she put in an excellent performance. She wasn’t actually on fire, despite the use of literally.)

I literally died when they announced my name.
(This just means “I was highly embarrassed.”)

The modern use of literally as an intensifier is well captured in the following quotation:
Using “literally” metaphorically is literally spreading like wildfire. (Journalist Adam Lewis, The Guardian)

Key Points
If there are non-native English speakers among your readers, avoid non-literal terms that could hinder their understanding.
“A literal paradox: ‘literally’ generally means figuratively.” (Dennis Baron, Oxford University Press)

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Metaphor

A metaphor states that one thing is something that it literally is not. Metaphors are also commonly created by using a word in its non-literal sense. A metaphor is a figure of speech.

Formal Definition
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. (Oxford Dictionary)

Easy Examples of Metaphors
Paul’s face was a blue moon pocked with craters.
(Paul’s face literally is not a moon.)

Her eyes were darting searchlights, scanning the room for her rival.
(Her eyes literally are not searchlights.)

She is a fox.

Dave is a bad apple.

Examples of Metaphors Using Non-Literal Words
Metaphors are not always easy to spot as they do not always appear in the form [one thing] equals [something that it isn’t]. Metaphors are also commonly created with “non-literal” words (especially adjectives and verbs) that appear mid-sentence.

She gave him an icy stare.
(The stare is not literally icy.)

David sliced her down with his words.
(David did not literally slice her down.)

These waves “know” when you’re off balance.
(It’s acceptable to put quotation marks around a word being used metaphorically, but it’s not a common practice. It stems from the use of quotation marks to express the idea of “so-called.”)

Real-life Examples of Metaphors
Here are some well-known metaphors:
Conscience is a man’s compass. (Artist Vincent van Gogh)
All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree. (Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein)

Here are some funny metaphors:
John and Mary had never met. They were two hummingbirds who had also never met. (Anon)

True friends stab you in the front. (Playwright Oscar Wilde)

Love is an exploding cigar we willingly smoke.

Metaphors Contrast with Similes
Metaphors contrast with similes. A simile is a figure of speech that likens one thing to another (usually by using the word “like” or “as”).

Here are some examples of metaphors alongside similar-looking similes.

Metaphor	Simile
She is a star. (something is something else)	She is like a star. (something is like something else)
His eyes were skewers. (something is something else)	His eyes were like skewers. (something is like something else)
Her skewer eyes pierced her rivals. (non-literal use of words)	Her eyes fixed on her rivals like skewers on pierced meat. (something is like something else)

Why Should I Care about Metaphors?
Using metaphors can bring great benefits, but it also carries a risk.

(Benefit 1) Metaphors can be engaging.
Metaphors are useful for spicing up your writing.

We can jumpstart innovation among the workforce.
(The metaphor jumpstart is far “spicier” than something like improve.)

Please write a protein-rich one-pager for the CEO’s back-to-work pack.
(The metaphor protein-rich is more engaging than something like executive-level. Personally, I think it’s a bit cheesy. More on that below.)

Used sparingly in business writing (e.g., just once in the occasional document), metaphors can:
Be memorable.
Make an impact.
Be used for emphasis.
Make you look confident.

Here is an example of how a metaphor might look in a business document:

Option 1 is throwing the pilot from a stricken aircraft to make it lighter.

While a metaphor can be a great way to clarify or promote an idea in a business document, the overuse of metaphors looks flippant. A metaphor that is a cliché (i.e., a tired metaphor) also looks bad.

(Benefit 2) Metaphors can aid understanding.

Metaphors are also useful for explaining a new or complex idea by relating it to something familiar.

During interphase, the protein binds to DNA with its elbow and then digs in with its fingers during mitosis. (Professor Leonie Ringrose)
Our physical being is the hardware of a computer. Culture is the operating system. (Business consultant Christian Höferle)

(Benefit 3) Metaphors can be memorable and impactful.

There is often a strong sensory element to a metaphor (e.g., creating a vivid image in your readers’ minds), and this can help to make your writing more memorable and impactful.

We must throw a party on our home page.
(This is more visual and memorable than “our home page needs to be more interesting.”)
Red Bull gives you wings.
(This is more visual and memorable than “caffeine acts as a central-nervous-system stimulant.”)

(Risk 1) Metaphors can portray you as flippant, dull, or cheesy.

The overuse of metaphors can portray you as flippant (especially in business writing). A tired metaphor can portray you as dull, and a “business bingo” metaphor can portray you as cheesy.

No more putting lipstick on a pig. I need more thinking outside of the box, more blue-sky thinking. I need an idea with legs, an idea on steroids.
(While such terms might be dull and cheesy, they can be an efficient way to communicate, particularly for quick understanding. The best advice is to keep such terms for informal chats or emails. Don’t put them in your official business correspondence, and don’t use them in creative writing – they’re no longer creative.)

Use only fresh, appropriate metaphors and use them sparingly (especially in business writing) to reap the benefits.

Key Point

Metaphors are the basil and garlic of writing.
If it’s appropriate for your business document, you can use a fresh metaphor to spice up your writing, to clarify an idea, or to make your message more memorable. But don’t use two.

A  metaphor  is a blossom of one tree on the branch of another; it is a figure of speech by which a word or phrase is lifted to a meaning to which it is not literally entitled. A simple  trope is a metaphor condensed. Similes  are metaphors explained. Parables  and allegories are similes or metaphors elaborately extended […]

A simple metaphor expresses the resemblance (or identity) between two dissimilar objects or ideas by applying to one a term which can literally designate only the other, as ‘This is my body’ (Mt 26:26). An abbreviated or veiled metaphor is one in which the assertion of resemblance is not expressed but implied. Sometimes a veiled metaphor sparkles in a phrase, as: ‘water of life,’ ‘sons of thunder’; or even in a single word used in a non-literal, ideal, or peculiar sense, to be determined by the context or by current usage, as: ‘cross,’ ‘yoke,’ ‘grace,’ ‘flesh,’ ‘the Day,’ ‘the Wrath,’ ‘darkness,’ ‘to wash,’ ‘to sleep’ (cf. use in Synoptt., John, and Paul, of  ποτήριον), ‘to drink,’ ‘to walk’ (περιπατέω), and scores of other words constantly used in the NT with an ethical meaning, the force of which is grasped only after the mind has made the connexion between their literal and non-literal meanings.  […] Many of the deepest teachings of the NT are embodied in words or phrases which cannot be fully understood until their metaphorical meaning is grasped.
Camden M. Cobern; Metaphors; A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels; J. Hastings; v2; 1908; p178

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Figurative Language

Figurative Language (with Examples)

Figurative language is the use of words in an unusual or imaginative manner. Figurative language often involves one of the following:
metaphor
simile
alliteration
anastrophe
assonance
consonance
euphemism
hyperbole
idiom
logosglyph
onomatopoeia
personification
pun

Examples of the Figurative Language
When most people think of figurative language, metaphor and similes spring to mind. However, the term “figurative language” covers a wide range of literary techniques.

Metaphor. A metaphor asserts that one thing is something that it literally is not.
An icy stare
Time is money.
He’s a real gannet.
This bedroom is a prison.
He listened with a stone face.
Her eyes were darting torches.
I have no patience with dinosaurs. (Actor Adam West)
Google’s not a real company. It’s a house of cards. (Businessman Steve Ballmer)

Simile. A simile likens one thing to another (usually achieved by the use of the word “like” or “as”).
Ghost-like eyes
He eats like a gannet.
She sings like an angel.
He swims like a torpedo.
She is as cute as a kitten.
This cake is as dry as a bone.
I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back. (Boxer George Foreman)
If you’ve ever done something you love and then do something you like, it’s like chewing on sawdust. (Entrepreneur Kimbal Musk)

Alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial letter in successive words for effect.
Smile. Speak. Serve.
Those purple pigs are preposterous.
She sells seashells by the seashore.

Anastrophe. Anastrophe is the deliberate changing of normal word order for emphasis.
Ugly she was not.
She is always right…not.
When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not. (Yoda from Star Wars)
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing. (Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”)

Assonance. Assonance is the repetition of the same vowel sound in neighboring words.
Cats bat at yarn balls.
We received three emails.
Hear, not fear, the wisdom of wizards.
The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain. (from the musical “My Fair Lady”)
Consonance. Consonance is the repetition of the same consonant sound in neighboring words.
Think tank
The big dog dug a hole.
She swung her fist in angst against the beast.
Increasing store with loss and loss with store. (Playwright William Shakespeare)

Euphemism. A euphemism is the use of agreeable or inoffensive words to replace rude or offensive ones.
exotic dancer = stripper
didn’t make it = has died
lost his marbles = is mad
knocked up = is pregnant
letting you go = you’re fired
between jobs = unemployed
Listen, I must be 110 by now. Granny is going to kick the bucket at some point. (Dame Maggie Smith)
I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. (William Shakespeare’s Othello)

Hyperbole. Hyperbole is an exaggeration or extravagant statement used for effect.
We won a ton of cash.
I could eat a scabby horse.
They’ve got truckloads of money.
I write for the same reason I breathe: if I didn’t, I would die. (Writer Isaac Asimov)
The problem with ratings is that you can give yourself a million reasons why they are what they are. (Actress Julie Plec)

Idiom. An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words.
It’s a piece of cake.
This is the last straw.
I’ll be pushing up the daisies.
Do not let the cat out of the bag.
You can’t pull the wool over my eyes.
Every woman feels she is too old and has missed the boat. (Actress Felicity Kendal)
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all. (Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche)
A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground. (Journalist Henry Mencken)

Logosglyph. A logosglyph is a word that looks like what it means.
She had eyes like pools.
Have you tried the online moobs or boobs test?

Onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is the use of a word which sounds like what it represents.
The rocket whooshed in the sky.
Are they sausages I can hear sizzling?
The dish clattered against the floor tiles.
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells. (from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Bells”)

Personification. Personification is when non-human objects are given human traits.
Creeping time
Autumn’s icy touch
Summer’s healing rays
The tide waits for no man.
The leaves danced in the wind.
Fortune favors the bold. (Roman poet Virgil)
Comfort favors the bothered. (British Army saying)
My computer throws a tantrum at least once a day.
Don’t give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you. (Basketball coach John Wooden)

Pun. A pun is a witticism that plays on the different meanings of a word or two words that sound alike but have different meanings.
I’m an honest cheetah.
It’s hard to beat a boiled egg.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. (Comedian Groucho Marx)
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt. (possibly Writer Mark Twain)
We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately. (Founding Father Benjamin Franklin)

Why Should I Care about Figurative Language?
Figurative language is used to express an idea more clearly or more interestingly.

Of note, figurative language will often feature a figure of speech, which is an expression that includes words that are not used in their literal sense. A figure of speech (typically a metaphor, simile, idiom, personification, hyperbole, or euphemism) usually makes a comparison, framing a point as something else in order to explain it. Here are some examples featuring figures of speech:
A man who waits for roast duck to fly into mouth must wait a very, very long time. (French author Jules Renard)
(This quotation uses a metaphor to explain that good things must be earned.)
Love is like an hourglass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties. (Jules Renard)
(This quotation uses a simile to explain that love clouds the mind.)
On Earth, there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it.
(This quotation uses hyperbole to explain that there’s joy to be had. Interestingly, it appeals to both theists and atheists.)

Remember that the term “figurative language” includes techniques that can use the literal meanings of words (e.g., anastrophe, alliteration, assonance).
Patient I am not.
(The words are used in their literal sense. The anastrophe provides emphasis.)
The best sushi chefs spot the finest fresh fish instantly. (Chef Nobu Matsuhisa)
(The words are used in their literal sense. The alliteration creates not only rhythm but also a focus on the words.)

Key Points
Use figurative language to:
Explain your idea with a comparison.
Emphasize your idea.
Make your writing more aesthetic (e.g., rhythmic).

Examples of Figurative Language
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-figurative-language.html

Examples of Figurative Language
Figurative language refers to the color we use to amplify our writing. It takes an ordinary statement and dresses it up in an evocative frock. It gently alludes to something without directly stating it. Figurative language is a way to engage your readers, guiding them through your writing with a more creative tone.

Although it’s often debated how many types of figurative language there are, it’s safe to say there are five main categories. They are: metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and symbolism.

Understanding the Concept of Figurative Language
Any time your writing goes beyond the actual meanings of your words, you’re using figurative language.   This allows the reader to gain new insights into your work. In this article, we’ll highlight examples of the five main branches of the figurative tree, but in truth, this is only scratching the surface.  There are many other literary devices that color our writing, including: assonance, cliché, idioms, metonymy, and synecdoche.
One of the best ways to understand the concept of figurative language is to see it in action. Here are some examples:
• This coffee shop is an ice box! (metaphor)
• She’s drowning in a sea of grief. (metaphor)
• She’s happy as a clam. (simile)
• I move fast like a cheetah on the Serengeti. (simile)
• The sea lashed out in anger at the ships, unwilling to tolerate another battle. (personification)
• The sky misses the sun at night. (personification)
• I’ve told you a million times to clean your room! (hyperbole)
• Her head was spinning from all the new information. (hyperbole)
• She was living her life in chains. (symbolism)
• When she saw the dove soar high above her home, she knew the worst was over. (symbolism)

Now, let’s have some more fun with the figurative language you’re most likely to come across in your daily readings.

Common Examples of Figurative Language

Let’s dive deeper into the main five categories. We’ll consider their place in your writing, and give some examples to paint a better picture for you.

Hyperbole
Hyperbole is an outrageous exaggeration that emphasizes a point. It tends toward the ridiculous or the funny. Hyperbole adds color and depth to a character.
Examples include:
• You snore louder than a freight train!
• It’s a slow burg. I spent a couple of weeks there one day.
• She’s so dumb, she thinks Taco Bell is a Mexican phone company.
• I had to walk 15 miles to school in the snow, uphill, in bare feet.
• You could’ve knocked me over with a feather.

Metaphor
When you use a metaphor, you make a statement that doesn’t literally make sense. For example, “Time is a thief.” Time is not actually stealing from you but this conveys the idea that hours or days sometimes seem to slip by without you noticing.
Metaphors only make sense when the similarities between the two things being compared are apparent or readers understand the connection between the two words. Examples include:
• The world is my oyster.
• You’re a couch potato.
• Time is money.
• He has a heart of stone.
• America is a melting pot.
• You are my sunshine.

Personification
Personification gives human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. This can really affect the way the reader imagines things. Personification is often used in poetry, fiction, and children’s rhymes.
Examples include:
• Opportunity knocked at his door.
• The sun greeted me this morning.
• The sky was full of dancing stars.
• The vines wove their delicate fingers together.
• The radio suddenly stopped singing and stared at me.
• The sun played hide and seek with the clouds.

Simile
A simile also compares two things. However, similes use the words “like” or “as.”
Examples include:
• Busy as a bee.
• Clean as a whistle.
• Brave as a lion.
• The tall girl stood out like a sore thumb.
• It was as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
• My mouth was as dry as a bone.
• They fought like cats and dogs.
Watching that movie was like watching grass grow.

Symbolism
Symbolism occurs when a word has its own meaning but is used to represent something entirely different.
Examples in everyday life include:
• Using the image of the American flag to represent patriotism and a love for one’s country.
• Incorporating a red rose in your writing to symbolize love.
• Using an apple pie to represent a traditional American lifestyle.
• Using a chalkboard to represent education.
• Incorporating the color black in your writing as a symbol for evil or death.
• Using an owl to represent wisdom.
Symbolism examples in literature include:
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”
- As You Like It, William Shakespeare
The “stage” here symbolizes the world and the “players” represent human beings.
“My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods. Time will change it; I’m well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath a source of little visible delight, but necessary.”
- Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte
Bronte uses imagery of the natural world to symbolize the wild nature and deep feelings of her characters.

Don’t Forget Sound Devices
So, that covers “the big five.” But, we’d be remiss if we didn’t briefly touch upon some literary sound devices that can hang with the best similes and metaphors.

Alliteration
Alliteration is a fun sound device. It is the repetition of the first consonant sounds in several words.
Examples include:
• We’re up, wide-eyed, and wondering while we wait for others to awaken.
• Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter, so Betty bought better butter to make the bitter butter better.

Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is also a sound device where the words sound like their meaning or mimic sounds. They add a level of fun and reality to writing.
Here are some examples:
• The burning wood hissed and crackled.
• Sounds of nature are all around us. Listen for the croak, caw, buzz, whirr, swish, hum, quack, meow, oink, and tweet.

“Word” vs. “Term” in English
What Is Their Main Difference?

Both indicate a collection of letters that form meaningful units in every language. However, a ‘word’ has a specific meaning, whereas, a ‘term’ is a ‘word’ or a group of words that have a particular meaning when they are contextualized.

Differences
A ‘word’ is a single, meaningful element. Every language is comprised of an infinite number of ‘words’. There are some words for you below:
Apple, Hannah, fruit, student, university

A ‘term’, however, includes one or more words that have a particular meaning when they are contextualized. Take a look at some common musical terms below:
Mezzo: medium
Adagio: the music must be played slower.

Similarities
Both refer to meaning units in every language. Look below:
Soprano: the highest female voice type
Banana, pizza, alcohol, school

Are They Interchangeable?
All ‘terms’ are made up of words, but not all ‘words’ are terms. So, they cannot be used interchangeably.