2. • exaggerated statement
• Excessive/ overstatement
• Persons often use expressions such as:
I nearly died laughing
It was so cold I almost became a
snowman
3. • Such statements are not really true.
• People make them to sound
impressive or to emphasize/ bring
attention to something, such as a
feeling, effort, or reaction.
4. Hyperbole: a Greek god
Meaning: used to emphasize how good-
looking someone is
Sentence: When Chris looks into the mirror,
he sees a Greek god.
Sharp features
Well- built
Powerful
Radiant glow
5. Day 1: moving a mountain 24/07/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how much effort
something takes
Sentence: Trying to push the truck was like
trying to move a mountain!
Day 1: tried a million times
Meaning: used to emphasise effort
Sentence: Tom tried a million times to open
the locked door but he couldn’t.
6. Day 2: the size of a pea 25/07/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how small something is
Sentence: “Your brain is the size of a pea!” My
sister shouted angrily at me after I ruined her
surprise birthday party.
Day 2: the size of a whale
Meaning: used to emphasise how big
something is
Sentence: The new television was the size of a
whale!
7. Day 3: nearly died laughing 26/07/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how someone laughed
at something long and hard
Sentence: Jack made such a hilarious joke, I nearly
died laughing.
Day 3: drowned in her tears
Meaning: used to emphasise how
someone cried at something for hours
Sentence: When her grandmother passed away, Su
Min drowned in her tears, crying.
8. Day 4: faster than a speeding bullet 29/07/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how fast
something/ someone is
Sentence: It is believed Superman is faster than a
speeding bullet.
Day 4: slower than a turtle on wheels
Meaning: used to emphasise how slow
something/ someone is
Sentence: When I race with my friends, it always
seems like I’m slower than a turtle on wheels!
9. Day 5: weighs a ton 05/08/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how heavy something is
Sentence: My school bag weighs a ton with all the
books I have in it.
Day 5: lighter than a feather
Meaning: used to emphasise how light
something is
Sentence: When my cousin carried his wife
with such ease, it seemed as if she was
lighter than a feather!
10. Day 6: blinding 06/08/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how bright
something is
Sentence: Jenny’s teeth were blinding white after
her visit to the dentist.
Day 6: brighter than the sun
Meaning: used to emphasise how bright
something is
Sentence: When I walked nervously on to the
stage, the spotlight shone brighter than the sun.
11. Day 7: so hungry…could eat a horse 12/08/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how someone is
starving
Sentence: After camping in the forest for two
days, Peter felt that he was so hungry, he could
eat a horse.
Day 7: So old… belongs to a dinosaur
Meaning: used to emphasise how ancient
something/someone is
Sentence: That computer is so old it must
have belonged to a dinosaur.
12. Day 8: So hot… melt the Arctic 13/08/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how hot/ warm
something is
Sentence: Summer is so hot, I’m sure it can melt
the Arctic!
Day 8: So cold… turning to ice
Meaning: used to emphasise how cold
something/ someone is/ feels
Sentence: The room was so cold that I think I’m
turning to ice!
13. Day 9: So tired… could sleep for years 14/08/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how exhausted
someone feels
Sentence: After their army training, the boys
seemed so tired they could sleep for years.
Day 9: even the owl couldn’t stay awake
Meaning: used to emphasise how exhausted
someone feels
Sentence: The camp was so exhausting,
it seemed even the owls couldn’t
stay awake!
14. Day 10: enough money to feed a continent 15/08/13
Meaning: used to emphasise how rich someone is
Sentence: Lady Gaga is so rich, she probably has
enough money to feed a continent!
Day 10: enough money to make a sultan look like
a beggar
Meaning: used to emphasise how rich someone is
Sentence: After years of success,
Cindy has enough money to
make a sultan look like a beggar.
