AI draft — not yet reviewed by a teacher. Check with your teacher.

English · Class 10 · Chapter 8: Vocabulary — Idioms and Figures of Speech

8 min

Key points

An idiom is a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words but has a special meaning of its own
Figures of speech are expressions that use words in a non-literal way to create emphasis, clarity, or fresh meaning
Simile compares two different things using 'like' or 'as' to show similarity
Metaphor makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'
Personification gives human qualities, characteristics, or actions to non-human objects or abstract ideas
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or dramatic effect
Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in consecutive or closely connected words
Onomatopoeia refers to words that imitate the natural sound they represent
Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning opposite to their literal meaning

Definitions

Idiom: A group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words but has a special meaning of its own
Simile: A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as' to show similarity
Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'
Personification: A figure of speech that gives human qualities, characteristics, or actions to non-human objects or abstract ideas
Hyperbole: A figure of speech involving deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or dramatic effect

Worked example

Define the following figures of speech with one example of each: (i) Metaphor (ii) Personification (6 marks)

(i) Metaphor: A figure of speech that makes an implicit comparison between two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. Example: 'Life is a journey' - here life is compared to a journey without using 'like' or 'as'. (ii) Personification: A figure of speech in which human qualities are given to non-human things. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees' - here the wind is given the human quality of whispering.

Common mistakes

Students often confuse simile with metaphor — remember simile uses 'like' or 'as'
Writing literal meanings instead of figurative meanings for idioms
Mixing up personification with metaphor — personification specifically gives human qualities
Not providing Pakistani context examples when asked in BSEK papers
Forgetting to underline or highlight the figure of speech in given examples

Quick recap

Idioms are fixed expressions with meanings different from individual words (e.g., 'break the ice' = start conversation). Figures of speech include metaphor (direct comparison), simile (comparison using like/as), personification (human qualities to non-human), alliteration (repeated consonant sounds), and hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration). Always memorize exact STBB textbook definitions and provide complete examples with explanations.

Generated by AI from Sindh Textbook Board material; review state: ai_unreviewed. MCQs, past-paper references and examiner notes are held back until a teacher has checked them.