A figure of speech is an expression in which the words are used, but not in their literal sense, to create a more forceful or dramatic meaning. They are often in the form of metaphors, similes and hyperbole. “A fountain of knowledge,” is a good example. “Stretching the truth,” is another.

With Figuratively Speaking, we finally have a thesaurus to discover these phrases’ origins and the sources of their meanings. Categories include:

Attitudes

Body Types

Competition

Creature Comforts

Letting Loose

Ethics

Influence

Life, Health, & Death

Money

Personal Space

Personality Types

Speech

Thinking Power

Time

Trouble, Turmoil, & Commotion

The World of Work

Whether reading it for fun, researching phrases you use, or studying the symbolic foundations of our language, Figuratively Speaking is the resource you’ll reach for time and again.