Hyperbole

In general it is not recommended to use a Hyperbole in formal context as it is meant to have an exaggeration and overstatement, which may not suit the formal tone or context. However, Hyperboles are not absolutely uncommon in formal setups as well. For example, I told you a million times to crosscheck the report before submitting.

While some idioms use Hyperbole, generally all Hyperboles are not idioms. Idioms are fixed expressions and have same meaning with varied usage, Hyperboles can be varied and the impact or intention may vary according to the situation.

Here are some Hyperbole which are commonly used in day to day conversation:

·       I am so hungry that I can eat everything in the fridge.

·       I am so late that by the time I reached there were cobwebs on my desk.

·       My heart did a backflip!

·       I cried so much watching the movie that there was a small pool in front of the couch.

Kids these days have such heavy school bags that am sure they carry stones instead of books.

Hyperbole is used to emphasise an information and to take it to a dramatic height. Hyperboles are also used as a comic relief to lighten up the mood. This figure of speech also brings out the creativity and imagination of the writer or the speaker.

Hyperbole is a type of Figure of Speech or a literary device which aims at exaggeration and overemphasizing a fact or information or scenario to amplify the impact and to create a sense of drama. Hyperboles are not only widely used in literature, but also in day to day life, advertisement and copywriting, etc. For example, It is raining so heavy that I will have to row a boat to reach office.