Literal vs Figurative Language
Distinguish literal from nonliteral (figurative) language in context and interpret common idioms and phrases
What a learner can do afterwards
- Identify whether 'It's raining cats and dogs' is literal or nonliteral and explain what it means
- Read a passage and circle three phrases used nonliterally, restating each in literal terms
- Explain the difference between 'She was on fire' (figurative — performing well) and 'The log was on fire' (literal)
The lesson
Some words mean exactly what they say. If you say, 'I ate an apple,' you really ate a real apple. That's called literal language.
Other words paint a picture instead of stating a plain fact. If you say, 'I have a mountain of homework,' you don't own an actual mountain. You just mean you have a lot of homework. That's called figurative, or nonliteral, language.
The log was on fire. That's literal: real flames were burning it. Later, someone said, 'She was on fire during the game.' That's figurative: it means she played amazingly well, not that she was actually burning.
To spot figurative language, ask yourself: could this really happen? If a phrase sounds impossible, like cats and dogs falling from the sky, it's probably figurative. Then think about what it really means.
Literal words mean exactly what they say; figurative words paint a picture with a different, true meaning.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.