figure of speech

英 [ˌfɪɡər əv ˈspiːtʃ]

美 [ˌfɪɡjər əv ˈspiːtʃ]

n. 修辞格; 修辞手段

牛津词典

noun

修辞格；修辞手段
a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meaning in order to create a particular mental picture or effect

N-COUNT 比喻;修辞格
Afigure of speechis an expression or word that is used with a metaphorical rather than a literal meaning.
1. Of course I'm not. It was just a figure of speech.
  我当然不是，这不过是打个比方。

noun

Could the graveyard shift be more than a figure of speech?
夜班被比喻为墓地轮班，应该不仅仅只是一个修辞比喻而已吧？
I thought it was a figure of speech.
我把他的话当作一个比喻。
A fresh, vivid figure of speech appeals to the imagination into a fully play, which can make the writing more impressive and interesting.
一个新奇生动的修辞可以充分激发一个人的想象，使得文章更加有趣和具有感染力。
Using a figure of speech appropriate to her occupation.
使用比喻乃基于她的职业使然。
Of course I'm not. It was just a figure of speech.
我当然不是，这不过是打个比方。
In response to this, this article through the contrast analysis based on an example to the figure of speech of the three groups.
针对这一点，本文就通过对比结合实例来辨析一下这三组修辞格。
The teacher used a vivid figure of speech in his talk.
这位教师在他的谈话中用了一个形象的比喻。
We request that no flowers be sent. What's the figure of speech of the sentence?
敬辞花圈〔讣文中用语〕。这句话用了什么修辞格？
I didn't really mean she was in outer space it's just a figure of speech.
我不是说她真在外层空间&这只是打个比方。
As used in an academic paper about a literary phenomenon, the figure of speech denotes futility.
在学术文章的文学应用上，此惯用语比喻为「徒劳无功、浪费气力」。