English for Students

The Complete List of Figuratives

Here is The Complete List of Figuratives. In traditional analysis, words in figurative expressions connote additional layers of meaning, while words in literal expressions denote what they mean according to common or dictionary usage. When the human ear or eye receives the message, the mind must interpret the data to convert it into meaning.

What are Figuratives? On many occassions, the words may not convey the literal meaning of them. They may convey the indirect meanings which may be just the opposite to their literal meanings. Such symbolical and metaphorical meanings are called Figuratives. They contain the figure of speech.

Let us see few hundreds of such Figuratives here.The Figuratives have been arranged in the alphabetical order. Go to the list by clicking that particular page.

Let us see few examples of Figuratives to make the point clear.

Example-1:

The Phrase Yellow Press does not give the literal meaning that the press which is in Yellow color.On the contrary, it conveys the meaning of The News Papers which publish sensational and unscrupulous stories about crime, sex etc...

Example-2:

The Phrase In the same boat does not convey the literal meaning. It has the figurative meaning that in the same misfortune or circumstances.


Here is the list of Figurative Expressions beginning with N.


Nail:

Nail the lie to the counter – expose it publicly

To hit the nail on the head – to mention the true facts of a case; to do the correct thing


Needle:

To look for a needle in a haystack – to begin a search for something with only a slim chance of success


Nick:

In the nick of time – at the right moment; just before too late


Nine:

A stitch in time saves nine – If we give due attention to the little details of life, in the long run we will save ourselves from considerable time, worry and expense


Nose:

To lead by the nose – to lead blindly

To turn up one’s nose – to express contempt

To put one’s nose into something – to be unduly meddlesome

Under one’s nose – under one’s close observation


Nut:

A hard nut to crack – a person difficult to convince, a problem difficult to solve

In a nutshell – summed up in a few words

To put in a nutshell – to express in very concise terms to say in a few words