The definition of “hyperbole” in simple words is that it is an exaggerated statement. In detail, hyperbole is a literary device, and figure of speech that is used to exaggerate or emphasize a point to evoke strong emotions.
A figure of speech or figurative language is a form of expression where words are used out of their literal meaning and their ordinary use. That’s what hyperbole is, a type of figure of speech which uses the technique of extreme exaggeration for emphasis of a statement that is not meant to be taken literally.
Hyperbole is bold overstatement, or extravagant exaggeration of fact, used either for serious or comic effect.
Related: Hyperbole Examples in Poetry & Literature
Writers and speakers intentionally use hyperbole when they need to exaggerate, amplify or emphasize something they are writing or saying.
Basis points of Hyperbole-
- It is used in both writing and speech.
- It is used to exaggerate a topic, situation or fact.
- It’s an overstatement and shouldn’t be taken literally.
- It is often used to make a situation or an event dramatic or humorous.
- The audience knows they are reading an exaggerated or hyperbolic statement.
HYE-PER-BOW-LEE
Hyperbole pronunciation
Examples of Hyperbole-
Read the below list of common examples of hyperbole to better understand its usage. Learn the way to write and create your own hyperbolic statements by knowing their meanings and reading the underlined hyperbolic phrases.
1. I love you to the moon and back.
Meaning: “Love you to the moon and back” is a hyperbolic phrase used to express and emphasize someone’s immense love and affection for another.
Examples in a Sentence–
- ‘I love you to the moon and back’, said Christopher while holding Anna’s hand.
- She loves her daughter to the moon and back.
- I really admire his family, They love each other to the moon and back.
2. This bag weighs a ton.
Meaning: “weighs a ton” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that something is unusually very heavy.
Examples in a Sentence-
- Her purse weighs a ton.
- I exclude everything from my travel bag, but it’s yet weighs a ton.
- This toolbox weighs a ton.
3. The car cost a gazillion dollars.
Meaning: “Gazillion” is used in hyperbolic statements to indicate an extremely large & unspecified number, quantity, or amount.
Examples in a Sentence-
- He made gazillion dollars in Bitcoin trading.
- This company has sold gazillion motor bicycles since its launch.
- This year gazillions of people might lose their jobs because of the A.I.
4. I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.
Meaning: “I could eat a horse” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that someone is feeling extreme hunger.
Examples in a Sentence-
- I didn’t eat anything on the trip and now I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
- I was so busy with work today that I’ve hardly eaten anything and now I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse.
- I haven’t eaten since morning. I could eat a horse now.
5. I am dying of thirst.
Meaning: “Dying of thrust/hunger/boredom” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that someone is extremely thirsty, hungry, or bored.
Examples in a Sentence-
- After walking for hours on the road, I am dying of thirst now.
- I am dying of boredom without my phone.
- I am dying of hunger, Mom please cook something for me.
6. I feel buried under a mountain of work.
Meaning: “Buried under a mountain of” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that someone is under the immense burden of something.
Examples in a Sentence-
- He is buried under a mountain of paperwork.
- These days, the youth has been buried under a mountain of student loans.
- I’m buried under a mountain of high expectations from my parents.
7. I am so full, I’m never going to eat again.
Meaning: “Never going to” is a hyperbolic phrase often used in delivering a strong opinion on something.
Examples in a Sentences–
- I am never going to forget this day.
- This is never going to work.
- I’m never going to leave you.
8. I can’t live without you.
Meaning: “Can’t live without” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that someone likes someone or something very much.
Examples in a Sentence-
- Rachel said she can’t live without her morning coffee.
- I can’t live without my gadgets.
- John can’t live without his dirt bike.
9. I died of embarrassment today.
Meaning: “Died of” is used in hyperbolic sentences to say that someone had been in an extremely awkward or uncomfortable situation.
Examples in a Sentence-
- Olivia died of shame when her sister caught her stealing her new ring.
- When Peter’s neighbor caught him peeking into his house, he died of embarrassment.
10. I have a million things to do.
Meaning: “A million” is used in a hyperbolic sentence to tell someone has abundance or burdensome of something.
Examples in a Sentence-
- Karen has a million pairs of shoes in her closet.
- She got a million options to choose from.
- There are a million ways to get there, we just need to follow one.
11. I have told you a thousand times.
Meaning: “A thousand times or million times” is a hyperbolic phrase used to say that someone has done something many times.
Examples in a Sentence-
- I have watched this movie a thousand times.
- I have told you to clean your room a million times.
- I have listened to your same excuse a million times.
- We have done this a million times.
12. I will die if she asks me to dance.
Meaning: “I will die!” is a hyperbolic phrase used to show someone in an intense situation or wanting to have something very much.
Examples in a Sentence-
- If I can’t buy that dress, I will die!
- If I can’t get the concert tickets, I will die!
13. My feet are killing me.
Meaning: “Killing me” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that someone is in a very discomfort state or unease.
Examples in a Sentence-
- These shoes are killing me.
- My new high heels are killing me.
- He hasn’t talked with me since yesterday and it’s killing me.
14. She can hear a pin drop a mile away.
Meaning: “Can hear a pin drop from a mile away” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell how sharp one’s ears are.
Examples in a Sentence-
- My mom can hear a pin drop from a mile away, so there was no chance for me to leave the house without getting noticed.
- My grandma is so old but still, she can hear a pin drop a mile away.
15. He drove faster than the speeding bullet.
Meaning: “faster than.. (something)” is a hyperbolic phrase used to show one’s great speed.
Examples in a Sentence-
- He is running faster than the wind.
- That thief is running faster than a car.
16. She is as old as the hills.
Meaning: “As old as the hills” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell someone or something is extremely or very old.
Examples in a Sentence-
- My grandmother’s home remedies are as old as the hills.
- We have our grandma’s wedding dress which is as old as the hills.
- That church is as old as the hills.
17. This is the best book ever written.
Meaning: “Best… (something) ever” is a hyperbolic expression of telling someone finds something extremely good.
Examples in a Sentence-
- This is the best movie ever made.
- This is the best poem ever written.
18. I forgot our anniversary, she is going to kill me.
Meaning: “Kill me” is a hyperbolic phrase of saying someone is in a great problem after not performing their duties well.
Examples in a Sentence-
- My mother will kill me if she sees the mess I made in the kitchen.
- My professor will kill me If I don’t submit his assignment on time.
- My friend will kill me if I miss his wedding.
19. I’ve waited for a century to witness this day.
Meaning: “Waited for a century” is a hyperbolic phrase used to tell that someone has waited for something or someone for a very long time.
Examples in a Sentence-
- People waited for a century to see the film released in theaters.
- I have waited for a century to see my granddaughter’s wedding.
20. The walk was a million miles long.
Meaning: “A million miles” is a hyperbolic expression used to say that something has a long distance or is far away.
Example in a Sentence-
- He walked a million miles to reach the valley’s end.
21. I haven’t seen you in ages.
Meaning: “In ages” is a hyperbolic phrase used to say that a very long time has passed in something.
Examples in a Sentence-
- I haven’t driven a bicycle in ages.
- I haven’t paid a visit to my parent’s house in ages.
- She hasn’t been to a theater in ages.
22. I hope it doesn’t rain for 40 days and 40 nights.
Meaning: “Rain for 40 days and 40 nights” is a hyperbolic phrase describing the bad weather and rain that happens for a couple of days.
Example in a Sentence-
- It’s been raining for 40 days and 40 nights and I’ve got stuck in my hotel.
23. She takes forever to get ready.
Meaning: “forever” is used in hyperbolic statements to say that an action is taking a lot of time to finish.
Examples in a Sentence-
- The new game is taking forever to install.
- The train took forever to reach its destination.
- My friend was in line at the stadium gate forever.
24. He’s got a ton of money.
Meaning: “A ton of” is a hyperbolic phrase used to indicate something is in large number or quantity.
Examples in a Sentence-
- I have a ton of work to do today.
- She got a ton of gifts on her birthday.
- He has a ton of friends.
- She ate a ton of food at the party.
- Ariana has a ton of clothes in her closet.
25. He jumped so high, he touched the sky.
Meaning: “Touched the sky” is a hyperbolic expression used to say that someone or something unusually went very high from the ground.
Examples in a Sentence-
- The player threw the ball so high that it touched the sky.
- He kicked the football so high that it touched the sky.
26. My father is always working.
Meaning: ”Always” is used in hyperbolic statements to say that someone is doing something most of the time.
Examples in a Sentence-
- She is always eating.
- Samuel is always traveling.
- My mom is always cooking
27. Her speech was never-ending.
Meaning: ”Never-ending” is used in hyperbolic statements to tell that something is taking a long time or seems to last forever and is unpleasant, boring or bad.
Examples in a Sentence-
- It was a never-ending task to clean the room.
- The questioning at the airport immigration was never-ending.
- The politician’s speech was never-ending.
Related: Examples of Onomatopoeia
