Hyperbole. Understatement. Irony.
Hyperbole
From Latin hyperbole, from Ancient Greek ὑπερβολή (huperbolē, “excess, exaggeration”), from ὑπέρ (huper, “above”) + βάλλω (ballō, “I throw”). Hyperbole is a deliberate overstatement or exaggeration of a phenomenon or an object. Usually it is used to make some objects and actions more significant and to leave reader (listener) with an impression that the object of speech is exaggerated.
Examples of hyperbole:
- I could sleep for a year.
- This box weighs a ton.
- His eyes were as round as saucers.
- I nearly died laughing.
- I'm so hungry; I could eat a horse.
- I've told you a million times not to exaggerate.
Understatement
it's the opposite of an exaggeration (hyperbole). It's also called litotes. Understatement is a lexical stylistic device which contains an expression of less strength than what would be expected. This is not to be confused with euphemism, where a polite phrase is used in place of a harsher or more offensive expression.
Examples Of Understatement
"It's a bit yellow" - while describing a very yellow canary.
"There is some music by Beethoven in his Ninth Symphony" - while describing Beethoven's famous work.
"The desert is sometimes dry and sandy" - While describing the driest desert in the world.
"It is just a little cool today" - when the temperature outside is 5° below zero.
"The food was tolerable" - on the food that was prepared by the best chef in the world.
"The cars drove at a fair clip" - while watching a car race.
"I know a little about running a company" - comment by a successful businessman.
In Literature
"You have this wonderfully evocative way about you, Luke, of reducing the most excruciatingly uncomfortable circumstances to the merely mundane." - In 'Splinter of the Mind's Eye'.
"People tended not to speak to Chrysoprase in case they said something that offended him. They wouldn't know it at the time, of course. They'd know it later, when they were in some dark alley and a voice behind them said: Mr. Chrysoprase is really upset." - In 'Soul Music'.
"It is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine." - In 'Blandings Castle'.
"I understand he has given uniform satisfaction, sir." - P.G Woodehouse character Jeeves on Shakespere.
"We teachers are rather good at magic, you know."- In 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.
Irony.
Irony (‘mockery concealed) is a form of speech in which the real meaning is concealed or contradicted by the words used.
Irony must not be confused with humor, although they have very much in common. Humor always causes laughter. But the function of irony is not to produce a humorous effect. Irony is generally used to convey a negative feeling: irritation, displeasure, pity or regret.
‘What a noble illustration of the tender laws of this favoured country! - they let the poor go to sleep!’