---
title: "Periphrasis and its types"
description: "Periphrasis - is a figure of speech where the meaning of a word or phrase is indirectly expressed th..."
author: "dilyara_urumbaeva"
published: "2012-11-06T04:13:49+00:00"
modified: "2012-11-06T04:13:49+00:00"
locale: "ru"
canonical_url: "https://yvision.kz/post/periphrasis-and-its-types-300691"
markdown_url: "https://yvision.kz/post/periphrasis-and-its-types-300691/markdown"
site_name: "Yvision.kz"
---

# Periphrasis and its types

> Periphrasis - is a figure of speech where the meaning of a word or phrase is indirectly expressed th...

** Periphrasis** - is a figure of speech where the meaning of a word or phrase is indirectly expressed through several or many words. From Greek origin 'peri' - about, around + 'phrasis' - phrase. To use more words then necessary when explaining something. F.e.:

![Periphrasis and its types](https://storage.yvision.kz/images/user/dilyara_urumbaeva/fD6O4S95eQJkDMh56lPym81lmjj64j.jpg)

Grab that elongated yellow fruit (Grab that banana); to disgrace of fortune - bad luck.

This is a device by which a longer phrase is used instead of a shorter and plainer one, which is used in literary descriptions for greater expressiveness: The little boy has been deprived of what can never be replaced (Dickens) (=deprived of his mother).

**Hyperbole** - is an exaggeration of dimensions of other properties of the object. It is an expression of emotional evaluation of reality by a speaker. F.e.: A thousand pardons; He was frightened to death; He was so tall that I could not see his face. Hyperbole is deliberate overstatement or exaggeration.

**Understatement **- is the logical and psychological opposite of hyperbole. It is lessening, weaking, reducing the real characteristics of the object of speech. F.e.: What a little town?

A bit of humor:

**Irony** - is a figure or speech by means of which a word or words express the direct opposite of what their meaning denote. Irony shows the attitude of the author towards certain facts or events. F.e.: She turned with the sweet smile of an alligator. Irony must not be confused with humour, although they have very much in common. Humour 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.

**Zeugma **- it's typical when a word is used in relation to two or more other words in different sense (they are not connected semantically). F.e.: He took his hat and his leave. Zeugma is a strong and effective device to maintain the purity of the primary meaning when two meanings clash. Also I want to give example, which liked me (only Russian versia): Шел дождь и два студента. Один в галошах, другой-в университет.

**Pun** can be misinterpretation of one's speaker's utterance by the other, which results in his remark dealing with a different meaning of the misinterpreted word or its homonym. F.e.: have you been seeing any spirits? Or taking any? (the first spitits - supernatural forces, the second - strong drinks); The name Justin Time sounds like "just in time" (sounding words for humorous effect). The pun is more independent. Puns are often used in jokes and riddles.

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Source: [https://yvision.kz/post/periphrasis-and-its-types-300691](https://yvision.kz/post/periphrasis-and-its-types-300691)