Meaning of Figurative Phrases — Explain what a figurative phrase suggests about an idea. - SHSAT English Language Arts

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Why Do Writers Use Figurative Language?

People have used figurative language (words or phrases that mean something different from their literal, word-for-word definition) for thousands of years. Ancient storytellers, poets, and everyday speakers discovered that comparing one thing to another can paint a vivid picture in a listener's mind. Instead of saying "the warrior was brave," a Greek poet might say "the warrior had a heart of iron." That phrase doesn't literally mean his heart was made of metal—it suggests he was strong, tough, and unbreakable.

On the SHSAT, you will read passages that contain figurative phrases. The test will ask you to explain what a phrase suggests about an idea, a character, or a situation. To answer correctly, you need to look beyond the surface meaning and think about the feeling or image the author is trying to create.

~800 BCE • Homer's Epic Similes

The ancient Greek poet Homer filled the Iliad and Odyssey with comparisons like "rosy-fingered dawn," helping listeners imagine the pink sky at sunrise.

~1600 • Shakespeare's Metaphors

William Shakespeare wrote "All the world's a stage," comparing life to a play to suggest that people perform different roles as they grow.

~1850 • Figurative Language in Novels

Authors like Charles Dickens used figurative phrases to make social issues feel real—calling fog a "blanket" over London suggested the city was trapped.

Today • Figurative Language on Standardized Tests

The SHSAT tests your ability to interpret figurative phrases, asking you to explain the deeper idea an author suggests when using non-literal language.

The key question this lesson answers is: When a writer uses a figurative phrase, what idea is the writer really trying to communicate? Let's break that skill down step by step.

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Core Principles of Figurative Language

Before you can explain what a figurative phrase suggests, you need to understand a few core ideas. Think of these as your toolkit for cracking any figurative-language question on the SHSAT.

Literal vs. Figurative

Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language stretches or changes the meaning of words to create a special effect, emotion, or image.

Context Is King

The sentences around a figurative phrase (called context) help you figure out what the author really means. Always read before and after the phrase.

Identify the Comparison

Most figurative phrases compare two things. Ask yourself: "What is being compared to what?" The qualities of the compared thing reveal the suggested meaning."

Tone and Feeling

Figurative phrases carry an emotional charge. A phrase like "a storm of anger" doesn't just mean someone is mad—it suggests the anger is violent, uncontrollable, and destructive.

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of figurative language like an emoji. When your friend texts you a fire emoji 🔥, they don't mean something is literally burning—they mean something is amazing or exciting. Figurative phrases work the same way: they borrow the qualities of one thing to suggest something about another.

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Seeing Figurative Language in Action

The diagram below shows how your brain should process a figurative phrase. You start with the phrase itself, identify what two things are being connected, think about the qualities that carry over, and arrive at the suggested meaning.

This flowchart shows the four-step process for decoding any figurative phrase. Start by reading the phrase, identify the comparison, list the qualities of the compared object, and then connect those qualities to the topic. The result is the suggested meaning.

Notice how the example at the bottom of the diagram works. The phrase "Time is money" compares time to money. Money is valuable, limited, and something people try not to waste. By comparing time to money, the author suggests that time is equally precious and should be used wisely.

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How Figurative Phrases Work — Types You Need to Know

There are several types of figurative language. On the SHSAT, you don't always need to name the type, but understanding how each type works helps you figure out the suggested meaning faster. Let's look at the main types.

Metaphor

A metaphor (a comparison that says one thing is another) directly links two unlike things. "The classroom was a zoo" does not mean actual animals were there. It suggests the room was noisy, chaotic, and out of control—just like a zoo.

Simile

A simile (a comparison using "like" or "as") works just like a metaphor but signals the comparison with a connecting word. "Her smile was like sunshine" suggests her smile was warm, bright, and made people feel happy.

Personification

With personification (giving human qualities to non-human things), an author might write "The wind whispered through the trees." Wind can't actually whisper—this suggests the wind was gentle, quiet, and almost secretive.

Hyperbole

A hyperbole (an extreme exaggeration not meant to be taken literally) makes a point by going way over the top. "I've told you a million times" suggests the speaker is very frustrated and has repeated something many, many times—but not literally a million.

Idiom

An idiom (a common expression whose meaning can't be figured out from the individual words alone) requires you to know the cultural meaning. "Break a leg" doesn't suggest injury—it means "good luck."

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SHSAT TIP

You usually don't need to name the type of figurative language on the SHSAT. Instead, the test asks you to explain what the phrase suggests about a character, situation, or idea. Focus on meaning, not labels.

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Figurative Phrases and the Feelings They Suggest

Different figurative phrases create different feelings. The diagram below maps common figurative phrases along a spectrum from positive feelings to negative feelings. Understanding tone helps you choose the right answer on the SHSAT.

This chart groups figurative phrases by the tone or feeling they create. When answering SHSAT questions, match the phrase's tone to the answer choice that captures the same feeling.

Figurative Phrase	Literal Image	Suggested Meaning
"She had ice in her veins."	Ice flowing through blood	She was extremely calm and fearless under pressure.
"His words were a dagger."	Words as a sharp blade	His words were hurtful and caused emotional pain.
"The city never sleeps."	A city that stays awake	The city is always active and full of energy.
"Knowledge is a treasure."	Learning as buried gold	Knowledge is extremely valuable and worth seeking.

Examples of figurative phrases, their literal images, and what they suggest

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Worked Example — SHSAT-Style Passage

Let's walk through a sample SHSAT-style question together. Read the passage below and follow each step.

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SAMPLE PASSAGE

Maya stared at the blank canvas. For weeks, she had been searching for inspiration, but her mind was a desert—vast, empty, and completely dry. Then one morning, she noticed the way sunlight spilled through her kitchen window, turning ordinary dust particles into floating specks of gold. Suddenly, her imagination was a river bursting through a dam.

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QUESTION

The phrase "her imagination was a river bursting through a dam" suggests that Maya's creativity— (A) had always been strong and steady. (B) was released suddenly and powerfully after being held back. (C) was calm and peaceful like flowing water. (D) was dangerous and out of control.

Step-by-Step Solution

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Step 1 — Read the phrase carefully

The phrase is "her imagination was a river bursting through a dam." This is a metaphor because it says her imagination was a river (not "like" a river).
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Step 2 — Identify the comparison

Maya's imagination is being compared to a river bursting through a dam.
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Step 3 — List the qualities of the compared thing

What happens when a river bursts through a dam? The water has been held back, building pressure. When the dam breaks, the water rushes out suddenly and powerfully. There's an explosive release of energy.
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Step 4 — Connect qualities to the topic and check context

The passage says Maya's mind was earlier "a desert"—empty and uninspired. Then, after seeing the sunlight, her imagination suddenly exploded with ideas. The river-through-a-dam image suggests her creativity was blocked for a long time and then released all at once with great force.

Answer: (B) — Her creativity was released suddenly and powerfully after being held back.
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Step 5 — Eliminate wrong answers

(A) is wrong because her imagination was NOT always strong—it was blocked. (C) is wrong because "bursting through a dam" is not calm. (D) is tempting because rivers can be powerful, but the passage shows this as a positive moment, not a dangerous one. The context tells us Maya was inspired, not scared.

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Common Mistakes vs. Smart Strategies

Many students lose points on figurative-language questions because of a few predictable mistakes. Here is a comparison of what to avoid and what to do instead.

❌ Common Mistake	✅ Smart Strategy
Taking the phrase literally (choosing an answer about actual rivers, animals, etc.)	Always ask: "What idea or feeling is the author really getting at?"
Ignoring context—looking only at the phrase itself	Read 1–2 sentences before and after the phrase to understand the situation
Picking an answer that matches only one word in the phrase	Make sure the answer matches the whole phrase and the overall tone of the passage
Confusing the tone (e.g., choosing a negative answer when the passage is positive)	Check whether the passage presents the phrase in a positive, negative, or neutral light
Overthinking—adding meaning the author never suggested	Stick to what the passage actually says; choose the simplest reasonable interpretation

Avoid these mistakes to pick the correct answer on figurative-language questions

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KEY TAKEAWAY

Think of reading a figurative phrase like reading a friend's facial expression. If your friend rolls their eyes while saying "Sure, that's great," you know from context they don't actually think it's great. The same idea applies here—always check the context around a figurative phrase to figure out its true suggested meaning.

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Figurative Language Beyond the Test

Understanding figurative phrases is not just a test skill—it is a life skill. When you get to high school, you will analyze poems, novels, speeches, and essays that rely heavily on figurative language. In college, you will study how authors use these techniques to shape arguments and emotions. Even in everyday life, ads, song lyrics, and memes use figurative language all the time.

SHSAT Level	High School & Beyond
Identify what a figurative phrase suggests about an idea	Analyze how figurative language develops themes across an entire work
Recognize common types (metaphor, simile, personification)	Study advanced devices (allegory, irony, synecdoche, metonymy)
Use context clues to figure out meaning	Use historical and cultural context to interpret symbolism
Choose the best answer from multiple choices	Write essays that explain an author's use of figurative language

How figurative-language skills grow from SHSAT to high school and beyond

Mastering this skill now gives you a strong foundation. The better you get at explaining what figurative phrases suggest, the more deeply you will understand everything you read—from test passages to your favorite books.

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Practice Problems

Question 1: CONCEPTUAL

A passage describes a student preparing for a big exam: "She felt like she was standing at the foot of a mountain." What does this figurative phrase suggest about how the student feels about the exam?

Show answer

The phrase compares the exam to a mountain. Mountains are huge, towering, and difficult to climb. This suggests the student feels the exam is an enormous, intimidating challenge that will require a lot of effort to overcome. The phrase conveys a sense of being small in the face of something very large and difficult.

Question 2: BASIC

Read this sentence: "After winning the championship, the team was on cloud nine." What does the phrase "on cloud nine" suggest about the team?

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"On cloud nine" is an idiom that means feeling extremely happy. Clouds are high up in the sky, so the phrase suggests the team's happiness was so great that they felt like they were floating far above the ground. The phrase tells us the team was overjoyed and thrilled by their victory—their emotions were at an all-time high.

Question 3: INTERMEDIATE

A passage about a neighborhood says: "The old library was the heart of the community. When it closed, the neighborhood felt like a body without a pulse." What does the figurative language in these two sentences suggest about the library's role?

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The first metaphor, "heart of the community," suggests the library was the most essential and central part of the neighborhood—just as a heart keeps a body alive, the library kept the community connected and functioning. The second phrase, "a body without a pulse," extends this comparison. A body without a pulse is dead. Together, the phrases suggest that the library was so important that when it closed, the community lost its energy, its connection, and its sense of life. The author uses both phrases to emphasize the library's vital role.

Question 4: APPLIED

Read this passage excerpt: "Marcus had always been told that high school would be a breeze. But on his first day, the hallways swallowed him whole. The schedule was a maze, and every classroom door seemed to have a mind of its own, hiding just when he needed to find it." Based on the figurative phrases, what do the hallways, the schedule, and the doors suggest about Marcus's first day?

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Each figurative phrase suggests a different aspect of Marcus's overwhelming experience. "The hallways swallowed him whole" uses personification to suggest Marcus felt lost and insignificant—as if the school was so large it consumed him. "The schedule was a maze" is a metaphor suggesting that figuring out where to go was confusing and disorienting, like trying to navigate a puzzle. "Every classroom door seemed to have a mind of its own" personifies the doors, suggesting that nothing went as planned and things felt unpredictable. Together, these phrases suggest that Marcus's first day was the opposite of "a breeze"—it was confusing, overwhelming, and made him feel very small.

Question 5: CRITICAL THINKING

Two authors describe the same topic—the ocean. Author A writes: "The ocean is a gentle cradle, rocking the boats to sleep." Author B writes: "The ocean is a hungry beast, devouring everything in its path." Both authors use figurative language about the ocean, but their suggested meanings are very different. Explain what each phrase suggests and why two authors might use opposite figurative phrases to describe the same thing.

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Author A's phrase "a gentle cradle, rocking the boats to sleep" uses personification and metaphor to suggest the ocean is calm, comforting, and protective—like a parent soothing a baby. This implies a peaceful, safe relationship with the sea. Author B's phrase "a hungry beast, devouring everything in its path" personifies the ocean as a dangerous predator, suggesting it is powerful, destructive, and threatening. Two authors can use opposite figurative phrases about the same thing because figurative language reflects the author's perspective and purpose. Author A may be writing about a calm day at sea or trying to make readers feel relaxed, while Author B may be describing a storm or warning about the ocean's power. This shows that figurative language is not just decoration—it is a tool authors use to shape how readers think and feel about a topic.

SUMMARY

Summary — Meaning of Figurative Phrases

Summary

Figurative language uses words in non-literal ways to create vivid images, emotions, and deeper ideas. On the SHSAT, you will be asked to explain what a figurative phrase suggests about a character, situation, or idea. To do this, follow the four-step process: read the phrase, identify the comparison, list the qualities of the compared object, and connect those qualities to the topic using the surrounding context.

Remember the key types: metaphors say one thing IS another, similes use "like" or "as," personification gives human traits to non-human things, hyperbole exaggerates for effect, and idioms are fixed expressions with meanings you must learn. Always pay attention to the tone of the passage—it will guide you to the correct interpretation every time.