Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a form of overstatement used for effect in literature and conversation. As a linguistic tool it works by creating an analogy. It's common in humor, as an absurdity. It can be used as a rhetorical tool, amplifying an idea or a situation for effect. In some cases hyperbole is an implied exaggeration, where the possibilities are the actual hyperbole.

Examples of hyperbole

• I could eat a horse.
• This isn't a book, it's a form of tyranny.
• If I get any wetter, I'll have to grow gills.
• I was so poor I couldn't afford to breathe.