pun examples figures of speech sentences

Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of pun, types of puns, difference between pun and joke, common examples of pun.

There are thousands of common puns in English; many languages have their own puns as well. Puns are quite frequent in every day language. You may have heard or used the following ones in regular conversations:

What Does “No Pun Intended” Mean?

The phrase “no pun intended” is quite common. People say this when they unintentionally say something that could be construed as a pun, but in fact they don’t mean to make light of the situation. Consider the following situations:

Significance of Pun in Literature

Examples of pun in literature.

HAMLET I will speak to this fellow.—Whose grave’s this, sirrah? GRAVEDIGGER Mine, sir. HAMLET I think it be thine, indeed, for thou liest in ’t. GRAVEDIGGER You lie out on ’t, sir, and therefore it is not yours. For my part, I do not lie in ’t, and yet it is mine. HAMLET Thou dost lie in ’t, to be in ’t and say it is thine. ‘Tis for the dead, not for the quick. Therefore thou liest. GRAVEDIGGER ‘Tis a quick lie, sir. ‘Twill away gain from me to you.

CECILY: You must not laugh at me, darling, but it had always been a girlish dream of mine to love some one whose name was Ernest. [ALGERNON rises, CECILY also.] There is something in that name that seems to inspire absolute confidence. I pity any poor married woman whose husband is not called Ernest.

( The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde)

Oscar Wilde used many examples of puns in his works, though he was also once quoted as having said, “Puns are the lowest form of humor.” His entire play The Importance of Being Earnest hinges on a homophonic pun. “Earnest” functions both as a name and as a quality. The quote from Cecily perfectly sums up the dual meanings. Cecily says she wants to marry a man named “Ernest” because its homonym, “earnest,” inspires confidence. Cecily mistakenly believes that the character of Algernon is named “Ernest,” which is one of the primary reasons that she loves and wants to marry him.

[Alice:] ‘You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn round on its axis–‘ ‘Talking of axes,’ said the Duchess, ‘chop off her head!’

Test Your Knowledge of Pun

A. Recursive B. Homonymic C. Compound [spoiler title=”Answer to Question #2″] Answer: B is the correct answer. This pun hinges on the two meanings of “ear.”[/spoiler]

ROMEO: Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes With nimble soles. I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move.

ROMEO: But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

JULIET: O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.

[spoiler title=”Answer to Question #3″]Answer: A is the correct answer. Romeo uses a homophonic pun on the repetition of the word “sole” and “soul,” comparing the two terms as though they were synonymous.[/spoiler]

English Grammar
Figures Of Speech

Pun - Definition, How to Use and Examples

Pun equals fun. Are you a person who likes to make a situation a little humorous? Do you enjoy cracking jokes and being the one who can make people laugh? Even if you are a person who just wants to have a good laugh, this article is for you. Learn how to form interesting and hilarious puns by exploring the meaning, definition and how puns can be formed and used. Also, go through the number of examples given in the article for a clearer idea and to have a good time. Learn and have fun in one go. Check out the topics given below.

What is a pun – meaning and definition, examples of puns, some hilarious examples of puns from movies and tv shows, some common examples of puns from literature, frequently asked questions on puns.

A pun is a figure of speech that includes a play of words that have more than one meaning or those that sound alike. Among the figures of speech, pun can be said to be the most intriguing and amusing. All that one requires is a creative intellect and some wit to create humorous puns.

Now, take a look at how various dictionaries define the term ‘pun’. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘pun’ as “the clever or humorous use of a word that has more than one meaning, or of words that have different meanings but sound the same”, and according to the Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, the term ‘pun’ is explained as “an expression that achieves emphasis or humour by contriving an ambiguity, two distinct meanings being suggested either by the same word or by two similar-sounding words.” The dictionary also mentions ‘paronomasia’ as an alternate term to refer to ‘pun’.

‘Pun’ is defined as “a humorous use of a word or phrase that has several meanings or that sounds like another word”, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, and “the usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

How to Form Unputdownable Puns? – Points to Remember

Forming puns can be an easy job if you know how to use words skillfully to create a humorous effect. Take a look at the following points to learn the different ways in which puns can be formed.

Using homonyms can be the best and most effective way to form puns. Homonyms include homophones (words that have the same sound but different meanings and/or different spellings) and homographs (words that have the same spelling but different meanings and/or different pronunciation).
The next thing that can help you with the formation of puns is the clever use of these words in a way that would make it look and sound humourous.
In order to be able to do that, you should first decide what is the kind of meaning you want your audience to perceive.
The sentence structure you employ is another important factor that will decide how creative and funny your puns can be.
Punctuation can be one other factor that helps you with the construction of puns. A common example of this is,

I would like to thank my parents, Tiffany and God.

I would like to thank my parents, Tiffany, and God.

Also, if you have a particular word that would produce the effect of a pun, you can use a dictionary to find rhyming words to complete the sentence and give the effect you intend to bring forth.

Now that you know how to make puns fun, try using punctuation marks, various sentence structures and homonyms to form interesting puns.

Having learnt what a pun is and how to form puns, going through a few examples can be your next step. Check out the number of examples given below, study how it is done and try writing some on your own.

Here are a few examples of puns from famous movies and television series for your reference.

The following example from the movie, ‘Winnie the Pooh’ plays with the words knot and not.

Rabbit : Good grief! Tie them together, Piglet! Can you tie a knot?

Piglet : I cannot.

Rabbit : Ah, so you CAN knot.

Piglet : No. I cannot knot.

King Candy, in the movie, ‘Wreck It Ralph’ is seen chased by Ralph in a scene. He puts on a pair of glasses and expects that Ralph would not hit a guy with glasses, but Ralph, on the other hand, used the glasses to hit him. The word ‘glasses’ here refers to a pair of spectacles.

King Candy: “You wouldn’t hit a guy with glasses, would you?

Oh…you hit a guy, with glasses. Well played.”

In the movie, ‘Zootopia’, when all the police officers of Zootopia(animals) gather in a room to discuss the affairs to be taken care of, Chief Bogo (the bull) enters the room saying that he has three items on the docket to be discussed. He starts the meeting saying, “First, we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room” and then after a short pause, says, “Francine” and then “Happy birthday!”

The moment Chief Bogo says this and utters the name, everyone turns to him in shock and the moment he wishes the elephant ‘Happy birthday’, everyone starts to cheer and wish her.

This is a wonderful example of pun as the phrase, ‘elephant in the room’ means a major problem or something that is controversial and for which any sort of discussion is normally avoided. The only thing to be noted here is that the usage of ‘elephant in the room’ is done in the literal sense and does not imply the phrasal meaning.

Zazu: “Well the buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of a spot. And the baboons are going ape over this. Of course, the giraffes are acting like they’re above it all… The tick birds are pecking on the elephants. I told the elephants to forget it, but they can’t. The cheetahs are hard up, but I always say, cheetahs never prosper.”

The above example is from the movie, ‘The Lion King’. Zazu, the red-billed hornbill is the royal advisor of the Pride Lands kingdom. In this scene, Zazu is seen giving the morning report to Mufasa, the Lion King. This dialogue by Zazu is a clever example of a pun. The word, ‘buzz’ is associated with the sound of bees and also means an activity that creates an atmosphere of activity or excitement. It also means gossip.

The next occurrence of pun is with the use of the word, ‘spot’. The phrase, ‘a bit of spot’ means to face a predicament or to be in a challenging situation. In addition to this, the word ‘spot’ can also refer to the spots on the leopard. Likewise, there are more occurrences of puns in the dialogue. Giraffes acting as if they are above it all and elephants not able to forget about the tick birds are examples of pun. The usage of the phrase, ‘above it all’ means that nothing affects them. It can also relate to the giraffe being taller than all the other animals. The elephants not being able to forget can relate to the literal meaning as well as to the fact that elephants have the largest brains among all land mammals and also a very good memory power.

If you are a person who watches English series, you should have definitely come across a lot of puns. One such example of the use of pun in the series, ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S.’ is found in the scene when Chandler is speaking to Joey about settling down.

Chandler: “It’s time to settle down. Make a choice. Pick a lane.”

Joey: “Who’s Elaine?”

Let us also take a look at a few examples of pun from different works of literature. Check out the examples given below.

In Act III Scene 1 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, William Shakespeare gives an example of a pun intended in the following lines.

Mercutio: “No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”

The use of the word ‘grave’ helps give the effect as the word can either act as an adjective meaning serious and sober or as a noun meaning a tomb. However, here, Mercutio means to say that he would be dead and in the grave because of the wounds.

“‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’ And she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking.”

The above lines are from the novel, ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll. The pun intended here is with the use of the homophone pair – ‘tale’ and ‘tail’.

Oscar Wilde’s play, “The Importance of Being Earnest’ has multiple occurrences of pun. The use of the word ‘earnest’ and the character’s name, ‘Ernest’ induces the effect of pun to a great extent. Jack, who is neither earnest nor Ernest, becomes both by the end of the play.

An example of the same is given below. Check it out and try to analyse the pun intended.

Jack: “I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest.”

What is a pun?

A pun is a figure of speech that includes a play of words that have more than one meaning or those that sound alike.

What is the definition of pun?

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines ‘pun’ as “the clever or humorous use of a word that has more than one meaning, or of words that have different meanings but sound the same”, and according to the Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, the term ‘pun’ is explained as “an expression that achieves emphasis or humour by contriving an ambiguity, two distinct meanings being suggested either by the same word or by two similar-sounding words.”

Give some examples of pun.

Here are a few examples of pun for your reference.

“First, we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room” (Zootopia)
“I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn’t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest.” (‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ by Oscar Wilde)
“No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.” (‘Romeo and Juliet’ by William Shakespeare)
“You wouldn’t hit a guy with glasses, would you?

Oh…you hit a guy, with glasses. Well played.” (Wreck It Ralph)

“‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’ And she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking.” (‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll)

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Introduction, what are puns, types of puns, why do writers use puns, examples of puns from literature.

Mercutio, known for his wit and humor throughout the play, makes this pun as he lies dying.

“Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.” From “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare

“‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’ And she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking.” From “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” by Lewis Carroll

“What a curious plan!” exclaimed Alice. “That’s the reason they’re called lessons ,” the Gryphon remarked: “because they lessen from day to day.” From “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” by Lewis Carroll

“Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York.” From “Richard III,” by William Shakespeare

“You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish. Unless, of course, you play bass.” Attributed to Douglas Adams , an English author, humorist, and screenwriter

Knock-Knock Joke And Puns

“Knock, knock.” “Who’s there?” “Lettuce.” “Lettuce who?” “Lettuce in, it’s cold out here!”

“Who’s there?” “Atch.” “Atch who?” “Bless you!”

“Who’s there?” “Tank.” “Tank who?” “You’re welcome!”

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Knowledge Base
What Is a Pun? | Definition, Examples & Types

What Is a Pun? | Definition, Examples & Types

Published on May 26, 2024 by Magedah Shabo .

A pun is a form of wordplay that uses terms with similar or identical sounds or spellings for humorous effect. Puns can also underscore irony, contribute to character development, or highlight absurdity.

I told a chemistry joke, but there was no reaction .

Puns are a common form of wordplay in comedy, literature, film, and everyday life.

What is a pun, 4 types of puns, pun examples, frequently asked questions about puns.

A pun is a type of wordplay that exploits words with multiple definitions or similar sounds to create humor or suggest various layers of interpretation.

Puns often involve polysemy : the phenomenon where a single word has more than one meaning (e.g., “bank,” “light,” “bat”). However, puns can also involve homophones , words with similar or identical sounds that are spelled differently (e.g., “pair” and “pear”).

In linguistics, relevance theory explains how communication often involves interpreting words beyond their literal meanings to grasp implied or secondary meanings. Puns are a prime illustration, as they require understanding multiple meanings of the same words for humorous or rhetorical effect.

Puns are sometimes seen as a low form of humor, so they are often accompanied by an apology (e.g., “if you’ll excuse the pun”) or an ironic claim that the pun is unintentional (e.g., “no pun intended”). Particularly cliché or predictable puns are often referred to as “dad jokes” or “groaners” (e.g., “I’m on a seafood diet; I see food and I eat it”).

Puns are closely related to several other rhetorical concepts:

Wordplay : A broad term encompassing various clever or amusing uses of words (e.g., puns , alliteration, anagrams)
Paronomasia : A device that exploits phonetic similarities between words, sometimes (but not always) resulting in puns
Double entendre (French for “double meaning”): A term typically reserved for a pun that carries a risqué or suggestive connotation

There are four main types of puns:

Homographic pun

Homonymic pun, homophonic pun, compound pun.

Homographic puns are based on homographs: words with identical spellings but different meanings—and often different pronunciations. “Homograph” is derived from the Greek for “same write.”

The word “wind” (to twist) is a homograph of the word “wind” (moving air). Homographic puns are typically presented in written form if they involve words with different pronunciations.

Homonymic puns use homonyms: different words that are identical in both spelling and sound. “Homonym” is derived from the Greek for “same name.”

The words “bark” (the sound a dog makes) and “bark” (the outer covering of a tree) are homonyms.

Homophonic puns rely on homophones: words that sound the same but have different meanings—and typically different spellings. “Homophone” is derived from the Greek for “same sound.”

The words “peace” and “piece” are homophones.

Compound puns are a form of wordplay that incorporates multiple puns. A compound pun can include any combination of homophonic puns, homographic puns, and homonymic puns. The inclusion of multiple puns can enhance a joke’s complexity and humor.

Puns are ubiquitous in Shakespeare’s plays, often appearing even in tragic contexts to serve as comedic relief. Shakespeare’s use of wordplay often engages the audience both cognitively and emotionally.

Lewis Carroll is another author whose writing is known for its rich and entertaining wordplay, including puns . Carroll’s use of wordplay typically highlights the absurdity of a scene for entertainment purposes and sometimes for satirical effect.

“It is a long tail, certainly,” said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail ; “but why do you call it sad?”

Puns are used in pop culture mediums such as sitcoms, movies, and cartoons, often to portray a character’s naivety in a humorous or endearing manner. In many contexts, puns employ situational irony, with the humor arising from a discrepancy between the speaker’s understanding and the audience’s interpretation, typically making the speaker the butt of the joke.

Cartman: I’m not a miner , [expletive]. Do you see a shovel in my hand?

Puns are used in jokes because people often find it gratifying to decipher a surprise double meaning. Below are some examples of pun jokes.

My boss asked if I’m good with PowerPoint. I said I Excel at it.

Want to hear a construction joke? Sorry, I’m still working on it .

What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.

Puns and double entendres both involve double meanings, but there is a key difference:

A pun is any play on words that involves multiple meanings of the same word or phrase.
A double entendre is a specific type of pun that has a slightly indecent (typically sexual) connotation.

Malapropisms and puns are similar, but they have key differences:

Malapropisms are usually unintentional on the part of the speaker or character. They typically don’t aim to highlight double meanings.
Puns are typically used deliberately. They rely on multiple meanings of the same word (or similar-sounding words) to achieve a double entendre .

“ No pun intended ” is a common expression used to highlight a pun while ostensibly claiming that the pun was unintentional. This phrase is often used humorously to call attention to a pun that the speaker recognizes is cliché and likely to elicit a groan. However, in some cases the phrase is used sincerely, indicating that the speaker did not notice the pun until after it was spoken.

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Pun: Definition and Examples of Pun in Speech and Literature

When listening to an English conversation, you are very likely to come across the use of a pun at one time or another. This is also the case with written text in the English language. The pun is a common form of figure of speech , but what is it used for and how can it be integrated into our daily conversations? In this article, we will be looking at what a pun is and how it is used as well as looking at some examples of puns in everyday speech and within literature.

Pun Definition

A pun is usually described as a play on words. It is a clever, witty form of figurative language which uses the words within a sentence to convey another meaning. The pun is often used in the form of a joke where words can have more than one meaning or words can sound like they mean something else.

Pun’s are often used in day to day conversation in order to add a sort of complex humour to a statement or situation. They are also used as a literary device, in this case they are also used for a humorous effect but can also be used in order to encourage the reader to think differently about the situation at hand.

Pun Examples

Examples of pun in spoken language.

The pun is something which can be heard often within day to day conversation in the English language. We are now going to take a look at some examples of common puns which are likely to be heard in a spoken context.

Why is John Milton a bad game rival? Because when he is there, there is a pair of dice lost. (Paradise lost.) Paradise lost is a famous work written by John Milton.
The helpers of Santa are known as subordinate clauses.
A boiled egg for lunch is hard to beat.
She had a photographic memory but she didn’t develop it.
The two pianists who got married were well suited since they were always in a chord.
I didn’t understand how lightening worked, but all of a sudden, it struck me.
The grammar lover had a lot of comma sense.
What is the favourite car of a chicken? A coupe.
I go to the dentist so often that I really know the drill.
The chicken who crossed the road is poultry in motion.
How do they party on a construction site? They raise the roof.
Returning new clothes is like post traumatic dress syndrome.
Why can’t the bike stand alone? Because it is two tired.
My dog wears his coat in the winter but in the summer he wears a coat and pants.
What happened to the skunk who fell in the ocean? He stank to the bottom.
Fish are smart because they live in a school.
The stock clerk was taking up all the space, he was being shelfish.
What type of clothes does a cloud have? Thunderwear.
I do like children, but I don’t think I could eat an entire one.
What an emotional wedding, the cake was even in tiers.

Examples of Pun as A Literary Device

As we mentioned previously, the pun is often used within literature in order to add humour or a new way of thinking for the reader. We are now going to take a look at some examples of when puns have been used in a literary sense.

Comedian George Carlin wrote the pun into his routine which reads ‘ atheism is a non prophet organisation .’
In the Holy Bible we can see many examples of pun, one example of this is a line spoken by Jesus Christ which says ‘ I will build my church on this rock ‘ He was referring to his disciple Peter, as the rock.
Another example of a pun from the Holy Bible can be found in the book of Judges, this reads ‘ the rode thirty burros and lived in thirty boroughs .’
William Shakespeare was famous for regularly using puns in his work, one example of this is in the play Two gentlemen of Verona where he confuses the use of the words tide and tied. ‘ You will lose the tide if you wait any more .’ ‘It does not matter if the tied is lost for it is the most unkind tied that any man ever tied.’
In the book, Ulysses, written by James Joyce, we can see an example of pun in the lines ‘ If you see Kay, tell him that he may, see you in tea, tell him from me .’ In this case, the words also sound like letters which spell out a profanity .
In the poem ‘With a book’ written by Ambrose Bierce, the writer creates a pun surrounding the name of Robert Browning in which he says ‘ there is nothing more strange than a Browning, except a Blackling .’
In the adventures of Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll, the use of the words tail and tale are confused in order to create a pun, the line reads ‘ “ it is a long and sad tale that I have .” said the mouse, looking at Alice and sighing. “ it certainly is a long tail .” said Alice, looking at the tail of the mouse. “ but why do you say it is sad ?” ‘
In the play ‘The importance of being Earnest’ we see an example of a pun which uses the word Earnest to mean a name and also an adjective meaning sincere. The line reads ‘ I have finally realised, for the very first time, the very importance of being Earnest .’

By looking deeper into the meaning of pun and how it can be used, we have discovered that a pun is a play on words in which the words within a statement are used for humorous effect. This type of figure of speech can be used in both a spoken conversation and within written works such as poetry, fiction and scripts. When a pun is used in literature it can often encourage the reader to think about the sentence in a new light.

Pun Infographic

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Pun: Definition and Examples in English

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An Introduction to Punctuation
Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
B.A., English, State University of New York

A pun is a play on words , either on different senses of the same word or on the similar sense or sound of different words. Known in rhetoric as paronomasia .

Puns are figures of speech based on the inherent ambiguities of language . Although puns are commonly regarded as a childish form of humor, they are often found in advertisements and newspaper headlines. Poet Louis Untermeyer said that punning is like poetry: "something every person belittles and every person attempts."

A person who is fond of making puns is called a punster . (The punster, it has been said, is a person who enjoys hearing his friends groan.)

Examples and Observations

"To pun is to treat homonyms as synonyms ." (Walter Redfern, Puns: More Senses Than One . John Wiley & Sons, 1986)
I would like to go to Holland someday. Wooden shoe?
"There was a man who entered a pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did." (Brian Becker et al., A Prairie Home Companion Pretty Good Joke Book , 3rd ed. HighBridge, 2003)
"When it rains, it pours." (slogan of Morton Salt since 1911)
"When it pours, it reigns." (slogan of Michelin tires)
Kings worry about a receding heir line.
"What food these morsels be!" (slogan of Heinz pickles, 1938)
"American Home has an edifice complex." (slogan of American Home magazine)
"Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight" (Dylan Thomas, "Do not go gentle into that good night")
"Look deep into our ryes." (slogan of Wigler's Bakery)
"Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns ; he should be drawn and quoted ." (Fred Allen)
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." (Groucho Marx)
"I saw a documentary on how ships are kept together. Riveting!" (Canadian comedian Stewart Francis, quoted by Mark Brown in "Edinburgh Fringe's 10 Funniest Jokes Revealed." The Guardian , August 20, 2012)
A vulture boards a plane, carrying two dead possums. The attendant looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."
Boo's (name of a liquor store)

Writers on Puns

" Punning is an art of harmonious jingling upon words, which, passing in at the ears, and falling upon the diaphragm, excites a titillary motion in those parts; and this, being conveyed by the animal spirits into the muscles of the face, raises the cockles of the heart." (Jonathan Swift, "The Physical Definition of Punning According to Cardan")
"A pun is not bound by the laws which limit nicer wit. It is a pistol let off at the ear; not a feather to tickle the intellect." (Charles Lamb, "That the Worst Puns are the Best")
"'Sir, no man ever condemned a good pun who was able to make one.' I know not a more aggrieved and unjustly proscribed character in the present day than the poor painstaking punster. He is the Paria of the dining-table; it is the fashion to run him down: and as every dull ass thinks that he may have a kick at the prostrate witling, may I be condemned to pass a whole week without punning (a fearful adjuration!) if I do not show that the greatest sages, poets, and philosophers of all ages, have been enrolled upon this proscribed list!" (Horace Smith, "On Puns and Punsters." Gaieties and Gravities , 1826)
"People who make puns are like wanton boys that put coppers on the railroad tracks. They amuse themselves and other children, but their little trick may upset a freight train of conversation for the sake of a battered witticism." (Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Autocrat the Breakfast-Table , 1858)
Sookie Stackhouse: So I've been listening in on people's thoughts, hoping I might hear something to clear him and apparently there's this vampire bar where Maudette and Dawn used to hang out at in Shreveport. You know it? Bill Compton: Fangtasia. Sookie Stackhouse: Fang -tasia? Bill Compton: You have to remember that most vampires are very old. Puns used to be the highest form of humor. (Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer in "Escape from Dragon House." True Blood , 2008)

Obscene Puns

"All obscene puns have the same underlying construction in that they consist of two elements. The first element sets the stage for the pun by offering seemingly harmless material, such as the title of a book, The Tiger's Revenge . But the second element either is obscene in itself or renders the first element obscene as in the name of the author of The Tiger's Revenge --Claude Bawls." (Peter Farb, Word Play , 1974)

The Instability of Language

"Forgetting what we know can often be hard. Entirely apart from the intrinsic challenge of willfully forgetting or ignoring what we think we know, the insights we gain from that can also be unsettling or destabilizing. Puns , by revealing the inherent instability of language, work in much the same way. In one sense they are a tacit acknowledgment of rules because you have to know a rule if you're going to cleverly break it. But at the same time, by scrambling the relationship between sound, symbol , and meaning , puns reveal that the words we use to define the world around us are ultimately just arbitrary signs ." (John Pollack, The Pun Also Rises . Gotham Books, 2011)

The Equivoque—A Special Type of Pun

"A special type of pun , known as the equivoque , is the use of a single word or phrase which has two disparate meanings, in a context which makes both meanings equally relevant. An example is the phrase 'come to dust' in a song from Shakespeare's Cymbeline : 'Golden lads and girls all must, / As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.'" (M.H. Abrams and Geoffrey Galt Harpham, A Glossary of Literary Terms , 8th ed. Wadsworth, 2005)

Punning and Paronomasia in Films

"Where the figurative meaning of a word is confronted by its literal image, the pun is rather more filmic. . . . As we see the police raising a car from the Thames, the voice of a radio commentator expresses the confident opinion that the thieves who stole the gold bricks 'would find their loot too hot to handle.' Two of them are now seen with tongs, lifting a glowing retort out of a furnace and pouring gold into molds of the Eiffel Tower. There are several such puns in The Lavender Hill Mob (Charles Crichton)." (N. Roy Clifton, The Figure in Film . Associated University Presses, 1983)

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Pun Figure of Speech: What is Pun with Several Examples

Do you want to add some humorous tone to your writings? Well, if yes then you can use puns in your writing. Different writers use puns to add a humorous tone to their work. Are you confused about what a pun actually is? Well, here in this article, you will find ‘Pun Figure of Speech’ meaning with some examples.

‘Pun’ Figure of Speech?

A pun is a figure of speech that plays with the words to have multiple meanings. The words are arranged in such a way to create a humorous or rhetorical effect. The pun is also known as paronomasia. That is derived from the Greek word ‘paronimazein’ that means a change in name.

Importance of Pun

The point of this is to add a humorous tone to the writing. Sometimes the plot may get heavy-handed and this is where pun can create a humorous tone in your writing.

We find them interesting as it activates the puzzle-solving ability of the brain and then general humour. The puns are a little confusing and require little attention from us. When we solve it, we laugh. Doing this is not the right tone for formal essays but surely to try in creative pieces.

Moreover, the use of pens is not recent but in ancient Sumerian and Egyptian literature, you can find the systems of punning.

Types of Puns: Figure of Speech:

There are three main types :

Homographic

Homographic Puns : This type plays with words that have different meanings and pronunciations, but similar spellings.

Homophonic Puns : this type plays with words with a similar sound but different spellings.

Homonymic Puns : this type has the same sound and spellings but different meanings.

Also Read: Modern English Words Used in Conversation: Let’s Learn Effective English Speaking Ethics!

Other Types of Puns:

Compound Puns: This type has more than one pun in the same sentence.

Recursive Pun: This pun is a two-part pun. One has to understand the first part to understand the other one.

Visual Pun: This includes imagery, graphics and logos.

Also Read: What is the Personification Figure of Speech? Let’s Learn English Grammar to Communicate Better

Some Puns Examples:

A boiled egg is hard to beat.
The grammar book has a lot of comma sense.
Leopards cannot hide in the jungle as they are always spotted.
That was an emotional wedding, even the cake was in tiers.
The opinion of elephants is important, why? Because his opinions are heavyweight.
A bicycle can never run because it is two tired.
Never write with a broken pencil because it is pointless.
What would you call a sleeping bull? Bulldozer
Never pamper your cow because it will give spoiled milk.
It is raining cats and dogs out, don’t step on the poodle.
Cats are a wonderful species because they are purr-sonalities.
Fishes are the most educated animals because they live in schools.

Puns Figure of Speech Examples in Literature

1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland:

“And how many hours a day did you do lessons?” asked Alice, in a hurry to change the subject. “Ten hours the first day,” said the Mock Turtle: “nine the next, and so on.” “What a curious plan!” exclaimed Alice. “That’s the reason they’re called lessons,” the gryphon remarked: “because they lessen from day to day.”

2. Shakespeare’s Hamlet:

CLAUDIUS How is it that the clouds still hang on you? HAMLET Not so, my lord. I am too much i’ the sun.

3. Romeo and Juliet:

No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.

4. Pragmatist by Edmund Conti:

” Apocalypse soon Coming our way Ground zero at noon Halve a nice day.”

5. Design by Robert Frost:

“What had the flower to do with being white, The wayside blue and innocent heal-all? What brought the kindred spider to that height, Then steered the white moth thither in the night? What but design of darkness to appall? – If design governs in a thing so small.”

6. Othello by Shakespeare:

“DESDEMONA. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies? CLOWN. I dare not say he lies anywhere. DESDEMONA. Why, man? CLOWN: He’s a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies, ’tis stabbing.”

7. Hymn to God the Father:

“I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun My last thread, I shall perish on the shore; But swear by Thy self, that at my death Thy son And having done that, Thou hast done; I fear no more”

Puns in Quotes

“You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish. Unless, of course, you play bass.” – Douglas Adam “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” – Groucho Marx “Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.” – Fred Allen “Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” – Mark Twai “Atheism is a non-prophet institution.” – George Carlin “I saw a documentary on how ships are kept together. Riveting!” – Stewart Francis

Also Read: Also Read: Simile Figure of Speech: Examples of Simile Figure of Speech

I hope you got a brief insight into different types of pun figures of speech meaning and examples. For more such articles, visit T he Fluent Life website. This website offers you affordable and customized courses to help you improve your English skills. You can visit the website now and enrol yourself for the free demo classes now.

1. What is a pun in the context of figures of speech? A: A pun is a form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a word or words that sound similar but have different meanings. It’s used for humorous or rhetorical effect.

2. Can you provide examples of puns in everyday language? A: Sure! Here are a couple of examples: “I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down!” or “I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.”

3. How do puns add humor or depth to language? A: Puns create humor by using the multiple meanings or sounds of words to evoke amusement or wit. They often play with language in a clever or unexpected way, making the listener or reader think about the word’s various meanings.

4. Are there different types of puns in figures of speech? A: Yes, there are various types of puns including homophonic puns (using words that sound alike), homographic puns (using words that are spelled the same), and homonymic puns (using words that are both spelled and sound alike).

5. How can one effectively create or use puns in conversation or writing? A: To create or use puns effectively, consider wordplay and the multiple meanings or sounds of words. Try finding words with double entendre or similar sounds but different meanings. Use them in a way that fits the context while adding humor or a clever twist to your conversation or writing. Practice and exposure to puns in literature or everyday language can aid in mastering their use.

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Other stories, repetition figure of speech: know how to use this figure of speech, oxymoron figure of speech: how to use oxymorons in common day to day life.

Pun Figure of Speech (Examples & History)

Pun Figure of Speech

The Greek term is paronomasia; other names are calembour, clinch, quibble and carwitchet. One of the earliest types of wordplay, the pun is wide-spread in many literatures and give rise to a fairly universal form of humour.

Pun Examples in Literature

1 – “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man”.

Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Here ‘Son’ means both Christ and ‘the sun’, and the word ‘done’ is a pun on the poet’s name.

3- A pun form known as asteismus involves a reply to earlier words used in a different sense. This example occurs in Cymbeline (II, i):

LORD : To have smell’d like a fool.

4- In Act III of “ Othello” by Shakespeare , the conversation between Desdemona and clown is best example of Pun:

DESDEMONA. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?

CLOWN. I dare not say he lies anywhere.

Here the Clown plays on the double meaning of the word lies. Desdemona means ‘where does Cassio sleep’ (as in ‘lie down’). The Clown knows this, but toys with Desdemona by deliberately mishearing her. When he says ‘to say a soldier lies, ’tis stabbing,’ he means that to say a soldier tells lies is insulting to his honor.

Explore Pun

1 Pun Definition and Explanation
2 Common Pun Examples
3 Pun Examples in Literature
4 A Pun or a Joke?
5 Why Do Writers Use Puns?
6 What is a Double Entendre?
8 Related Literary Terms
9 Other Resources

Pun Definition and Explanation

While most puns are humorous and are meant to make someone laugh, or at least roll their eyes, some can be used more seriously. Many puns use what is known as a homophone , or one word that sounds like another but has a different, sometimes related meaning. Writers who use puns want readers to think about their texts differently. They allow someone to reconsider the meaning of the word as they initially read it and look at it through another lens.

There are two different types of puns: homophonic puns and homographic puns. The latter depends on words that look the same while the former depends on words that sound the same.

Common Pun Examples

Some bunny loves you.
This vacuum sucks.
The wedding cake had me in tiers.
The population of Ireland is always Dublin.
Make like a tree and leave.

Pun Examples in Literature

Romeo and juliet by william shakespeare .

Shakespeare is well-known for his puns. In Romeo and Juliet , perhaps his best-known tragedy , he uses a pun while the characters Mercutio and Romeo are talking about wounds and the former’s death. Here are a few of Mercutio’s lines:

No, ’tis not so deep as a well nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, ’twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man. I am peppered, I warrant, for this world. A plague o’ both your houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a mouse, a cat to scratch a man to death!

There is a very interesting line approximately halfway through this passage. It reads: “Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man.” With this line, Shakespeare is playing on the two meanings of the word “grave.” It is tragic and ironic in these circumstances. Mercutio has been stabbed by Tybalt and as he’s dying, he refers to him as a “grave man,” or someone who is soon going to end up in his grave. He is both serious and solemn, (the meaning of “grave” when it is used as an adjective) and nearing death and his final resting place (with “grave” being used as a noun).

There is another good example in Romeo and Juliet in Act I Scene 4. Romeo says the following line to Mercutio:

Give me a torch. I am not for this ambling. Being but heavy, I will bear the light.

He’s saying to his friend that he doesn’t feel like dancing, he’ll instead carry the light. He’s feeling “heavy,” or sad, rather than “light” or happy.

Read the poetry of William Shakespeare and Shakespeare’s best plays .

Two Gentlemen in Verona by William Shakespeare

There are several good examples of puns in Two Gentlemen in Verona. In one specific passage, he has two characters, Launce and Panthino, play with the meanings of “tide” and “tied.” Here is an excerpt:

Panthino Away, ass! You’ll lose the tide if you tarry any longer. Launce It is no matter if the tied were lost; for it is the unkindest tied that ever any man tied. Panthino What’s the unkindest tide? Launce Why, he that’s tied here, Crab, my dog.”

Readers should seek out all the examples of “tied” and “tide” in these short lines and determine which word the speaker was using, how they used it, and how the other character interpreted it. One of the funniest things a pun can do is cause confusion.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

In Lewis Carroll’s best-known novel , he uses a pun in a passage about “tales” and “tails.” Here are a few lines:

‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice, and sighing. ‘It is a long tail, certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’ And she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking.

In these lines, he uses “tale” and “tail” in different ways as the Mouse describes a story and its own “tail.”

Read more works and poetry by Lewis Caroll .

A Pun or a Joke?

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between a pun and a joke. The latter are narrative in nature and have structures that are meant to make people laugh. Jokes have a setup and a punchline that relieves the tension created in the narrative. Puns the other hand depend on wordplay and are a figure of speech .

Despite their differences, puns and jokes are both forms of humor and require a quick mind and clever thinking to devise.

Why Do Writers Use Puns?

Writers use puns in order to create clever, interesting, and entertaining turns of phrases. These passages, such as those mentioned above, should entertain the reader while challenging them to think about the words in a different way. The examples from Romeo and Juliet are more serious, while the example from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is more comedic. The confusion created by using puns such as in Alice is the most common way the literary device is used. Readers should expect most puns to be funny.

What is a Double Entendre?

A double entendre is a literary device, phrase, and/or figure of speech that has multiple meanings or interpretations. they are statements that can be understood in different ways and are created for the explicit purpose of having two meanings. Often, the secondary meaning is sexual in nature.

A pun is an intentional rearrangement or selection of words in order to create humor . For example, saying “This vacuum sucks” “Some bunny loves you.”

People use puns in order to create humor and make one character, or the writer themselves, seem clever. Often, the puns are simple and can be defined as slapstick.

A pun example can be seen in Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland when he uses “tail” and “tale.” Other examples include the phrases “Make like a tree and leave” and “The population in Ireland is always Dublin.”

Related Literary Terms

Aphorism: short, serious, humorous, and philosophical truths about life.
Black Humor : a literary device that’s used in all forms of literature in order to discuss taboo subjects in a less distressing way.
Comedy: a humorous and entertaining genre of literature, film, and television.
Satire/Satirical Comedy: used to analyze behaviors to make fun of, criticize, or chastise them in a humorous way.

Other Resources

Read: 101 Best Puns in the World
Read: 65 Bad Puns
Watch: How to Pun Like the Masters

Home » Literary Device » Pun

The Definitive Literary Glossary Crafted by Experts

All terms defined are created by a team of talented literary experts, to provide an in-depth look into literary terms and poetry, like no other.

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Baldwin, Emma. "Pun". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/literary-device/pun/ . Accessed 21 August 2024.

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Figure of Speech

pun examples figures of speech sentences

Figure of Speech Definition

What is a figure of speech? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

A figure of speech is a literary device in which language is used in an unusual—or "figured"—way in order to produce a stylistic effect. Figures of speech can be broken into two main groups: figures of speech that play with the ordinary meaning of words (such as metaphor , simile , and hyperbole ), and figures of speech that play with the ordinary arrangement or pattern in which words are written (such as alliteration , ellipsis , and antithesis ).

Some additional key details about figures of speech:

The ancient Greeks and Romans exhaustively listed, defined, and categorized figures of speech in order to better understand how to effectively use language. The names of most figures of speech derive from the original Greek or Latin.
Figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words are called tropes , while figures of speech that play with the order or pattern of words are called schemes .
Figures of speech can take many forms. A figure of speech can involve a single word, a phrase, an omission of a word or phrase, a repetition of words or sounds, or specific sentence structures.

Figure of Speech Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce figure of speech: fig -yer of speech

Figures of Speech vs. Figurative Language

There's a lot of confusion about the difference between the terms "figures of speech" and " figurative language ." Most of the confusion stems from the fact that different people often use "figurative language" to mean slightly different things. The two most common (and most acceptable) definitions of figurative language are:

Figurative language refers to any language that contains figures of speech. According to this definition, figurative language and figures of speech are not quite the same thing, but it's pretty darn close. The only difference is that figures of speech refer to each specific type of a figure of speech, while figurative language refers more generally to any language that contains any kind of figures of speech.
Figurative language refers to words or expressions that have non-literal meanings : This definition associates figurative language only with the category of figures of speech called tropes (which are figures of speech that play with the literal meaning of words). So according to this definition, figurative language would be any language that contains tropes, but not language that contains the figures of speech called schemes.

You might encounter people using figurative speech to mean either of the above, and it's not really possible to say which is correct. But if you know about these two different ways of relating figurative language and figures of speech, you'll be in pretty good shape.

Figures of Speech, Tropes, and Schemes

The oldest and still most common way to organize figures of speech is to split them into two main groups: tropes and schemes.

Tropes are figures of speech that involve a deviation from the expected and literal meaning of words.
Schemes are figures of speech that involve a deviation from the typical mechanics of a sentence, such as the order, pattern, or arrangement of words.

The scheme/trope classification system is by no means the only way to organize figures of speech (if you're interested, you can find all sorts of different categorization methods for figures of speech here ). But it is the most common method, and is both simple and structured enough to help you understand figures of speech.

Generally, a trope uses comparison, association, or wordplay to play with the literal meaning of words or to layer another meaning on top of a word's literal meaning. Some of the most commonly used tropes are explained briefly below, though you can get even more detail on each from its specific LitCharts entry.

Metaphor : A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another thing, even though this isn't literally true. For example, if someone says "it's raining cats and dogs," this obviously doesn't literally mean what it says—it's a metaphor that makes a comparison between the weight of "cats and dogs" and heavy rain. Metaphors are tropes because their effect relies not on the mechanics of the sentence, but rather on the association created by the use of the phrase "cats and dogs" in a non-literal manner.
Simile : A simile, like a metaphor, makes a comparison between two unrelated things. However, instead of stating that one thing is another thing (as in metaphor), a simile states that one thing is like another thing. To stick with cats and dogs, an example of a simile would be to say "they fought like cats and dogs."
Oxymoron : An oxymoron pairs contradictory words in order to express new or complex meanings. In the phrase "parting is such sweet sorrow" from Romeo and Juliet , "sweet sorrow" is an oxymoron that captures the complex and simultaneous feelings of pain and pleasure associated with passionate love. Oxymorons are tropes because their effect comes from a combination of the two words that goes beyond the literal meanings of those words.
Hyperbole : A hyperbole is an intentional exaggeration of the truth, used to emphasize the importance of something or to create a comic effect. An example of a hyperbole is to say that a backpack "weighs a ton." No backpack literally weighs a ton, but to say "my backpack weighs ten pounds" doesn't effectively communicate how burdensome a heavy backpack feels. Once again, this is a trope because its effect comes from understanding that the words mean something different from what they literally say.

Other Common Tropes

Antanaclasis
Onomatopoeia
Personification
Periphrasis
Rhetorical Question

Schemes are mechanical—they're figures of speech that tinker with words, sounds, and structures (as opposed to meanings) in order to achieve an effect. Schemes can themselves be broken down in helpful ways that define the sort of tinkering they employ.

Repetition: Repeating words, phrases, or even sounds in a particular way.
Omission: Leaving out certain words or punctuation that would normally be expected.
Changes of word order: Shifting around words or phrases in atypical ways.
Balance: Creating sentences or phrases with equal parts, often through the use of identical grammatical structures.

Some of the most commonly used schemes are explained briefly below, though you can get even more detail on each from its specific LitCharts entry.

Alliteration : In alliteration, the same sound repeats in a group of words, such as the “b” sound in: “ B ob b rought the b ox of b ricks to the b asement.” Alliteration uses repetition to create a musical effect that helps phrases to stand out from the language around them.
Assonance : A scheme in which vowel sounds repeat in nearby words, such as the "ee" sound in the proverb: "the squ ea ky wh ee l gets the gr ea se." Like alliteration, assonance uses repeated sounds to create a musical effect in which words echo one another—it's a scheme because this effect is achieved through repetition of words with certain sounds, not by playing with the meaning of words.
Ellipsis : The deliberate omission of one or more words from a sentence because their meaning is already implied. In the example, "Should I call you, or you me?" the second clause uses ellipsis. While its implication is "or should you call me," the context of the sentence allows for the omission of "should" and "call." Ellipsis is a scheme because it involves an uncommon usage of language.
Parallelism : The repetition of sentence structure for emphasis and balance. This can occur in a single sentence, such as "a penny saved is a penny earned," and it can also occur over the course of a speech, poem, or other text. Parallelism is a scheme because it creates emphasis through the mechanics of sentence structure, rather than by playing with the actual meanings of words.

Other Common Schemes

Anadiplosis
Antimetabole
Brachylogia
Epanalepsis
Parenthesis
Polysyndeton

Figure of Speech Examples

Figures of speech can make language more inventive, more beautiful, more rhythmic, more memorable, and more meaningful. It shouldn't be a surprise, then, that figures of speech are plentiful in all sorts of written language. The examples below show a variety of different types of figures of speech. You can see many more examples of each type at their own specific LitChart entries.

Figures of Speech Examples in Literature

Literature is riddled with figures of speech because figures of speech make language colorful and complex.

Metaphor in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca

On and on, now east now west, wound the poor thread that once had been our drive. Sometimes I thought it lost, but it appeared again, beneath a fallen tree perhaps, or struggling on the other side of a muddied ditch created by the winter rains.

In this quote from Rebecca , Daphne du Maurier refers to a washed-out road as "the poor thread." This is a metaphor —and a trope—because the writer indirectly compares the thread to the road and expects that readers will understand that "thread" is not used literally.

Parallelism in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

In the famous opening line of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens uses parallelism —a scheme in which parts of a sentence repeat—in order to emphasize the contradictions of the time in which the book is set. Dickens has manipulated his sentence structure so that the parallel clauses emphasize the oppositional nature of his words ("it was the best of times, it was the worst of times"). The figure of speech doesn't play with the meaning of words, it emphasizes them through structure and repetition, which is why it is a scheme.

Alliteration in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark"

In this manner, s electing it as the s ymbol of his wife's liability to s in, s orrow, d ecay, and d eath, Aylmer's s ombre imagination was not long in rendering the birthmark a frightful object, causing him more trouble and horror than ever Georgiana's beauty, whether of s oul or s ense, had given him delight.

This passage from " The Birthmark " uses alliteration to tie together all of the things that Georgiana's birthmark is supposed to symbolize. By using words that alliterate—"sin and sorrow" and "decay and death," for example—Hawthorne is making the reader feel that these ideas are connected, rather than simply stating that they are connected. Alliteration is a figure of speech—a scheme—because it uses the mechanics of language to emphasize meaning.

Verbal Irony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

For Brutus is an honorable man; So are they all, all honorable men,

This quote from Julius Caesar comes from Marc Antony's speech at Caesar's funeral. Antony needs to hold Brutus and his conspirators accountable for Caesar's death without contradicting the crowd's positive impression of Brutus, so Antony uses verbal irony to simultaneously please and trouble the crowd. On the surface, Antony says what the audience wants to hear (that Brutus is honorable), but it becomes clear over the course of his speech that he means the opposite of what he says (and over time he convinces the audience to believe this opposite meaning as well). This is a figure of speech (a trope) because it's based on a play on the meaning of Antony's words.

Figures of Speech Examples in Music

Figures of speech are also common in music. Schemes fit naturally with songs because both schemes and songs manipulate sound and rhythm to enhance the meanings of words. Music also uses many tropes, because using words that have meanings beyond their literal ones makes language more interesting, and it allows songwriters to create music that uses just a few words to imply a complex meaning.

Assonance and Metaphor in Rihanna's "Diamonds"

So sh ine br igh t ton igh t, you and I We're beautiful l i ke d i amonds in the sk y Eye to eye , so al i ve We're beautiful l i ke d i amonds in the sk y

Rihanna uses assonance when she repeats the " eye " sound throughout the chorus of "Diamonds." This make the words echo one another, which emphasizes the similarity between the singer, the person she's talking about, and the "diamonds in the sky" to which she's comparing them both. Assonance is a scheme because it's using the sound of words—not their meaning—to draw a parallel between different things.

Rihanna also uses the phrase "Diamonds in the sky" as a metaphor for stars. This is a trope—a phrase that means something other than what it literally says—as Rihanna obviously doesn't think that there are actually diamonds in the sky. This verse is a good example of how figures of speech can often work together and overlap. In this case, the metaphor that allows her to use "diamonds" instead of "stars" also fits into her use of assonance (because "stars" lacks the "eye" sound).

Personification in Green Day's "Good Riddance"

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go

While the first line of this song uses "a fork stuck in the road" as a metaphor for a choice, the more arresting figure of speech at work here is the personification of time in the second line. By giving "time" human characteristics—the ability to grab a person and tell them where to go—Green Day is helping listeners to make sense of the power that time has over people. This is a trope because the line doesn't mean what it literally says; instead, it's asking listeners to make a comparison between the characteristics of time and the characteristics of a person.

Anastrophe in Public Enemy's "Fight the Power"

Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain

In the line "Straight up racist that sucker was," Public Enemy uses anastrophe (which is the inversion of typical word order) to preserve the rhythm of the verse. Instead of saying "That sucker was straight up racist," Public Enemy chooses an odd phrasing that has one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables— " ra cist that su cker was/ Sim ple and plain ." This way, the beat falls more regularly across those two lines, which allows the rapper to make his point (that Elvis was racist) without the flow sounding awkward. Since anastrophe manipulates the order of words in order to achieve a rhythmic effect, it's a scheme.

Why Do Writers Use Figures of Speech?

Figures of speech is a category that encompasses a broad variety of literary terms, so it's difficult to give one answer to this question. Writers use different figures of speech to achieve different effects.

Schemes (figures of speech that manipulate sound, syntax, and word order) can make language more beautiful, persuasive, or memorable. Writers can use schemes to draw attention to an important passage, to create a sound that mirrors (or contrasts with) the meaning of words, or to give language a rhythm that draws the reader in. As schemes tend to work through sound and rhythm, they generally produce a visceral effect, or an effect felt in the body—broadly speaking, schemes are more sensory than intellectual.

In contrast, writers use tropes to grab the reader intellectually by adding complexity or ambiguity to an otherwise simple word or phrase. Tropes can ask the reader to make a comparison between two unlike things, they can impose human qualities on nonhumans, and they can mean the opposite of what they say. Tropes engage the intellect because the reader has to be alert to the fact that tropes do not use language at face value—a trope never means what it literally says.

All figures of speech help a writer to communicate ideas that are difficult to say in words or that are more effectively communicated non-verbally. This could be by repeating harsh consonants to create a scary atmosphere, or by using a metaphor to impose the qualities of something concrete (say, a rose) onto something more difficult to define (say, love). In general, figures of speech attempt to bring out a reader's emotion and to capture their attention by making language more colorful, surprising, and complex.

Other Helpful Figure of Speech Resources

Silva Rhetoricae on Figures of Speech : An excellent reference from BYU that explains the various ways that figures of speech have been categorized over history, including into schemes and tropes.
Silva Rhetoricae on schemes and tropes :
The Oxford Reference Page for Figure of Speech : A helpful definition of figures of speech in the context of the ancient study of rhetoric (did you know that the Roman rhetorician Quintillian defined "figure of speech" in 95 AD?)
What Are Tropes in Language? Skip to the "Distinction Between Figures and Tropes" section and read to the end—full of informative and thought-provoking discussion about tropes.
A YouTube video about tropes and schemes with pop culture examples.

The printed PDF version of the LitCharts literary term guide on Figure of Speech

Alliteration
Climax (Figure of Speech)
Figurative Language
Parallelism
Verbal Irony
Climax (Plot)
Rhyme Scheme
Static Character
Stream of Consciousness
Formal Verse
Red Herring
Anachronism
Juxtaposition

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Figure of Speech

Definition of figure of speech.

you fit into me like a hook into an eye a fish hook an open eye

Types of Figures of Speech

The term figure of speech covers a wide range of literary devices, techniques, and other forms of figurative language, a few of which include:

Common Examples of Figures of Speech Used in Conversation

Understatement.

Understatement is a figure of speech that invokes less emotion than would be expected in reaction to something. This downplaying of reaction is a surprise for the reader and generally has the effect of showing irony .

A pun is a figure of speech that contains a “ play ” on words, such as using words that mean one thing to mean something else or words that sound alike in as a means of changing meaning.

Common Examples of Figure of Speech in Writing

Euphemism is a figure of speech that refers to figurative language designed to replace words or phrases that would otherwise be considered harsh, impolite, or unpleasant.

Personification

Writing figure of speech.

Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating figures of speech into their work:

Figure of Speech as Artistic Use of Language

Figure of speech as entertainment for reader, figure of speech as memorable experience for reader, examples of figure of speech in literature, example 1: the great gatsby (f. scott fitzgerald).

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.

Example 2: One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)

Both described at the same time how it was always March there and always Monday, and then they understood that José Arcadio Buendía was not as crazy as the family said, but that he was the only one who had enough lucidity to sense the truth of the fact that time also stumbled and had accidents and could therefore splinter and leave an eternalized fragment in a room.

In this passage, Garcia Marquez utilizes personification as a figure of speech. Time is personified as an entity that “stumbled” and “had accidents.” This is an effective use of figurative language in that this personification of time indicates a level of human frailty that is rarely associated with something so measured. In addition, this is effective in the novel as a figure of speech because time has a great deal of influence on the plot and characters of the story. Personified in this way, the meaning of time in the novel is enhanced to the point that it is a character in and of itself.

Example 3: Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury)

A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?

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What is Pun? Meaning, Examples and Usage

Simple Pun Examples: How to Use a Pun?

Puns are fun. They can be used delightfully, humorously, jokingly and even seriously. They improve the context of your speech, often adding personality, charisma and character to it. Likewise, they add a whole new layer of meaning and subject to your sentence or speech, thus making it stand out in a unique and uplifting manner. But what is a Pun, and how do we use it? How to use a Pun as a figure of speech and what really makes puns stand out from your normal joke. Read on to find out.

Interesting Facts About Puns

involved.

What is Pun?

All that being said, what exactly is a pun? A pun is defined as ‘a form of wordplay that exploits the multiple meanings of a word or the similarity in sound between two words for humorous or rhetorical effect’. It often involves a play on words that sound alike but have different meanings or spellings.

For example, If someone says, "I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough," they are using a pun. The word "dough" refers both to the mixture used in baking and slang for money. The joke is funny because it plays on the double meaning of "dough."

Using Puns like these, can often take your speech to the next level and make you stand out, especially as a funny and humorous person. Puns are mostly harmless, untargeted and are not meant to offend or harm anyone or any emotion and can usually cement you as a pretty funny person in people’s minds.

Read on to find out, how you can form your own puns and the process that goes into creating a good pun.

How to Form Puns?

While forming pun figure of speech into your vocabulary , it may seem like quite a difficult task. However, with the correct recognition and practise, you too can start forming puns with ease.

Identify Words with Multiple Meanings:

Start by choosing words that spell the same, but have more than one meaning. For example, the word "bank" can mean a financial institution or the side of a river. These are referred to as homographs.

Find Words That Sound Alike:

Look for words that sound the same or similar but have different meanings. For example, "knight" and "night" sound alike but mean different things. These are known as homophones

Consider Common Expressions:

Think about common phrases or idioms and how they might be altered with a play on words. For instance, "Break a leg" is a common expression wishing someone good luck, but you can play with it by referring to someone who actually broke a leg.

Combine Words Creatively:

Create a pun by combining words in an unexpected way. For example, "I'm reading a book on antigravity. It's impossible to put down." This plays on "impossible to put down," which can mean both "very interesting" and "literal difficulty in putting it down due to antigravity."

Play with Spelling and Sound:

Modify spelling slightly to create a humorous effect. For instance, "A will is a dead giveaway" plays on the word "giveaway" in the context of a will and a humorous interpretation of the phrase.

Practice with Examples:

To get better at forming puns, practice by coming up with examples and seeing what works. For example, “Why did the scarecrow become a successful neurosurgeon? Because he was outstanding in his field.” This pun combines the literal and metaphorical meanings of "outstanding."

Keep Studying Up on New Words:

One fool-proof way to better your understanding of words is to constantly brush up and keep learning new and new words. The internet, dictionaries and other sources such as books and magazines.

Simple Pun Examples

Given below are some straightforward, simple examples of the Pun figure of speech:

"I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough."

Plays on "dough" meaning both bread mixture and money.

"What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear."

"Gummy" refers both to a bear-shaped candy and the lack of teeth.

"How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together."

Combines "igloos" with "glues."

"Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field."

"Outstanding" is used both literally and figuratively.

"What do you call fake spaghetti? An impasta."

Plays on "imposter" and "pasta."

"Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything."

"Make up" has a dual meaning of composing and lying.

"What did the big flower say to the little flower? ‘Hey, bud!’"

"Bud" refers to a flower and a casual greeting.

"Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants? In case he got a hole in one."

"Hole in one" plays on golf terminology and clothing.

"What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese."

Plays on "nacho" sounding like "not your."

"What do you call a can opener that doesn’t work? A can’t opener."

Uses "can’t" as a play on "can."

"Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired."

"Two-tired" sounds like "too tired."

"What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite."

"Frostbite" combines snow and vampire elements.

"Why did the maths book look sad? Because it had too many problems."

Uses "problems" in both maths and emotional contexts.

"How does a scientist freshen her breath? With experi-mints."

Combines "experiments" with "mints."

"What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator."

"Investigator" plays on "in a vest."

"What’s orange and sounds like a parrot? A carrot."

"Carrot" sounds like "parrot" for humorous effect.

"Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts."

"Guts" plays on courage and bodily organs.

"What did one wall say to the other wall? I’ll meet you at the corner."

Uses "corner" in a literal and conversational sense.

"Why did the tomato turn red? Because it saw the salad dressing."

"Dressing" is used for both salad and clothing.

"What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing, it just waved."

Uses "waved" in the context of both hand movements and ocean waves.

Some more extensive examples of Puns:

Given below are some more examples of Puns with a more extensive vocabulary. These will make you sound extremely smart and attract the attention of speakers.

"I’m on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it."

This pun plays on the phrase "seafood diet," which sounds like "see food diet." The joke lies in the humorous misunderstanding that "seafood" means one simply eats everything they see.

"The man who survived both mustard gas and pepper spray is a seasoned veteran now."

This pun uses "seasoned veteran" to refer to someone with military experience, while also playing on "seasoned" as a term related to spices like mustard and pepper.

"The mathematician’s plants stopped growing because he found square roots too difficult."

"Square roots" refers to both mathematical terms and roots of plants. The pun lies in the double meaning of "square roots" causing the plants to stop growing.

"I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised."

This pun plays on the dual meaning of "looked surprised"—both the emotional state and the physical appearance resulting from drawing high eyebrows.

"The bakery caught fire. The bread is toast."

"Toast" refers to both the literal state of bread when burned and a colloquial expression meaning ruined. The pun combines both meanings for comedic effect.

"Why don’t programmers like nature? It has too many bugs."

This pun uses "bugs" to play on the technical term for software errors and the literal insects found in nature, suggesting that programmers avoid nature due to its "bugs."

"I’m reading a book about antigravity. It’s impossible to put down. I tried, but the book wouldn’t let me. It’s a real page-turner!"

This multi-layered pun combines the idea of antigravity making a book impossible to put down with the common expression "page-turner," which describes a captivating book. The humour comes from blending literal and figurative meanings.

Pun Examples from TV shows

TV Shows are an interesting and expansive medium of entertainment. It is only natural that the usage of puns would occur occasionally to spice up the dialogues. Here are some puns used in famous TV shows:

Show	Pun	Explanation
The Big Bang Theory	"What did the proton say to the electron? ‘I’ve got positive feelings about you.’"	A pun on "positive," referring both to the proton’s charge and positive emotions.
Parks and Recreation	"I’m a big fan of whiteboards. They’re remarkable."	The pun on "remarkable" combines "remark" with "able," describing the whiteboard.
Friends	"We were on a break!"	This recurring line plays on the multiple interpretations of the phrase "on a break."
The Simpsons	"Homer: ‘D'oh!’ Marge: ‘You know, Homer, when you say ‘D'oh,’ you don’t sound very intelligent.’ Homer: ‘I don't know, Marge, it sounds like ‘D'oh,’ which is both a word and a sound.’"	A play on the word "D'oh," used by Homer to express frustration, with a self-referential twist acknowledging the pun.
How I Met Your Mother	"Barney: ‘Have you met Ted?’"	Plays on the standard greeting of meeting someone, turning it into a pun for introducing Ted.

Pun examples from Literature

It is only natural for puns to be extensively used in literature, especially if they are being used in movies and TV shows. Here are some popular puns and wordplays from some famous works of literature.

Work	Pun	Explanation
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll	"I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then."	Plays on "different person" both literally (change over time) and figuratively (personal transformation).
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare	"He is not the flower of courtesy, but only the rose of love."	Contrasts "flower" as a symbol of courtesy with "rose" as a symbol of romantic love.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare	"The course of true love never did run smooth."	Uses "course" and "smooth" to comment on the difficulties of love.
The Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams	"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."	Plays on "illusion" and "doubly so" to humorously address the subjective nature of time, especially lunchtime.
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde	"I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner. The only way to eat muffins is calmly."	Plays on the contrast between "agitated" and "calmly" to humorously reflect on proper muffin enjoyment.

Test Your Knowledge on Puns

1. What is a pun?

A. A form of wordplay exploiting similar-sounding words or multiple meanings

B. A type of riddle with a hidden answer

C. A joke that relies on visual elements

D. A clever use of mathematical terms

2. Which of the following is an example of a pun?

A. “I went to the bank to check my balance.”

B. “The cat sat on the mat.”

C. “The bicycle couldn’t stand up by itself because it was two-tired.”

D. “She sells seashells by the seashore.”

3. How does the pun in “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough” function?

A. It uses the word "dough" to refer to both baking material and money

B. It plays on the similarity between "dough" and "doughnut"

C. It contrasts "dough" with "bread"

D. It refers to a baking term and a type of pastry

4. What does the pun “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana” play on?

A. The similarity between "time flies" and "fruit flies"

B. The dual meaning of "flies" and "like"

C. The concept of time travel and fruit consumption

D. The speed of time versus fruit ripening

5. What is a homophone?

A. A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling

B. A word that has the same meaning as another word

C. A word that looks the same as another word but has a different meaning

D. A word that has multiple meanings but is spelled the same

Check Your Answers Below:

Ans . A form of wordplay exploiting similar-sounding words or multiple meanings.

Ans. “The bicycle couldn’t stand up by itself because it was two-tired.”

3. How does the pun in “I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough” function?

Ans. It uses the word "dough" to refer to both baking material and money

Ans. The dual meaning of "flies" and "like"

Ans. A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling

Important Takeaways from Puns

Puns are a form of wordplay that exploits the multiple meanings of a word or the similarity in sound between two words for humorous or rhetorical effect.

It often involves a play on words that sound alike but have different meanings or spellings.

Puns use Homophones and Homographs as their main basis of formation and rely largely on double meaning or similar sounding words to have a comical effect.

They add a layer of humour to a conversation.

Puns have been used since early history as well as more modern settings such as TV shows, Movies, and Literature.

FAQs on What is Pun? Meaning, Examples and Usage

A pun is a figure of speech that plays on the multiple meanings of a word or similar-sounding words to create a humorous or rhetorical effect. It exploits words that sound alike but have different meanings, or words with multiple meanings, to generate a play on words.

2. What is the purpose of using a pun?

The purpose of using a pun is to create humour, add wit, or engage the audience by exploiting the dual meanings or similar sounds of words. Puns can make language more entertaining and memorable.

3. Can you provide some simple pun examples?

Certainly! Here are a few simple pun examples:

"I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t make enough dough." (Plays on "dough" referring to both baking material and money.)

"Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts." (Plays on the word "guts" referring both to courage and internal organs.)

"I’m reading a book about antigravity. It’s impossible to put down." (Plays on "impossible to put down" referring to both the captivating nature of the book and the concept of antigravity.)

4. What is a pun as a figure of speech?

As a figure of speech, a pun is a playful use of words that relies on their multiple meanings or similar sounds to create humour or a clever twist. It often involves words that are pronounced the same or similarly but have different meanings, or words with multiple meanings.

5. How do puns differ from other types of wordplay?

Puns specifically exploit the multiple meanings of words or similar-sounding words for a humorous effect. Unlike other types of wordplay, such as riddles or metaphors, puns focus on the phonetic similarity or dual meanings of words.

6. What are some examples of puns in literature?

Examples of puns in literature include:

"I can’t go back to yesterday because I was a different person then" from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

"The course of true love never did run smooth" from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.

"Time is an illusion. Lunchtime, doubly so" from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

7. How can I create my own puns?

To create your own puns, think about words with multiple meanings or similar-sounding words. Consider how these words can be used in a new context to create a humorous or clever twist. Experiment with different combinations to find a play on words that works.

8. What is the significance of puns in communication?

Puns add a layer of wit and playfulness to communication. They can make conversations more engaging, memorable, and entertaining. Puns also help in conveying messages in a light-hearted manner and can be used effectively in marketing and storytelling.

9. Are there any cultural differences in how puns are perceived?

Yes, puns can vary in their effectiveness and perception across different cultures. Cultural references, language nuances, and local idioms can affect how puns are understood and appreciated. What is humorous in one language or culture might not translate well into another.

10. Where can I find more examples of puns?

More examples of puns can be found in literature, movies, TV shows, and everyday conversations. Books on humour, language resources, and online platforms dedicated to wordplay often feature a variety of puns to explore and enjoy.

Literary Terms
Figures of Speech
Definition & Examples
When & How to Use Figures of Speech

I. What are Figures of Speech?

A figure of speech is a word or phrase using figurative language—language that has other meaning than its normal definition. In other words, figures of speeches rely on implied or suggested meaning, rather than a dictionary definition. We express and develop them through hundreds of different rhetorical techniques, from specific types like metaphors and similes , to more general forms like sarcasm and slang.

Figures of speech make up a huge portion of the English language, making it more creative, more expressive, and just more interesting! Many have been around for hundreds of years—some even thousands—and more are added to our language essentially every day. This article will focus on a few key forms of figures of speech, but remember, the types are nearly endless!

III. Types of Figure of Speech

There are countless figures of speech in every language, and they fall into hundreds of categories. Here, though, is a short list of some of the most common types of figure of speech:

A. Metaphor

Many common figures of speech are metaphors. That is, they use words in a manner other than their literal meaning. However, metaphors use figurative language to make comparisons between unrelated things or ideas. The “peak of her career,” for example, is a metaphor, since a career is not a literal mountain with a peak , but the metaphor represents the idea of arriving at the highest point of one’s career.

An idiom is a common phrase with a figurative meaning. Idioms are different from other figures of speech in that their figurative meanings are mostly known within a particular language, culture, or group of people. In fact, the English language alone has about 25,000 idioms. Some examples include “it’s raining cats and dogs” when it is raining hard, or “break a leg” when wishing someone good luck.

This sentence uses an idiom to make it more interesting:

There’s a supermarket and a pharmacy in the mall, so if we go there, we can kill two birds with one stone.

The idiom is a common way of saying that two tasks can be completed in the same amount of time or same place.

A proverb is a short, commonplace saying that is universally understood in today’s language and used to express general truths. “Don’t cry over spilt milk” is a popular example. Most proverbs employ metaphors (e.g. the proverb about milk isn’t literally about milk).

This example uses a proverb to emphasize the situation:

I know you think you’re going to sell all of those cookies, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

Here, “don’t count your chickens before they hatch” means that you shouldn’t act like something has happened before it actually does.

A simile is a very common figure of speech that uses the words “like” and “as” to compare two things that are not related by definition. For example, “he is as tall as a mountain,” doesn’t mean he was actually 1,000 feet tall, it just means he was really tall.

This example uses a simile for comparison:

The internet is like a window to the world —you can learn about everything online!

The common phrase “window to the world” refers to a hypothetical window that lets you see the whole world from it. So, saying the internet is like a window to the world implies that it lets you see anything and everything.

E. Oxymoron

An oxymoron is when you use two words together that have contradictory meanings. Some common examples include s mall crowd, definitely possible, old news, little giant , and so on.

A metonym is a word or phrase that is used to represent something related to bigger meaning. For example, fleets are sometimes described as being “thirty sails strong,” meaning thirty (curiously, this metonym survives in some places, even when the ships in question are not sail-powered!) Similarly, the crew on board those ships may be described as “hands” rather than people.

Irony is when a word or phrase’s literal meaning is the opposite of its figurative meaning. Many times (but not always), irony is expressed with sarcasm (see Related Terms). For example, maybe you eat a really bad cookie, and then say “Wow, that was the best cookie I ever had”—of course, what you really mean is that it’s the worst cookie you ever had, but being ironic actually emphasizes just how bad it was!

IV. The Importance of Figures of Speech

In general, the purpose of a figure of speech is to lend texture and color to your writing. (This is itself a figure of speech, since figures of speech don’t actually change the colors or textures on the page!) For instance, metaphors allow you to add key details that make the writing more lively and relatable. Slang and verbal irony, on the other hand, make the writing seem much more informal and youthful (although they can have the opposite effect when misused!) Finally, other figures of speech, like idioms and proverbs, allows a writer to draw on a rich cultural tradition and express complex ideas in a short space.

V. Examples of Figures of Speech in Literature

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.” (William Shakespeare, As You Like It)

This is one of the most famous metaphors ever crafted in the English language. Shakespeare uses his extended metaphor to persuade the audience of the similarities between the stage and real life. But rather than making his play seem more like life, he suggests that life is more like a play. His metaphor calls attention to the performative, creative, and fictional aspects of human life.

“Our words are b ut crumbs that fall down from the feast o f the mind.” (Khalil Gibran, Sand & Foam )

Gibran’s timeless metaphor succeeds for a number of reasons. For one thing, it is not a cliché – had Gibran said “words are just the tip of the iceberg ,” he would have been making roughly the same point, but in a much more clichéd way. But the feast of the mind is a highly original metaphor. In addition, it’s a successful double metaphor. The crumbs and the feast are two parts of the same image, but they work together rather than being “mixed” (see How to Use Figures of Speech ).

“If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both.” (Russian Proverb)

Like many proverbs, this one draws on a simple metaphor of chasing rabbits. The rabbits can stand in for all sorts of objectives, from jobs to relationships, but the coded message is quite clear – focus your energy on a single objective, or you will likely fail. This literal statement, though, is quite dry and not terribly memorable, which shows the power of figures of speech.

VI. Examples of Figures of Speech in Pop Culture

The chorus to Sean Kingston’s Fire Burning contains a couple of figures of speech. First of all, there’s the word “shorty” used as a slang term (see Related Terms ) for a young woman. She may or may not be literally short, but the figure of speech applies either way (though it could easily be taken as belittling and derogatory). Second, Kingston sings the metaphor: “she’s fire, burning on the dance floor.” Hopefully this is a figure of speech and not a literal statement; otherwise, Kingston and everyone else in the club are in mortal danger!

“Oh, thanks! This is much better!” (Townspeople, South Park )

This is an example of irony. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, South Park satirized the government’s response to the disaster by writing about a similar disaster in South Park. In a bumbling effort to rescue people from the floods, the authorities accidentally spill oil on the flood waters and set it on fire, making the situation far more dangerous. In response, they ironically “thank” the people responsible—their meaning is obviously the opposite of their words!

Years of talks between Washington and Havana resulted in Obama’s historic visit to Cuba on March 21st. (Patreon 2016)

This is a common form of metonym in foreign policy and news media. The capital city of a country is used as a metonym for the national government. The talks, of course, are not literally between these two cities, but between the leaders and government officials of the two countries (US and Cuba).

VII. Related Terms

Literal and figurative language.

Language is generally divided into two categories: literal, and figurative. Literal language relies on the real definition of words and phrases, or their literal meanings. Figurative language, on the other hand, relies on implied meanings, which can be understood differently depending on the location or who is using it. For example, “the sky is blue” relies on the literal definition of the word “blue,” while “I am feeling blue” relies on the figurative definition. All figures of speech rely on the use of figurative language for their meaning.

Sarcasm is mocking or bitter language that we use to express different meaning than what we say; often the exact opposite. When your intended meaning is the opposite of the literal meaning, that’s irony (another type of figure of speech), which includes common phrases like “Oh, great…” when you really mean something is bad.

Slang is language that uses atypical words and phrases to express specific meanings. It varies greatly by region, demographic, and language—for example, you would find different slang in the U.S. and in the U.K. even though they are both English speaking countries. Likewise, teenagers and the elderly will use different slang terms, as would Spanish and English. Many slang terms are figures of speech. For example, “bro” could be used to describe a friend rather than an actual brother; this would be using the word as a figure of speech.

List of Terms

Alliteration
Amplification
Anachronism
Anthropomorphism
Antonomasia
APA Citation
Aposiopesis
Autobiography
Bildungsroman
Characterization
Circumlocution
Cliffhanger
Comic Relief
Connotation
Deus ex machina
Deuteragonist
Doppelganger
Double Entendre
Dramatic irony
Equivocation
Extended Metaphor
Flash-forward
Foreshadowing
Intertextuality
Juxtaposition
Literary Device
Malapropism
Onomatopoeia
Parallelism
Pathetic Fallacy
Personification
Point of View
Polysyndeton
Protagonist
Red Herring
Rhetorical Device
Rhetorical Question
Science Fiction
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Synesthesia
Turning Point
Understatement
Urban Legend
Verisimilitude
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Pun Examples: Figures of Speech For Students

admin February 28, 2019 Figures of Speech 7,817 Views

Pun Examples: Figures of Speech

Kinds of puns.

A pun can be of two types: Typographic and Visual. Typographic is further divided into five:

Homophonic – They use homophones (similar sounding word pairs) which are not synonymous. Example: Why is it so wet in England? Because many kings and queens have reigned there.
Homographic – These kinds of puns are where words are spelled the same (homographs) but have different meanings and sounds. Example: You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna fish. Unless of course you play bass.
Homonymic -These words are both homographs and homophones.Example: Bank (meaning embankment) and bank (where money is kept).
Compound – That contains two or more puns in the same sentence. Example: Where do you find giant snails? On the ends of giants’ fingers (obviously reading giant snails as giant’s nails).
Recursive – In this case, the second aspect of the pun relies on the understanding of the first Example: Infinity is not infinity.

Visual Puns – They are those which use non-phonetic writing.

Example: In ‘The Muppet Movie’, Kermit and Fozzie are driving. Then Kermit looks at the map and says they need to turn at the fork in the road. At this point, he lowers the map at which point and sees a giant fork in the middle of the road.

Other Pun Examples:

A pyrotechnician should know how fireworks.
The math teacher was an exponent of his own powers.
I work as a baker because I knead the dough.
A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
Our social studies teacher says that her globe means the world to her.
The principle part of a horse is the mane, of course.
Do hotel managers get board with their jobs?
I met a man who loves eating couches. I think he has a suite tooth.
Dieting is a matter of life and breadth.
Without geometry, life is pointless.
Since her kind gift of a lemon cake, I rate her as one of Madeirafriends.
The best way to communicate with a fish is to drop them a line.
I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Jokes: Pun Examples

Did you hear about the Frenchman who jumped off the Eiffel Tower wearing a parachute and landed in the river? The police didn’t arrest him because he was clearly in Seine
The star asked the sun why the moon was always up so late. Sun responded that it was just a phase.
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other, ‘You stay here; I’ll go on a-head’.
Three brothers bought a ranch in Texas and planned to raise cattle. They couldn’t think of a name for their ranch so they asked their mother, who said, “You should name it ‘Focus.'” The brothers were puzzled. “Why?” they asked. “Because,” said their mother, “‘Focus’ is where the sun’s rays meet.”
Do you know why it’s easy for a hunter to find a leopard? Because a leopard is always spotted.
A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, ‘No change yet.’

In Literature

If you see kay Tell him he may See you in tea Tell him from me – James Joyce.
Mercutio: Nay, gentle Romeo, we must have you dance. Romeo: Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes. With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead. So stakes me to the ground I cannot move – Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare.
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done / For I have more. That at my death Thy Son / Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore And having done that, Thou hast done; / I fear no more – A Hymn to God The Father.
Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York – Richard III, William Shakespeare.

Funny Newspaper Headlines

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Safety Experts Say School Bus Passengers Should Be Belted
Juvenile Court Tried Shooting Defendant
Farmer Bill Dies in House
Eye Drops Off Shelf
Hospitals are Sued by Seven Foot Doctors

The examples of puns above give you a general idea about their usage in literature and daily communication in today’s language. The first puns were used in ancient Egypt while interpreting dreams. Hope this article has been a ‘pun’ reading! Oops, fun!

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Pun Figure of Speech

Figures of speech are literary devices which are used to convey ideas that go beyond their literal meaning. In English, there are more than 200 different types of figures of speech .

The “Pun Figure of Speech” is one of them.

Pun Figure of Speech Meaning

A pun is a figure of speech where different meanings of the same word are exploited for poetic or comic effect. In a clever way, it gives the word a “double meaning.” It exploits both the literal and the figurative meaning of the word.

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A pessimist‘s blood type is always B-negative . (It is a play on the word negative because pessimists always have a negative outlook on life.)
An elephant‘s opinion carries a lot of weight . (The word ‘weight‘ stands for the elephant‘s weight in the literal sense and for its figurative sense.)

Pun Figure of Speech Examples

“winter of our discontent…made glorious summer by this Son of York.” — Shakespeare , Richard III (The word ‘Son‘ also puns on its homophone ‘Sun‘ since summer and winter are referenced in the sentence.)

“I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest , didn‘t I? Well, it is Ernest after all. I mean it naturally is Ernest .” (The speaker puns on the word ‘Earnest‘. Along with stating his name, he also wants to emphasise his earnestness.) Oscar Wilde , The Importance of Being Earnest

‘You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn round on its axis –’ ‘Talking of axes ,‘ said the Duchess, ‘chop off her head!‘ — Lewis Carroll , Alice in Wonderland

“Not I, believe me. You have dancing shoes with nimble soles ; I have a soul of lead” (The words ‘sole‘ and ‘soul‘ are homophones.) —Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

You Asked, We Listened – List of All Grammar Chapters Updated 😍😍

32 Of Ted Lasso's Funniest Lines

You better "Believe" these lines are hysterical.

Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso walking down the street.

Masterminded by SNL alum and comedy legend Jason Sudeikis , Ted Lasso proved itself as a one-of-a-kind comedy over the course of its three seasons. The characters all had their own senses of humor, and the beating heart of the show revolved around the titular character’s optimism and unique outlook on life. When you mix all of that together you end up with an endless list of wonderfully funny quotes from the show, however, today we’re only going to go through 32 of them.

Ted and Beard peeking into Rebecca's office on Ted Lasso.

“If that’s a joke, I love it. If not, can’t wait to unpack that with you later.” -Ted Lasso

After Ted meets Rebecca and she says that “Ms. Welton” is her “father,” Ted was not quite sure how to take his new boss’s comment. So, with his Southern charm, he responded in the only way he knew how: funnily addressing both possible outcomes of Rebecca’s quippy line.

“I never know how to react when a grown man beatboxes in front of me.” -Keeley Jones

I don’t think there’s much like meeting someone for the first time and having them beatbox at you. In the first episode of Ted Lasso , that’s exactly what happened to Keeley when she met the new coach. Of course, it got even funnier when you realized that he only started beatboxing because she had asked if he tweeted, and he responded by saying no, but he could do this.

“I always thought tea was going to taste like hot brown water. And do you know what? I was right. It’s horrible.” -Ted Lasso

Now, Ted might be known for his poignant life lessons, optimistic outlook, and kindness. However, one thing he’s not afraid to diss is tea. The man can’t get behind the beloved hot beverage, and he’s not afraid to make his grievances known, as he did in this fantastic quote.

“I never know how to react when a grown man does the Carlton in front of me.” -Roy Kent

At one point, Ted was attempting to prove to Roy that Alfonso Ribeiro is the “greatest physical comedian of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries,” because of how iconic the Carlton dance is. In response, Brett Goldstein’s character reacted the same way Keeley reacted to Ted's beatboxing, which was warranted and very funny.

Ted Lasso talking enthusiastically with his hands out.

“It's just a group of people who care, Roy. Not unlike folks at a hip-hop concert whose hands are not in the air.” -Ted Lasso

When Roy learned about AFC Richmond’s love-life support group, The Diamond Dogs, he was disgusted, as you’d expect from the gumbly guy. However, Ted’s response made the whole interaction even better when he likened the crew of coaches – and Higgins – to the group of people at a hip-hop concert who aren’t waving their hands in the air like they just don’t care.

Jamie pointing and Roy standing next to him on Ted Lasso.

“I forget how skittish elderly people could be 'cause of the war.” -Jamie Tartt

There’s a very nice moment in Season 3 where Jamie tries to hug Roy and fails. Despite Phil Dunster and Brett Goldstein sharing a deep love and friendship in real life, on screen, it takes a while for their characters to warm up to each other. And that’s greatly illustrated by Roy saying Jamie came at him “too fast,” and the footballer responded by making fun of his coach’s age.

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"I believe in Communism. Rom-communism, that is. If Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan can go through some heartfelt struggles and still end up happy, then so can we." -Ted Lasso

In the episode “Rainbow,” Ted tries to woo Roy back to AFC Richmond by taking inspiration from some of the best rom-coms . While Roy hates every second of it, it does work, proving that the coach’s belief in Rom-communism is real, and it works.

Phil Dunster as Jamie wearing a hat that says

“Coach, I’m me. Why would I want to be anything else?” -Jamie Tartt

Back in the day, before I liked Jamie Tartt , I was typically quite annoyed by him. However, when asked if he’d rather be a lion or a panda, he responded with this genius line which gave him a few points. However, I didn’t fully come around to the self-assured footballer until Season 3.

Ted standing in front of the Tower Bridge.

“Coach, I got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore. Hey, I’ve never said that while not in Kansas before.” -Ted Lasso

We love a Wizard of Oz reference, and since Ted and Coach Beard are, in fact, from Kansas, this line was perfect for when they touched down in London and went to see the Tower Bridge.

Dani talking to his teammates on Ted Lasso.

“I would like to see a tulip…No, no, just one tulip. An entire field would be incredibly overwhelming.” -Dani Rojas

While Jamie and Roy were off riding bikes and Ted was on a spiritual journey with barbecue sauce, the rest of the team was trying to figure out what to do with their time in Amsterdam. Dani’s suggestion was to see one tulip. No, not a field of tulips, that would be “incredibly overwhelming.” He simply wanted to see a single tulip.

"Well, yeah, you got Ronaldo and the fellow who bends it like himself." -Ted Lasso

During his first press conference, the journalists all found out Ted wasn’t exactly football savvy. While he knows American football, soccer was not his thing. So, when the conference broke into chaos, one reporter asked the coach if he could even name a footballer, and Jason Sudeikis’ character responded in a very funny, yet clueless, way.

“Does my face look like it’s in the mood for shape-based jokes?” -Roy Kent

You know, I don’t think Roy is ever in the “mood for shape-based jokes.” However, I’m happy he clarified. What makes this line even funnier is it was Goldstein’s character’s response to Ted telling him that he was stuck in “life’s most complicated shape,” a love triangle.

Keeley laying in Rebecca's lap, they're both on their phones.

“I need to reapply my lip liner. Men don’t know what that means and women understand it requires time and focus.” -Rebecca Welton

When Rebecca told Keeley about a code word for when you need to use the bathroom, she not only gave people great life advice, she also provided us with a very smart and hilarious line.

Roy on the pitch looking out at the team. There is no whistle around his neck.

“I told you, my lips are sensitive to impure metals and whistles give me mouth hives.” -Roy Kent

“WHISTLE!” is what our favorite guy Roy Kent yells every time he needs to get the team's attention, because he doesn’t want to use a real whistle. The reasoning, you might ask? Well, it’s because he’s “sensitive to impure metals,” obviously.

Jamie saying "it's just poop-eh" in Ted Lasso.

“Remember, it’s just poop-eh. Let it flow.” -Jamie Tartt

Phil Dunster said his favorite word to say as Jamie was “poop-eh,” and how could it not when it’s part of a brilliant line like this? On top of this being a turning point for the character, it was also a funny line that highlighted Jamie’s Mancunian accent in a fun and silly way.

Roy glaring in a classroom on Ted Lasso.

“This isn’t black. This is dark heather charcoal.” -Roy Kent

Roy Kent is not one to wear color, however, never say he wears just black. The guy is a fan of nuanced dark color palettes, as illustrated by this quote.

Ted and Beard standing next to each other in the locker room.

"One more person says something that me and Beard don't understand, I'm gonna have one of my son's classic temper tantrums.” -Ted Lasso

Out of context, this quote is funny because seeing a grown man throw a fit like an 8-year-old is quite amusing. However, in context, it gets even better. That’s because Ted gets all riled up because the team was talking about the cursed treatment room and he has no idea about the lore.

“Howdy, y’all cowboys. My name is Ted Lasso and I’m from Kansas. Pow! Pow! Pow!” -Roy Kent

Roy doesn’t strike me as a man who does impressions, and he proved that when he attempted, and failed, at impersonating Ted. The begrudging player was working very hard to not like his new coach, and at one point he was so fed up with him that he did this wild impersonation of him at Keeley.

“Caesar you later.” -Higgins

When Ted slams back into a room to recognize a pun, you know you’ve made it. That’s exactly what happened to Higgins at this moment when he mentioned that he was getting Caesar salads with the coach, and when Ted started leaving he quipped the brilliant line above.

"Well, fellas, if you're looking for a pep talk from me, you're in trouble. 'Cause I'm like Michael Flatley at 11:59 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, I'm tapped out." -Ted Lasso

Long-winded puns and jokes are Ted’s thing, and this is a fabulous example of that. Not to mention, he went out with a bang because this was how he started his last speech as the coach of AFC Richmond during the Season 3 finale of Ted Lasso . However, while he claimed to be “tapped out,” he really wasn’t, because, at halftime of this match, he gave a lovely speech to his team.

Phil Dunster looking a bit confused as Jamie on Ted Lasso.

“God bless me, everyone.” -Jamie Tartt

You have to give Jamie his props for having so much self-confidence. While it’s a bit much at times, it’s also hilarious, especially when we’re graced with lines like this one from Season 2’s holiday special.

Dani Rojas smiling with the wind in his hair on Ted Lasso.

“Football is life!” -Dani Rojas

Coming in hot, running onto the pitch, human golden retriever Dani Rojas bolted into his introduction singing, yelling his name, running in circles and enthusiastically saying the line that would become his catchphrase: “Football is life!”

"I do. But more importantly, I think they need to believe in themselves. You know?" -Ted Lasso

While they actually deal with a curse and maybe ghosts later in Season 1, metaphorically speaking, Rebecca asked Ted early on if he believes in ghosts. Then, in the most on-brand way, the coach responded by saying he does, and more importantly, those spirits need “to believe in themselves.”

Higgins standing next to Rebecca who is handing over a phone.

“Oh, god. Did we really make Michael Jordan cry?” -Rebecca Welton

Listen, what happened to the late greyhound Earl is not a laughing matter. However, the damage control afterward was quite funny, and as Rebecca started coming to terms with the PR disaster that was ahead of them she recited this great line about the iconic Michael Jordan crying meme.

Coach Beard looking distressed on Ted Lasso.

“No Fight Club!” -Coach Beard

After AFC Richmond had a rough game, the team got a little aggressive with each other. When Jamie and Roy started to fight, Ted broke it up, and when he asked Beard what the first rule of his fight club was, Brendan Hunt’s assistant coach yelled the slightly modified Fight Club quote above.

"I always feel so bad for the cows, but you gotta do it; otherwise, they get lost. That was a branding joke. If we were in Kansas right now, I'd just be sitting here waiting for you to finish laughing." -Ted Lasso

When Rebecca told Ted she had to go to a branding meeting, the coach made a joke that would have gone over so well with a group of farmers. However, with the owner of the team…not so much. Honestly, the joke bombing and Ted’s explanation after made it even better.

Jamie on a talk show sitting on a couch with his hands on the sides.

“Old people are so wise. They're like tall Yodas.” -Jamie Tartt

After Jamie was voted off a reality show, he was a bit lost and he went to Ted to ask for a place back on that team. During that conversation, the beloved bartender, Mae, gave the player some advice, and he gave her this very odd yet sweet compliment.

Keeley talking like she's at a press conference on Ted Lasso.

“Hi. Keeley Jones, The Independent Woman.” -Keeley Jones

Roy and Keeley are so sweet together, and one of their silliest yet genuine moments came when she forced him to do a press conference for only her, and she bounced around the room slating herself as Keeley Jones from some sort of Independent Woman publication and asking him questions about their first date.

Ted sitting in a chair and Roy sitting next to him submerged in a trash can full of ice water.

"You beating yourself up is like Woody Allen playing the clarinet. I don't wanna hear it. All right?" -Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso, king of getting people to think positively and highly of themselves, really came through for Roy with this honestly wild, yet impactful line. I write this because, yes, I never want to hear Woody Allen play the clarinet, and it does illustrate just how awful beating yourself up sounds and is.

Beard and Ted looking out at the field on Ted Lasso.

“You got the boot from putting boots in the boot.” -Coach Beard

Ted and Beard love to give each other little riddles, and after Ted said:

If I were to get fired from my job where I'm putting cleats in the trunk of my car.

Coach Beard responded with the line above which is redundant in the funniest and most clever way.

“That Rebecca is an intimidating, very tall woman. I mean, the minute she locked eyes with me, I started sweating.” - Keeley Jones

Back before Keeley and Rebecca were besties, Juno Temple ’s character was both in awe of and intimidated by Hannah Waddingham’s. Who can blame her? She is indeed a “very tall woman,” who can be intimidating when she needs to, and it’s one of the reasons why we love her so much.

Ted standing on the field talking to the team.

"All right, fellas, you gotta remember, your body is like day-old rice. If it ain't warmed up properly, something real bad could happen." -Ted Lasso

This is maybe the best and most creative workout advice I’ve read. We all likely know what day-old rice tastes like if it’s cold, and the answer is bad and weird. Well if your body is not stretched and warmed up before a physical activity you will likely be bad and weird at whatever it is you’re doing.

From Ted’s cheesy and sincere advice to Roy and Jamie’s snarky and hysterical comments, and so much more, the funniest quotes from Ted Lasso really run the gamut and clearly show why this comedy is so beloved.

Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows Ted Lasso and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel . She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to Fire Country , and she's enjoyed every second of it.

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Pun: Definition and Examples of Pun in Speech and Literature • 7ESL
Pun: Definition and Examples of Pun in Speech and Literature • 7ESL
PUN FIGURE OF SPEECH
Figures of Speech
What are puns? 🤔
Pun-Figures of speech

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Pun
A pun is a literary device that is also known as a " play on words.". Puns involve words with similar or identical sounds but with different meanings. Their play on words also relies on a word or phrase having more than one meaning. Puns are generally intended to be humorous, but they often have a serious purpose as well in literary works.
Pun
Puns are usually used to create humor, but can also be used in non-humorous ways. The word "pun" can be both a noun and a verb. The actual figure of speech is called a pun, while the verb form "to pun" describes the act of making a pun. Puns are also—but much less commonly—referred to using the more technical term paronomasia. Pun Pronunciation
Pun Examples and Definition
These puns are often written rather than spoken, as they briefly trick the reader into reading the "wrong" sound. For example, "You can tune a guitar, but you can't tuna fish. Unless you play bass.". In this case, "tuna fish" is a homophonic pun because it is a homonym for "tune a.". The word "bass," though, functions as a ...
Pun
What Is a Pun? - Meaning and Definition. A pun is a figure of speech that includes a play of words that have more than one meaning or those that sound alike. Among the figures of speech, pun can be said to be the most intriguing and amusing. All that one requires is a creative intellect and some wit to create humorous puns.
Exploring The Art Of Puns: A Dive Into This Clever Figure Of Speech
Puns are commonly found in jokes and idioms, with their usage and meaning often tied to the language and culture. Understanding puns requires a rich vocabulary. Let's consider some examples to illustrate this figure of speech! "Atheism is a non-prophet institution". The word " prophet " is used in place of its homophone " profit ...
What Is a Pun?
A pun is a type of wordplay that exploits words with multiple definitions or similar sounds to create humor or suggest various layers of interpretation. Puns often involve polysemy: the phenomenon where a single word has more than one meaning (e.g., "bank," "light," "bat"). However, puns can also involve homophones, words with ...
Puns as a Literary Device, With Examples
A pun is a joke based on the interplay of homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings. Puns in writing are most often used in a humorous way, to elicit a "jokey" tone, but they can also be used to enhance a reader's interpretation, show off a clever use of language, or generate irony.
Pun: Definition and Examples of Pun in Speech and Literature
A pun is usually described as a play on words. It is a clever, witty form of figurative language which uses the words within a sentence to convey another meaning. The pun is often used in the form of a joke where words can have more than one meaning or words can sound like they mean something else. Pun's are often used in day to day ...
Pun in Literature: Definition & Examples
For example, "Don't scam in the jungle; cheetahs are always spotted.". Homographic puns: These puns utilize words that are spelled the same way but have different meanings. For example: "Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana.". This type of pun is also referred to as heteronymic puns. Homophonic puns: This pun relies ...
Pun: Definition and Examples in English
Pun: Definition and Examples in English. A visual pun: time flies. A pun is a play on words, either on different senses of the same word or on the similar sense or sound of different words. Known in rhetoric as paronomasia . Puns are figures of speech based on the inherent ambiguities of language.
Pun
Pun Meaning. A pun is a figure of speech where different meanings of the same word are exploited for poetic or comic effect. In a clever way, it gives the word a "double meaning.". It exploits both the literal and the figurative meaning of the word.
Pun: Definition and Examples
Example 1. Shakespeare was a huge fan of the pun. Even his tragic plays, like Romeo and Juliet, are packed with wordplay and puns, some of them very raunchy even by modern standards. Shakespeare loved to use similar-sounding words to make dirty puns - to find them, keep an eye out for his use of words like "clock," "shift," and ...
Pun Figure of Speech: What is Pun with Several Examples
A pun is a figure of speech that plays with the words to have multiple meanings. The words are arranged in such a way to create a humorous or rhetorical effect. The pun is also known as paronomasia. That is derived from the Greek word 'paronimazein' that means a change in name.
Pun Definition, Examples & Types
One type of figure of speech is the pun. In simple terms, a pun , also known as a paronomasia , is just a play on words. Puns rely on words that have more than one meaning or that sound like other ...
20 Types of Figures of Speech, With Definitions and Examples
Some figures of speech, like metaphor, simile, and metonymy, are found in everyday language. Others, like antithesis, circumlocution, and puns take more practice to implement in writing. Below are some common figures of speech with examples, so you can recognize them and use them in your writing. Give your writing extra polish.
Pun Figure of Speech (Examples & History)
Pun Examples in Literature. 1 - "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man". Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. Hymn to God the Father. Here 'Son' means both Christ and 'the sun', and the word 'done' is a pun on the poet's name. 3- A pun form known as asteismus involves a reply to earlier words used in a different ...
Pun Definition and Examples
Pun. A pun is a literary device that's defined as a play on words. Writers twist words and combine them in interesting ways in order to make puns. Puns depend on similar or identical sounds with different meanings or a double meaning. It's critical that the words used in puns have different meanings in order to get the writer's point ...
Examples of Puns: Exploring What They Are and Different Types
Not sure what a pun is? These pun examples will help - and make you laugh, too! Discover the power of a good pun and maybe get inspired to create your own.
Figure of Speech
A figure of speech is a literary device in which language is used in an unusual—or "figured"—way in order to produce a stylistic effect. Figures of speech can be broken into two main groups: figures of speech that play with the ordinary meaning of words (such as metaphor, simile, and hyperbole ), and figures of speech that play with the ...
Figure of Speech
A pun is a figure of speech that contains a " play " on words, such as using words that mean one thing to mean something else or words that sound alike in as a means of changing meaning. A sleeping bull is called a bull-dozer. Baseball players eat on home plates. Polar bears vote at the North Poll.
Meaning, Uses and Explanation
Simple Pun Examples. Given below are some straightforward, simple examples of the Pun figure of speech: "I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough." Plays on "dough" meaning both bread mixture and money. "What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear." "Gummy" refers both to a bear-shaped candy and the lack of teeth.
Figures of Speech: Definition and Examples
A. Metaphor. Many common figures of speech are metaphors. That is, they use words in a manner other than their literal meaning. However, metaphors use figurative language to make comparisons between unrelated things or ideas. The "peak of her career," for example, is a metaphor, since a career is not a literal mountain with a peak, but the ...
Pun Examples: Figures of Speech For Students
As Walter Red-fern rightly put, 'to pun is to treat homonyms as synonyms'. Making use of this form of speech in your daily language can make it seem more interesting and fun. If you want to learn more about puns, then read below. Pun Examples: Figures of Speech Kinds of Puns. A pun can be of two types: Typographic and Visual. Typographic is ...
Pun Figure of Speech
Pun Figure of Speech Examples. "winter of our discontent…made glorious summer by this Son of York.". — Shakespeare, Richard III. (The word 'Son' also puns on its homophone 'Sun' since summer and winter are referenced in the sentence.) "I always told you, Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn't I?
32 Of Ted Lasso's Funniest Lines
Long-winded puns and jokes are Ted's thing, and this is a fabulous example of that. ... he went out with a bang because this was how he started his last speech as the coach of AFC Richmond ...

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Pun: Definition and Examples of Pun in Speech and Literature

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What is a Double Entendre?

Related Literary Terms

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Figure of Speech

Figure of Speech Definition

Figure of Speech Pronunciation

Figures of Speech vs. Figurative Language

Figures of Speech, Tropes, and Schemes

Other Common Tropes

Other Common Schemes

Figure of Speech Examples

Figures of Speech Examples in Literature

Metaphor in Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca

Parallelism in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

Alliteration in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark"

Verbal Irony in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Figures of Speech Examples in Music

Assonance and Metaphor in Rihanna's "Diamonds"

Personification in Green Day's "Good Riddance"