Reading: Reading for Inference
B2 Lesson 3: Understanding Figurative Language
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary
Understanding these concepts is the first step to becoming a "reading detective."
Decoding Figurative Language
Advanced writers use figurative language to create powerful images and feelings. Let's look at two common types.
A metaphor is a creative comparison that says one thing is another. It doesn't use "like" or "as." You must think about the feeling the comparison creates.
Example:
"The old casino on Bokor Mountain is a stone skeleton against the foggy sky."
Analysis: Is the building literally a skeleton? No. This metaphor implies the building is empty, lifeless, old, and perhaps a little scary.
An idiom is a phrase where you cannot understand the meaning from the individual words. You must learn the meaning of the whole phrase.
Example 1: to cost an arm and a leg
"I love the new iPhone, but it costs an arm and a leg."
Analysis: The context is about money. This idiom means "to be extremely expensive."
Example 2: to hit the books
"My exam is next week, so I need to hit the books."
Analysis: The context is an exam. This idiom means "to study very hard."
Example 3: once in a blue moon
"I'm so busy, I only visit my family in Kampot once in a blue moon."
Analysis: The context is being busy. This idiom means "very rarely."
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Interpret the Meaning
1. "After the argument with his friend, his words were a wall of ice between them."
What does this metaphor imply about his words?
- A. His words were very cold, unfriendly, and created a barrier.
- B. His words were about winter weather.
- C. His words were not spoken clearly.
→ Answer: A. The metaphor compares the words to a "wall of ice" to show they created a cold, unfriendly barrier.
2. "I'm sorry I can't come to your party on such short notice. I have too much on my plate right now."
What does the idiom "have too much on my plate" mean?
- A. The person has a lot of food to eat.
- B. The person is very busy with too many responsibilities.
- C. The person does not like parties.
→ Answer: B. This idiom compares having many tasks to having a plate that is too full of food. It means "to be too busy."
Key Vocabulary Reference
- Figurative Language Imaginative language where the meaning is not literal, used to create a strong image or feeling.
- Literal Meaning The exact, dictionary definition of a word, without creative interpretation.
- Metaphor A direct comparison that states one thing is another (e.g., "Her voice is music.").
- Idiom A fixed phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words (e.g., 'spill the beans').
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Find Figurative Language!
Listen to a popular English song or watch a 2-3 minute clip from an English movie.
- Listen for an idiom. Write it down and explain what you think it means in the context.
- Listen for a metaphor. Write it down and explain what two things are being compared.
Pop culture is full of figurative language!