non-literal

/ˌnɒnˈlɪt.ər.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːnˈlɪt̬.ɚ.əl/ (ame, ipa)

non-literal — adjective

1. used for words, jokes, or images that are understood by comparison or suggestion

1.形容詞C1
釋義

used for words, jokes, or images that are understood by comparison or suggestion instead of by their exact word-for-word meaning.

例句

When Defne called the exam a mountain, she was being non-literal.

be non-literal

Our teacher marked the phrase "cold fire" as non-literal in the poem.

collocation: non-literal language

同義詞
  • figurative

    the most common near-synonym, especially for language that uses image or comparison

  • metaphorical

    narrower; often points specifically to metaphor rather than every indirect expression

  • symbolic

    usually about something standing for an idea, not simply language moving away from its plain wording

反義詞
  • literal

    keeps the direct word-for-word meaning

文法句型

non-literal + language / meaning / reading

be non-literal rather than literal

用法筆記

Often used in language classes, literary discussion, and humor to show that a phrase should be understood by image or implication rather than by exact wording.

常見錯誤

❌The line says my phone died, so the phone really stopped living.
✅The line says my phone died, but that is a non-literal way to say it stopped working.
💡Non-literal language uses image or exaggeration instead of a plain factual reading.