Hyperbole
An overstatement for the sake of emphasis in a figure of speech, not meant literally, is called hyperbole [Baldick, 119].
Hyperbole is a figure of speech which contains an overstatement for emphasis. Hyperbole was very popular in heroic drama and burlesque. Writers widely use hyperbole in comic fiction [Cuddon, 346].
Hyperbole is defined as an exaggerated or extravagant expression not meant to be taken literally [Quinn, 203].
Hyperbole is the opposite of understatement. Hyperbole is widely used in literature, rhetoric and everyday speech. For example, 'I had a ton of homework', 'I have a million things to do today', 'I’ve told you to clean your room a million times!' [4].
⠀ 1. Chris Baldick. (2015). The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Oxford: Oxford University Press
⠀ 2. Cuddon J. A. (2013). A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell.
⠀ 3. Quinn, Edward. (2006). A dictionary of literary and thematic terms. New-York: Infobase Publishing.
⠀ 4. Retrieved from: YourDictionary [https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-hyperboles.html].