Flashcard 5 - Language Arts: Reading Flashcard Set for the HiSET Test

language that is to be taken figuratively or metaphorically, but not exactly

Nonliteral means that the language is used symbolically or figuratively as opposed to literally. For example, “Janie was sick as a dog last week.” This idiom means that Janie was very ill and actually has nothing to do with dogs. “Her voice really rubs me the wrong way.” This means that her voice is annoying or bothersome, not that it is actually touching anyone.