Words & style · Tip 56 of 82 · 3 min read
The Biggest Exaggeration in the Universe (Hyperbole)
Stretch the truth until it's hilarious, from homework taller than a house to a sneeze heard on the Moon.
Have you ever said "I'm so hungry I could eat an elephant"? You can't really, of course. That's hyperbole (say it: high-PER-bo-lee). It means exaggerating on purpose to make a point, or to make people laugh.
Why stretch the truth?
Hyperbole shows how strongly a character feels. "I waited ages" is fine. "I waited so long that I grew a beard" shows just how fed up they were, and it's funnier too.
Okay 😐
Dad's snoring was very loud.
Wow! 🤩
Dad's snoring was so loud that the neighbours called the fire brigade, and three car alarms went off down the street.
Build your own
Start with a plain fact, then ask: how big, how small, how many could it possibly be? Push it further than seems sensible.
- My bag weighs a tonne.
- This is the worst day in the history of the universe.
- I've told you a million times!
- The queue was so long it reached Australia.
Nell's little brother had the stickiest fingers in the world. He touched a door handle in March and it was still sticky in June. Flies didn't land on him. They got stuck to him.
Know when to stop
Hyperbole is like hot sauce: a little bit is exciting, but too much and nobody can taste anything else. Save it for moments where a character's feelings are huge.