Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses deliberate and obvious exaggeration for emphasis or humorous effect. The term comes from the Greek hyperbolē, meaning "excess" or "throwing beyond." In hyperbole, the literal truth is set aside to create a strong impression, often relying on context, tone, and shared conventions to signal that the statement is not to be taken literally.

Hyperbole appears in everyday conversation, poetry, fiction, advertising, and political rhetoric. It can heighten drama, convey enthusiasm, or mock seriousness. Examples include "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," "This backpack weighs a ton," or "I've told you a million times."

Used effectively, hyperbole enhances vividness, humor, or persuasive force. It can reveal character attitudes and social norms. When overused or misapplied, it may erode credibility or be dismissed as mere flippancy.

Hyperbole is contrasted with understatement (litotes), which presents something as less than it is, often for ironic or subtle effect. It is part of a broader class of exaggeration devices within rhetoric, used to color speech, create emphasis, and entertain audiences.