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Hyperbole Examples

What is hyperbole? Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point. Writers use hyperbole to make stories and descriptions more exciting and funny.

Hyperbole is everywhere—in jokes, stories, and everyday speech!

Hyperbole Examples

1.I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!
Meaning: Very hungry (not literally)
Example: After soccer, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!
2.I've told you a million times!
Meaning: I've told you many times (not literally a million)
Example: Clean your room—I've told you a million times!
3.This backpack weighs a ton!
Meaning: The backpack is very heavy.
Example: My backpack weighs a ton after school.
4.It took forever to finish my homework.
Meaning: It took a long time.
Example: It took forever to finish my homework last night.
5.My feet are killing me!
Meaning: My feet hurt a lot.
Example: After hiking, my feet are killing me!
6.The movie lasted an eternity.
Meaning: The movie was very long.
Example: That movie lasted an eternity!
7.I have a ton of homework.
Meaning: I have a lot of homework.
Example: I have a ton of homework to do tonight.
8.He runs faster than the wind.
Meaning: He runs very fast.
Example: My dog runs faster than the wind.
9.She cried a river of tears.
Meaning: She cried a lot.
Example: When her ice cream fell, she cried a river of tears.
10.I'm dying of laughter!
Meaning: I'm laughing a lot.
Example: That joke was so funny, I'm dying of laughter!
11.This bag weighs a ton!
Meaning: The bag is very heavy.
Example: This bag weighs a ton after shopping.
12.He has a heart of stone.
Meaning: He is very unkind.
Example: The villain has a heart of stone.
13.She has a voice that could shatter glass.
Meaning: Her voice is very loud or high.
Example: When she sings, she has a voice that could shatter glass!
14.It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing jackets!
Meaning: It was very cold.
Example: It was so cold, I saw polar bears wearing jackets!
15.I waited in line for ages.
Meaning: I waited a long time.
Example: I waited in line for ages at the amusement park.

Tips for Spotting Hyperbole

  • Look for statements that are clearly exaggerated or impossible.
  • Hyperbole is not meant to be taken literally.
  • Writers use hyperbole to make things sound bigger, smaller, better, or worse than they really are.
  • Hyperbole is common in jokes, stories, and everyday speech.

Quiz: What is the Exaggeration?

Can you spot the exaggerated part in these sentences?

  1. I've told you a million times!
  2. This backpack weighs a ton!
  3. She cried a river of tears.
  4. He runs faster than the wind.
Show Answers
  • Q1: A million times (exaggeration)
  • Q2: Weighs a ton (exaggeration)
  • Q3: A river of tears (exaggeration)
  • Q4: Faster than the wind (exaggeration)

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