B2
figurative vs literal
The difference
| Word | Meaning | Goes with | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| figurativeadjective/ˈfɪɡ.jər.ə.tɪv/ | Meaning used in an imaginative way, not with the basic meaning; also showing real people or things in art | Goes with figurative language | Example Young children often take figurative language literally and get confused. |
| literaladjective/ˈlɪt.ər.əl/ | Meaning using the basic, original meaning of a word, not an imaginative one; also exact, word for word | Goes with literal meaning | Example In a literal sense, 'heartbroken' would mean your heart has actually broken. |
Which word fits?
1 of 8Pick the word for the gap. Its form may change in the sentence.
A translation of this idiom makes no sense in English.