hyperbole

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or effect, not meant to be taken literally.

   Saying you're "starving" when you've only missed lunch is hyperbole.

2. 2
   noun

   A particular exaggerated statement of this kind.

   "I've told you a million times" is a classic hyperbole.

Simplified etymology

Hyperbole, meaning exaggerated speech, entered late Middle English via Latin from Greek huperbolē, “exaggeration,” formed from hyper, “over, above, or beyond,” and ballein, “to throw.”

From Middle English iperbole, yperbole, from Latin hyperbolē, from Ancient Greek ὑπερβολή (huperbolḗ, “excess, exaggeration”), from ὑπέρ (hupér, “above”) + βάλλω (bállō, “to throw”, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷelH-). Doublet of hyperbola.

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