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.

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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