Auxesis

Techniques > Use of language > Figures of speech > Auxesis

Method | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Auxesis is the enhancement importance.

Example

I fell over and was wounded!

If you stay late you'll be a hero.

She is good. He is better. They are best.

You can and you will do this.

Discussion

When we exaggerate something, we make it bigger and, by comparison, other things appear smaller. It says 'me first' or 'you are the best' or otherwise enacting conceptual queue-jumping, putting something in front of others which actually have a better claim to importance.

Auxesis also appears when a sequence of phrases are arranged in order of importance. As each item is read, importance clearly increases in contrast with the previous item. In effect, this can be a hidden form of repetition.

Classification: Exaggeration, Distortion, Repetition