Which figure of speech has been used in the following expression ?
Expression: "A first glimpse of him is shocking because he is like a still photograph."

Question

Accepted Answer

The expression "A first glimpse of him is shocking because he is like a still photograph" uses the figure of speech known as a simile. A simile is a literary device that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as" to highlight a particular quality or characteristic they share. In this expression, the comparison is made between "him" and "a still photograph" using the word "like." This comparison suggests that the person being described has a quality of stillness or lack of movement, similar to a photograph, which is why Option 3, Simile, is the correct answer.

Now, let's explain why the other options are incorrect:

1. **Oxymoron**: An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined to create a paradoxical effect, such as "deafening silence" or "bittersweet." The expression in question does not contain any contradictory terms, so it is not an oxymoron.

2. **Alliteration**: Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words, such as "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." The expression does not feature any repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, so it is not an example of alliteration.

4. **Metaphor**: A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things by stating that one is the other, without using "like" or "as." For example, "Time is a thief." The expression in question uses "like" to make the comparison, which is characteristic of a simile, not a metaphor.

In conclusion, the expression "A first glimpse of him is shocking because he is like a still photograph" is a simile because it uses "like" to compare the person to a still photograph, emphasizing a shared quality of stillness. This is why Option 3 is the correct answer.