Name: _____________________________
Hyperbole and Understatement Worksheet 2 

Directions: Read each example. Determine whether each is an instance of hyperbole or understatement. Choose your response and explain what is being understated or hyperbolized. 

Example:  Thomas Edison had a few ideas that he wanted to share with the world-- 1,093 of which would be granted U.S. patents.

This is an example of…		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

The speaker is understating how many ideas Thomas Edison had. Having been granted over one thousand patents, Thomas Edison had many more than a few good ideas.

1.  Looking over the traffic, sprawling bumper to bumper for miles, John muttered to his partner, "This could be a minute..."

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

2.  I cannot turn back toward you, my dear, for your light would make me blind.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

3.  I will wait here for 10,000 years, my dear, just to hear your voice.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

4.  After the boys lost the basketball game 12 to 84, the coach said, "Well, guys, we came up a little bit short."

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	
5.  This maiden she lived with no other thought than to love and be loved by me.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

6.  They live their lives with a continual sigh, sadder than all tears.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

7.  Organizing all of the books in this library did require a little time and a teensy bit of work.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

8.  Giving cake to a baby can be a little bit messy.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

9.  My cousin is 7 feet tall and I'm 5 feet, so I guess he's a got a little bit of height on me.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

10.  Sometimes I pause and pant for an endless instant.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

11.  Gee, Charlie, I don't think you're going to be able to pick up that pickup truck. It looks a tad too heavy for you.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

12.  The roses are weighed down by the heavy moonlight.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

13.  Drip-- hiss-- the rain drops. The little noise never stops.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

14.  You could try to swim across the Pacific Ocean, but it'd be a little tiring and there might not be enough time to do it this afternoon.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

15.  Max looked at the mountain jutting into the sky and said, "Yeah, it's probably a little too big to jump over it."

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

16.  Over the hilltop, swish with the scurry of wings, millions of pale brown birds.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

17.  Jumping into a frozen lake will cool you down all right.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

18.  She's going to knock the eyebrows off your face, boy.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

19.  The birds around my window were singing the sweetest tunes ever heard.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...

	

20.  Pluto can get as cold as -400F at night, so if you're going there, you might want to bring a jacket.

This is an example of...		Hyperbole	    /	   Understatement

I believe this because...