hyperbole
deliberate exaggeration
Roots
- bol / bole: throw, cast, or put
- hyper-: over, beyond, or excessive
Other words with the bol / bole root
- hyperbolic: exaggerated; overstated
- parable: short story used to teach a lesson
- parabola: a U-shaped curve
- problem: a question or difficulty to solve
- problematic: posing a problem or serious difficulty
- symbol: mark or object that stands for an idea
- symbolic: serving as a symbol
Hyperbole is a throwing-beyond: language launched past the truth for effect.
Saying the backpack weighed a ton was hyperbole, not physics.
Hyperbole is one of those words whose roots are almost a joke: hyper means beyond, bole is throwing. Exaggeration is language thrown past the normal mark.