Hyperbole /hʌɪˈpəːbəli/ is a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better, more exciting, or more dangerous than it really is. In other words, it’s an exaggeration or overstatement. For example: 1. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. 2. She cried a river of tears. 3. He’s as tall as a mountain.
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction. For example, deafening silence, bittersweet and amazingly awful.
As we all know, “How are you?” is one of the most common phrases in the English language, used as part of small talk, a conversation about things that are not important, often between people who do not know each other well. It’s typically used to ask about someone’s well-being or current state.
Example 1 (‘How are you?’ is used as part of the greeting):
Beth: Hi John, how are you?
John: Oh hi, Beth, I’m doing fine. Thanks!
Example 2 (‘How are you?’ is used to check on someone’s current state or mood):
Ann: I heard you weren’t feeling well yesterday. How are you today?
Jane: I’m feeling better, thank you.
Example 3 (‘How are you?’ is used as a casual conversation starter):
Mike: Hey Sarah, how are you doing these days?
Sarah: Hey Mike, well, I’m doing pretty well. In fact, I recently got a new job.
Let’s explore alternatives to ‘How are you?’ and how they can be naturally used in conversation.
