“He brought his palms together like a supplicant” is an example of—

Analyze the question

The sentence is "He brought his palms together like a supplicant." You are asked to name the figure of speech used.

Explain the concept

A simile is a direct comparison between two different things using the words "like" or "as". The other options work differently:

• Hyperbole: deliberate exaggeration for effect (e.g., "I've told you a million times").
• Irony: saying the opposite of what is meant, or an outcome opposite to what is expected.
• Euphemism: a mild or polite expression used in place of a harsh one (e.g., "passed away" for "died").

Show the solution

1. The sentence compares the man's action (joining his palms) to the way a supplicant does it. A supplicant is someone who begs or pleads humbly.
2. The comparison is introduced by the word "like".
3. There is no exaggeration, no opposite meaning, and no softening of an unpleasant idea.

So the figure of speech is a simile.

Answer: B. Simile

Exam tip

When a figure-of-speech question has a sentence containing "like" or "as" making a comparison, check for a simile first. If the comparison is made without those words (e.g., "He is a lion"), it is a metaphor. Be careful, though: "like" as a verb ("I like rice") is not a simile.