'Many hands make light work' illustrates the use of

Step 1: Analyze the question The proverb "Many hands make light work" is being tested for the figure of speech it uses. The key word is "hands."

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• Zeugma: one word governs two or more words in different senses (e.g., "He lost his hat and his temper").
• Hyperbole: deliberate exaggeration for effect (e.g., "I've told you a million times").
• Metonymy: something is replaced by a closely associated thing, not a part of it (e.g., "the crown" for the monarchy).
• Synecdoche: a part is used to represent the whole, or the whole represents a part (e.g., "all hands on deck").

Step 3: Apply to the proverb "Hands" here does not mean only the physical hands. It means people, or workers. A part of a person (the hands) stands for the whole person. So "many hands" means "many people helping."

• It is not zeugma, because there is no single word governing two different senses.
• It is not hyperbole, because nothing is exaggerated. The proverb makes a practical point.
• It is not metonymy in the strict sense, because hands are a part of the person, not just something associated with the person.
• It is synecdoche, because a part (hands) represents the whole (people).

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. synecdoche.

Tip: Ask yourself, "Is the word a part of the thing it stands for?" If yes, it is synecdoche. Examples are "hands" for workers, "head" for cattle, and "wheels" for a car. If the word is only associated with the thing, such as "the Crown" for the king, it is metonymy.