''That it will rain is not unlike'' illustrates the use of

Analyze the question

The statement "That it will rain is not unlike" says something positive by negating its opposite. It means "it is likely to rain" but is phrased as "not unlike(ly)". We need to name this figure of speech.

Explain the concept

• Irony: the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal words, or there is a contrast between expectation and reality.
• Litotes (the option's "lilotes" is a typo): a deliberate understatement that affirms something by negating its opposite. Examples: "He is not a bad singer" (meaning he is good), "not unlike" (meaning similar), "not a few people" (meaning many).
• Metaphor: a direct comparison without "like" or "as", saying one thing is another.
• Metonymy: replacing a thing's name with something closely associated with it, such as "the Crown" for the monarchy.

Step-by-step solution

1. The phrase uses a double negative: "not" + "unlike".
2. "Not unlike" means "similar to" or "likely", so the negative is used to express a positive.
3. This understated, negated-opposite structure is the definition of litotes.
4. There is no contrast between literal and intended meaning, so it is not irony. It makes no direct comparison, so it is not metaphor. It substitutes no associated term, so it is not metonymy.

Answer: B (litotes)

Exam tip

When you see "not" paired with a word of opposite meaning (not bad, not unkind, not unlikely), think litotes. Remember it as "Little-totes": saying a little to mean a lot.