The clue “Figure of speech” has shown up in well-known crossword puzzles, including the LA Times, the Wall Street Journal, and even The London Standard. Figures of speech are those literary devices that you learned about in school and still use, and the thing is that they come in many forms. The tricky part is that not every puzzle is looking for the same one, and based on the number of letters that fit the grid the answer can be different. Here are some of the most popular answers for the “Figure of speech” clue.
All Figure of Speech Crossword Clue Answers
The most recent instance of the “Figure of speech” clue was in the London Standard Crossword on April 11, 2025, where the answer was METAPHOR. It is a figurative language that compares two unrelated things, while stressing one is the other. A textbook example, drilled into most of us in school, is “time is money”.
Previously, on September 23, 2024, in the WSJ standard crossword, the answer was IDIOM. An idiom is a phrase whose meaning can’t be understood literally, like “break a leg”. Obviously, you’re not wishing someone an actual injury, but it is just a playful way of saying “good luck”.
And in the LA Times on August 1, 2024, the answer turned out to be TROPE. In simple terms, a trope is the use of words in a non-literal way. However, it is broader than that. For example, metaphors and irony are types of tropes that writers use to give their work more flavor and character.
Figure of Speech? Crossword Clue Answer
It is also worth mentioning that in the January 19, 2021 issue of the NYT Crossword, a clue at 47D read “Figure of speech?”. This one wasn’t about metaphors, idioms, or any other literary device we’ve mentioned above, but it was meant literally. ORATOR is the answer to this clue, and it is a person skilled at public speaking.
In this case, “figure” refers to a person, and the speech part refers to speaking in front of an audience. Hopefully without putting them to sleep.
