What is synecdoche?
Synecdoche is when a part of something is used to represent the whole thing, or a whole thing is used to represent only a part.
How to make synecdoche
There are different ways to create synecdoche:
1. Use only a part of something to represent the whole thing.
2. Use the whole thing, but mean only a part.
3. Use a small group of things, but mean a larger group. (specific to mean general)
4. Use a larger group of things, but mean a smaller group. (general to mean specific)
5. Use the material from which something is made to mean the object itself.
6. Use a container, but mean its contents.
Examples
- Using a part of something to represent the whole thing
| Synecdoche example | Represents |
|---|---|
| I’m hanging up my spatula. | spatula represents cooking |
| He’s a good pair of hands to have around. | hands represents a worker |
| I bought myself a new set of wheels. | wheels represents a car |
| My house could do with a bit more green. | green represents plants |
2. Use the whole thing, but mean only a part
| Synecdoche example | Represents |
|---|---|
| Brazil won the World Cup again. | Brazil represents the Brazilian football team (not the entire country) |
| While I have been here I have found the Swiss to be warm and kind. | The Swiss represents the Swiss people I have met (not everyone in the country) |
3. Use a small group of things, but mean a larger group (specific to mean general)
| Synecdoche example | Represents |
|---|---|
| Can I have a glass of Coke? | Coke represents any type of cola (other famous brands, such as Band-Aid, Hoover, and Bic, can also represent all similar products) |
| Put your John Hancock here. | John Hancock represents signature (John Hancock was the biggest of many signatures on the US Declaration of Independence) |
4. Use a larger group to things, but mean a small group (general to mean specific)
| Synecdoche example | Represents |
|---|---|
| Last year I went to America. | America represents the United States of America (not all countries in the Americas) |
| Fancy a beverage? | Beverage represents an alcoholic drink (*if in bar) (not all types of drink) |
5. Use the material from which something is made to mean the object itself
| Synecdoche example | Represents |
|---|---|
| I bought some new threads. | threads represents clothes |
| He has some new glasses. | glasses represents spectacles |
| I’ve no money in my wallet. Can I pay by plastic? | plastic represents a credit card |
6. Use a container, but mean its contents
| Synecdoche example | Represents |
|---|---|
| Last night we drank five bottles and a keg. | bottles and kegs represents the beer inside |
| He smokes two packs a day. | packs represents the cigarettes inside |
| “Did you put any lights on the Christmas tree?” “Yes, we put two boxes on it.” | boxes refers to the lights in the boxes |