Catachresis is a bold, often startling use of language where a word is used in a way that dramatically changes its usual meaning, pushing boundaries to create a striking effect. Essentially, it’s exaggerated metaphor.

Shakespeare was a master of this. He described jealousy as the green -eyed monster which vividly captures the emotion’s intensity and destructiveness. Here’s another example. He drowned in a sea of grief. This use of drowned in an emotional context instead of a literal one deepens the impact of the statement. In storytelling and public speaking,

Catechrises can capture attention and evoke vivid imagery. That speech was so vacuous it made the audience’s ears pop. Before stepping onto the stage, he drank a glass of courage, hoping it would iron his nerves and starch his spine. Her speech was a marathon that ran across continents of topics. By the end, even the chairs started to yawn.

Catechrisis will enrich your narrative and provide your audience with a memorable and evocative description that sticks.