THE MAGIC ART

Pigs Will Fly Before You Find a More Creative Way of Saying ‘No’

And that’s not hyperbole

Photo by Kenneth Schipper Vera on Unsplash

Hyperbole. noun: extravagant exaggeration used to emphasise a point. But you knew that. Everyone knows that, except my brother-in-law. But he knows how to use it:

• “I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until I die!”
• “This is the most awesome experience of my life!”
• “Can’t. I’ve got a million and one things to do today!”

All hyperbole.

Did you know it is pronounced hi-PER-boh-lee and not hi-per-bowl? (I only mention it because I made that mistake.)

The problem with hyperbole —

“Incredible!” “Amazing!” “Colossal!” “Stunning!” “Awesome!” “Monumental!” “Mega!” “Stupendous!” “Phenomenal!”

— is if everything is so wonderful, it doesn’t leave you anywhere to go.

And it is a tiny bit irksome. I mean, the crazy golf was fun, but we didn’t need to drop to our knees and bow down like it was God’s golf course.

There’s nothing worse. Yes, that's hyperbole, too. There is always something worse.