Literal and figurative meanings: From concrete to abstract

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Words can have both a literal meaning and a figurative meaning. (See our tip literal, figurative for an explanation of these terms.)

In the sentences below, indicate whether the words in bold are used in a literal or figurative sense.

1. My best friend has wide feet The word «feet» is in bold..
2. Melissa is an extremely brilliant The word «brilliant» is in bold. student.
3. Abdul thought his first day at work might be challenging, but it was a walk The word «walk» is in bold. in the park.
4. Patrick devoured The word «devoured» is in bold. his book in one day.
5. An icy shower The word «shower» is in bold. fell on the city.
6. Natasha adds salt The word «salt» is in bold. to everything she eats!
7. We now come to the heart The word «heart» is in bold. of the matter: the schedule for school crossing guards.
8. That student staring out the window has her head The word «head» is in bold. in the clouds.
9. Dylan has grown so much that his favourite shirt doesn’t even cover his navel The word «navel» is in bold..
10. It was a dark period in our history.
  
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