Hyperbole

pronounced: hy-PER-buh-lee

Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred,
Then another thousand, then a second hundred,
Then still another thousand, then a hundred Catullus

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses an exaggerated or extravagant statement to create a strong emotional response. As a figure of speech it is not intended to be taken literally. Hyperbole is frequently used for humour. Examples of hyperbole are:

• They ran like greased lightning.
  
  
• He's got tons of money.
  
  
• Her brain is the size of a pea.
  
  
• He is older than the hills.
  
  
• I will die if she asks me to dance.
  
  
• She is as big as an elephant!
  
  
• I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
  
  
• I have told you a million times not to lie!

The media and the advertising industry often use hyperbole (which may then be described as hype or media hype).