Comparison techniques are one way to use figurative speech. This variety of figurative speech helps to make your point by highlighting similarities and differences between your subject and other topics. This can help bring your point to life or it can make it more accessible by comparing something theoretical or technical with something tangible. A simile is an example, which compares two things using "like" or "as." For example, if you say, "Dealing with the administration is like running in a hamster wheel," your audience can better understand your frustration with said administration.
Most cultures have their own "language," which includes the figurative speech of idioms and cliches. Specific terms and phrases distinguish cultures, even with the same language. For example, a British person and an American person may speak the same language yet use figurative speech differently. Use your audience's cultural language to your advantage by incorporating figurative speech. "She's a hard case," is an idiom specific to New Zealand, as is saying "I reckon" instead of "I think." These forms of figurative speech help you relate to your audience, thus making your point more effectively.
You can combine words or use words based on the way they sound. Alliteration is a type of figurative speech that is an example of this. By using words that start with the same sound, you create a flow in your sentence and highlight its rhythm. The repeated sounds also help hold peoples' attention. Onomatopoeia is another example. This type of figurative speech describes the use of words that actually sound like the sounds they describe, such as "buzz," "beep" or "burp."
Figurative language can also be used to paint a more vivid picture in an audience member's mind. Hyperbole, or use of exaggeration, can make your point more effectively. "The Titanic sank in what felt like 30 seconds" describes the event in terms of how it felt rather than how it literally happened. The same goes for more ordinary events, with sentences such as "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" as an example. The speaker won't actually eat a horse, but by overstating his hunger he makes it clear how hungry he actually is. This gives a better idea of how he feels than the "just the facts" version of "I haven't eaten in six hours and I need around 500 calories very soon in order to feel sated again."