Idioms or figures of speech are combinations of words whose meaning cannot be determined by examination of the meanings of the words that make it up. Or, to put it another way, an idiom uses a number of words to represent a single object, person or concept. Unless you recognise when an idiom is being used you can easily misunderstand the meaning of a text.

Figures which change the typical meaning of a word or words

Figures which move the letters or syllables of a word from their typical places

Figures which omit something--eg. a word, words, phrases, or clauses--from a sentence

Figures which repeat one or more words

Figures which repeat a phrase, a clause or an idea

Figures which alter the ordinary order of words or sentences

A miscellaneous group of figures which deal with emotional appeals and techniques of argument