idiom
noun
°A manner of speaking, a way of expressing oneself.
°An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); aninstance of such a style.

figure of speech
noun
°A word or phrase that departs from straightforward, literal language.

colloquialism
noun
°A colloquial word or phrase; a common spoken expression, often regional.

accent
noun
°A higher or stronger articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.
°A mark or character used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken accent, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked.

jargon
noun
°A technical terminology unique to a particular subject.
°Language characteristic of a particular group.

slang
noun
°Language outside of conventional usage.
°Language that is unique to a particular profession or subject; jargon.

figurative
adjective
°Metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of "cats and dogs" in the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs".
°Metaphorically so called.

literal
adjective
°Exactly as stated; read or understood without additionalinterpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; notfigurative or metaphorical.
"The literal translation is “hands full of bananas” but it means empty-handed."
°Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties.
"A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent."

simile
noun
°(linguistics) A figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another, in the case of English generally using like or as.

metaphor
noun
°The use of a word or phrase to refer to something that it isn’t, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described.