Many non-native English speakers get confused when someone says something that doesn’t “make sense.” But here’s the thing—sometimes, people don’t mean exactly what they say.
That’s the difference between literal and figurative language.
Literal language means exactly what it says. Figurative language paints a picture with words.
Here’s an example:
Literal: “He’s very tired.”
Figurative: “He’s running on fumes.”
They both mean the same thing, but the figurative version uses a picture in your mind. That’s where a lot of confusion can happen, especially at work or in fast-paced meetings.
Here are a few common figurative expressions used in professional settings:
“Let’s table this discussion.” → (Let’s pause and come back to it later.)
“We’re on the same page.” → (We agree.)
“That idea has legs.” → (It could work well or go far.)
“We need to circle back.” → (We’ll return to this later.)
Some quick tips to handle figurative language better:
✅ If the phrase doesn’t make sense word-for-word, it might be figurative.
✅ Ask yourself: “What could they really mean?”
✅ Keep a running list of phrases you hear often.
✅ Watch shows, podcasts, or YouTube clips in your field to catch how language is used naturally.
Understanding figurative language isn’t about knowing every phrase. It’s about learning how people really talk. And once you get the hang of it, English becomes a lot easier to follow.
Even native speakers don’t know every expression. They just know how to listen between the lines.
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