Which of the following phrases depicts a synecdoche?

Which of the following phrases depicts a synecdoche?

• A. A. The union hired hands decided to strike.
• B. B. Evening filled the night sky like blue paint.
• C. C. The cold embraced us as we walked along.
• D. D. Hope is a thing with feathers.

Answer: (A)

The phrase "The union hired hands decided to strike" is an example of synecdoche, which is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or vice versa. In this case, "hired hands" refers specifically to the workers or laborers, using a part of the workers' bodies (hands) to represent the entirety of the individuals involved in the labor force. This effectively illustrates how a specific term can convey a broader concept, and it captures the essence of synecdoche. The other options do not share this quality. The phrase about the evening does not focus on a part representing a whole; instead, it employs a simile to create a vivid comparison. The phrase about the cold using "embraced" suggests an emotional or atmospheric experience, which is more of a metaphor than synecdoche. Lastly, the line about hope being "a thing with feathers" is a metaphor, where hope is compared to a bird, but it does not employ the whole/part relationship characteristic of synecdoche.

The phrase "The union hired hands decided to strike" is an example of synecdoche, which is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or vice versa. In this case, "hired hands" refers specifically to the workers or laborers, using a part of the workers' bodies (hands) to represent the entirety of the individuals involved in the labor force. This effectively illustrates how a specific term can convey a broader concept, and it captures the essence of synecdoche.

The other options do not share this quality. The phrase about the evening does not focus on a part representing a whole; instead, it employs a simile to create a vivid comparison. The phrase about the cold using "embraced" suggests an emotional or atmospheric experience, which is more of a metaphor than synecdoche. Lastly, the line about hope being "a thing with feathers" is a metaphor, where hope is compared to a bird, but it does not employ the whole/part relationship characteristic of synecdoche.