In a RARE response, interpret the figure of speech in the statement.
What kind of figure of speech is this an example of?
Explain which words make up the figure of speech.
Explain the double meaning of the figure of speech.
The figure of speech in the statement "I smell a rat" is an example of a metaphor.
The words "I smell a rat" compare the speaker's perception of a situation to the literal act of detecting a foul odor. The double meaning of this figure of speech is that while the speaker may not actually be detecting a physical rat with their sense of smell, they are implying that they suspect something dishonest or deceitful is happening in the situation. This metaphor conveys a sense of suspicion and mistrust.