An allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a well‑known person, place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art. It’s used to evoke associated meanings and enrich the text. “He’s a real …

An allusion is not a play on words —that would be a pun—but allusion does come from the Latin verb allūdere, which in turn combines the verb lūdere, meaning “play,” with the prefix ad-, …

In a wider, more informal context, an allusion is a passing or casually short statement indicating broader meaning. It is an incidental mention of something, either directly or by implication, …

Allusions can be direct or indirect, meaning that they might explicitly state the name of the thing they're referring to, or they might hint at it in other, subtler ways.

May 13, 2025 · Allusions make writing or speech more powerful, relatable, and emotional by connecting to shared knowledge. Examples of allusions include “Achilles’ heel” (a fatal …

Allusions use the original reference as a point of departure, but they can also change the referent and add meaning retroactively. Allusions create intertextuality in this way. It is important to …

Dec 9, 2024 · God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son!” This is a direct allusion to the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22.

The word allusion comes from the late Latin allusio meaning “a play on words” or “game” and is a derivative of the Latin word alludere, meaning “to play around” or “to refer to mockingly.” In …

Allusions are generally regarded as brief but purposeful references, within a literary text, to a person, place, event, or to another work of literature.

Feb 7, 2025 · As figures of speech, allusions can reference anything from Victorian fairy tales to popular culture and from the Bible to the Bard. Learn more about what allusions are and how …