Is this a metaphor???

Question

'his cheeks seemed ready to snap'

if not, what is it?? thanks

Answer 1

No, that's a description meant to imbellish, so as to make the sentence more "spicy", if you know what I mean.  Doesn't that sound more interesting than: "He smiled widely"?

Answer 2

sounds like someone smiling big

Answer 3

No, it's not a metaphor, it's closer to a simile, but that doesn't quite fit either.  And it's not personification.  Sorry, my English grammar memory is failing me.

Answer 4

"HYPERBOLE.  A figure or trope, common to all lits., consisting of bold exaggeration.... Quintilian calls it 'an elegant straining of the truth'..."

Sounds good to me.

Answer 5

No, I would lean closer to personification because a cheek can't really snap. Personification isn't a solid answer though.