On CELPIP, correct answers often depend on what a speaker implies, not just what they say. Learn the common figures of speech, the attitude and certainty vocabulary that quietly shifts meaning, and the audio/text cues that reveal intent—then rephrase it accurately.
Figures of speech you’ll actually meet (with safe interpretations)
Metaphor (non-literal comparison)
- “This project is off track.” → running late / not meeting plan.
- “We’re flooded with requests.” → very busy; delays likely.
- Paraphrase tip: Convert to the concrete situation (late, busy, delayed), not a creative image.
Simile (like/as)
- “It’s like starting from scratch.” → most prior work doesn’t help; rework needed.
Hyperbole (overstatement)
- “I’ve emailed a million times.” → many attempts; frustration.
- Paraphrase tip: Keep the fact (“several emails”) + tone (“frustrated”) without copying the exaggeration.
Understatement / Litotes
- “That’s not ideal.” → there is a problem; change is needed.
- “We’re not quite ready.” → not ready; more time required.
- Paraphrase tip: Upgrade gently (minor issue → problem) while preserving the cautious tone.
Euphemism (softening)
- “We’re unable to approve this at this time.” → No for now; conditions may change.
- “We’re exploring alternatives.” → current option likely rejected.
Irony / Sarcasm (context & tone carry the meaning)
- “Fantastic… another outage.” (flat or falling tone) → negative; complaint.
- Paraphrase tip (text): If punctuation/contrast shows irony, rephrase to the real stance (unhappy about another outage). In formal answers, avoid the sarcasm itself.
Metonymy / Synecdoche (part/whole, institution for people)
- “Finance needs the invoice.” → the finance department requires it.
Attitude words that quietly set stance (learn these families)
Positive / agreeable
- satisfied, pleased, willing, comfortable, confident, optimistic
Neutral / cautious
- concerned, hesitant, reluctant, uncertain, cautious, tentative, reserved
Negative / resistant
- dissatisfied, uncomfortable, frustrated, upset, unwilling, opposed
Decision language
- recommend, prefer, support, approve, authorize, deny, decline, defer
Status & evaluation
- acceptable, appropriate, reasonable, feasible, viable, compliant / non-compliant
Paraphrase frame:
The speaker is reluctant to proceed due to missing documentation.
The manager is confident the repair will resolve the issue.
Certainty & evidence scale (choose the right strength)
High certainty: must, will, definitely, guaranteed, confirmed, clear(ly)
Medium: should, likely, expected, appears, seems, probable, in all likelihood
Low / hedged: might, may, possibly, suggests, to my knowledge, as far as I can tell, preliminary
Safe rewrite examples
- “We’ll likely ship tomorrow.” → Shipping is expected tomorrow (medium certainty).
- “It might be a billing error.” → A billing error is possible (low certainty).
Keep the speaker’s level—don’t upgrade might → will or downgrade will → might.
“What they said” → “What they meant” (text & audio cues)
Contrast markers reveal stance
- “We appreciate your patience; however, we can’t expedite.” → polite no to speeding up.
Temporal hedges
- “For now, we’ll keep the appointment.” → decision may change; temporary.
Conditional commitments
- “We can proceed once we receive the permit.” → permit required first.
Soft refusals
- “That may be challenging this week.” → likely cannot this week.
Priority signals
- “Let’s circle back next week.” → delayed; not urgent now.
Audio tells (how it’s said)
- Emphasis marks the real contrast: “I asked for a REFUND, not a credit.”
- Falling final tone = certainty/closure; rising = question/doubt.
- Pauses + “so…” often introduce a conclusion or uncomfortable news.
Logic & presupposition words that hide information
- still / again: presuppose prior state (“The elevator is still down.” → was down before).
- stop / continue / resume: imply a change back or forward.
- only / at least / no more than: define scope; don’t loosen these in paraphrase.
- even / yet: add surprise or unfinished status (“no update yet” → update expected later).
Implicit meaning patterns you’ll see often
Complaint without the word “complaint”
- “We’ve been without heat since Monday.” → reporting a service failure; expects action/compensation.
Request hidden as information
- “The deadline is Friday.” → implied request to act before Friday.
Agreement with conditions
- “We can approve this, provided that the invoice is attached.” → conditional approval; clear requirement.
Disagreement softened
- “I see your point; that said, the policy doesn’t allow it.” → polite refusal anchored in policy.
Future intention disguised as possibility
- “We might move the meeting to Tuesday.” → preparing for a reschedule; watch for follow-up.
Safe paraphrase frames for implicit meaning (drop-in language)
- The speaker implies that…
- The speaker is concerned about…
- Approval is conditional on…
- The request is unlikely to be approved because…
- The manager softens a refusal by…
- The customer expects (a refund/repair/credit) due to…
- The timeline is tentative / subject to change.
- The status is ongoing; no resolution yet.
Use these to summarize tone + action without adding new facts.
Before → After (compact rewrites that respect nuance)
Irony → factual stance
- “Great, another delay.” → The speaker is unhappy about an additional delay.
Understatement → clear problem
- “That’s not ideal.” → There is a problem that needs attention.
Soft refusal → explicit
- “We’re unable to process this at this time.” → The request is not approved now; timing may change.
Conditional plan → required step
- “We’ll start once we receive access.” → Access is required before starting.
Hedge → correct certainty
- “It seems like a wiring issue.” → A wiring issue is likely, not confirmed.
Micro style rules that keep you accurate
- Preserve polarity (not vs yes), degree (might/should/will), scope (only/at least), and time (still/yet/by).
- Convert figurative language to the concrete effect (delay, refusal, approval, reschedule).
- Keep the register: if the original is formal/cautious, your paraphrase should be too.
- Attribute opinions carefully: use appears / suggests / likely unless the speaker states certainty.
When you can hear or see the stance behind the words, you’ll pick the right options in Reading/Listening and write/speak responses that sound professional, fair, and precise.