A rhetorical device is a way of using spoken or written language to make it memorable, powerful or unique. Such devices can also be used to persuade an audience or reader to the author's way of thinking. Language can be a very persuasive tool, and we sometimes may not even be aware that language is used to manipulate us to a particular way of thinking or course of action. Many rhetorical techniques (another way of saying "device") have been introduced over the last few centuries, and new ones come along frequently. The pervasiveness of technology and our use of it to communicate is having an impact on language as well.
There are many specific examples of rhetorical devices, some more commonly used than others. Adynation is a colorful example; it means a hyperbolic way of describing something that is so extreme it becomes absurd; such as, "when pigs fly" or "I could eat a horse" or "it was the zombie apocalypse of final exams"
Asterismos means using unnecessary words or phrases to introduce what you are saying; for example, "I'm going to tell you a story," or "Perhaps none of you need to be told this."
Dysphemism is similar to euphemism, except where the latter means substituting a less-offensive word or term for the one intended (such as "call of nature"), the former means using a more offensive or derogatory term. For example, instead of saying "liberally-biased media" one might say "lamestream media."
These and other rhetorical devices can be used to make language more colorful, and to persuade listeners or readers to certain ways of thinking.
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