A course of modern english lexicology

traditional: ‘God’ – Heaven, Jove, Goodness, Lot; ‘Devil’ – Old Nick, Deuce, the Prince of Darkness;
political: ‘capitalism’ – free enterprise; ‘the poor’ – less fortunate people; ‘hunger’ – undernourishment;
individual: ‘What did I tell you! He’s round the twist! He’s got rats in the bottle!’ (R. Dahl)

10. EPITHET

Epithet is an expressive word or phrase used to characterize a thing, a phenomenon, or a person.

Epithets trite epithets: “heartfelt thanks”, “wine-dark sea”, “blood-red sky”, “fleet-footed Achilles”, “stone-cold heart” original epithets: Oh, dreamy, gloomy, friendly trees! (Trench) She gave me a you-know-what-men-are-like look.

11. OVER-STATEMENT (HYPERBOLE)

Over-statement, or hyperbole, is an expression of an idea in an exceedingly exaggerated language used for emphasis or effect. Stylistic over-statement contributes to an elevated mood or shows a satirical attitude. There are many colloquial hyperboles which are stereotyped.

Hyperboles stereotyped: a thousand pardons; I’ve told you forty times; I haven’t seen you for ages; I’d give worlds for it; original: I would cross the world to find you. He was more remote than the stars.

12. UNDER-STATEMENT (MEIOSIS)

Under-statement, or meiosis, is the logical and psychological opposite of hyperbole.
It is lessening, weakening, reducing the real characteristics of the object of speech.
Litotes is a specific form of meiosis. It is expressing an idea by means of negating the opposite idea. Litotes is very frequent in English.