An allusion is a figure of speech that references a person, place, thing, or event. Each of these concepts can be real or imaginary, referring to anything from fiction, to folklore, to historical events and religious manuscripts.

For example, a woman might say to her husband, “Thanks, Romeo,” after he’s offered some type of romantic gesture. Traditionally, Romeo (from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) is looked upon as one of the most romantic fictional characters in history. In this example, the wife would have succeeded in telling her husband he’s wonderful, simply by alluding to this fictional romantic man.

These references can be direct or indirect, but they will often broaden the reader's understanding. Let’s explore some examples of allusion.

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