Question

read the excerpt from mark twains memoir, life on the mississippi. i was quaking from head to foot, and i could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far. what is the most likely meaning of the phrase \i could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far\ in this sentence? it is hyperbole that means that the authors eyes were wide with fear. it is a simile that means that the authors hat was falling over his eyes. it is an oxymoron that means that the author could not see anything. it is personification that means that the authors eyes were too big for his face.

Explanation:

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. The phrase "I could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far" is an extreme exaggeration to show the author's eyes were wide - likely due to fear as he was "quaking from head to foot". It's not a simile (no "like" or "as"), not an oxymoron (no contradictory terms), and not personification (no non - human thing given human qualities).

Answer:

It is hyperbole that means that the author's eyes were wide with fear.