Which among the following are true about the figures of speech?
[A] Figures based on sound – paronomasia
[B] Figures based on construction – zeugma
[C] Figures based on imagination – irony
[D] Figures based on association – chiasmus
[E] Figures based on indirectness – euphemism
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is A, B and E only.

To understand why this option is correct, let us analyze each of the given statements one by one based on the classification of figures of speech:

[A] Figures based on sound – paronomasia:
This statement is true. Paronomasia is a rhetorical device commonly known as a pun, which exploits wordplay based on the similarity of sounds between words with different meanings. Because it relies heavily on phonetic similarity and pronunciation, it is classified as a figure of speech based on sound.

[B] Figures based on construction – zeugma:
This statement is true. Zeugma is a figure of speech in which a single word (usually a verb or an adjective) applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas (for example, "He lost his coat and his temper"). It relies on the syntactical structure and grammatical arrangement of words, placing it under figures based on construction.

[C] Figures based on imagination – irony:
This statement is false. Irony is a figure of speech based on contrast or opposition, where the intended meaning of words is the opposite of their literal meaning. Figures based on imagination typically include devices like metaphor, personification, or hyperbole, which construct mental images or imaginative comparisons.

[D] Figures based on association – chiasmus:
This statement is false. Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order (an ABBA pattern). It is a figure based on arrangement or construction rather than association. Figures based on association include metonymy and synecdoche, where one thing is represented by another associated with it.

[E] Figures based on indirectness – euphemism:
This statement is true. A euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh, blunt, or unpleasant (for example, using "passed away" instead of "died"). It is intentionally designed to convey meaning indirectly, making it a figure based on indirectness.

Combining the true statements, we get [A], [B], and [E]. Therefore, the correct option is "A, B and E only".