Final answer:
The phrase is an example of a simile, a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two different things using 'like' or 'as'. For instance, this could mean the straw is bent like an elbow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The comparison of Colin's drinking straw to an elbow is an example of a simile. In English, a simile is a figure of speech that involves making a comparison between two different things to create imagery or demonstrate a certain quality or attribute. A simile uses the words 'like' or 'as' in the comparison. For example, if Colin's drinking straw is described as being 'bent like an elbow', this uses a simile to compare the shape of the straw with the bend in an elbow.
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