Which figure of speech makes an indirect reference to a well-known person or thing?

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Allusion is a figure of speech in which an indirect reference is made to a well-known person, place, event, or work. The reader is expected to recognize the source and recall its significance, which adds implied meaning without naming it directly. This is different from other devices: alliteration relies on repeating consonant sounds in nearby words; a paradox presents a statement that seems to contradict itself but reveals a truth; and a metaphor makes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using like or as. Because the question hinges on referencing something famous indirectly, allusion is the best fit. For example, saying someone “met his Waterloo” nods to Napoleon’s defeat and invites the listener to infer the idea of a decisive, fateful end without spelling it out.