Final answer:
The phrase in question uses a metaphor, which is a type of figurative language that compares two unlike things directly without using 'like' or 'as'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "The road was a ribbon wrapping through the desert" is an example of figurative language known as a metaphor.
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike things that does not use "like" or "as." In this case, the road is directly compared to a ribbon, suggesting a sinuous and continuous shape that winds through the desert landscape.
This comparison helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind without stating the similarity explicitly.