Like similes, metaphors are used to draw vivid comparisons or create associations. Sometimes, this type of metaphor is basically a simile without the words like or as, as in His temper was a thunderstorm. In terms of writing and speech, a metaphor is the applying of a word or phrase to something that’s not literally related in order to suggest a resemblance. So, for example, you could say something like “In the novel, the horse that keeps appearing and disappearing is a metaphor for death.” Many of what we call figures of speech are technically types of metaphors (even similes can be thought of as a type of metaphor). In the broadest sense, the word metaphor refers to a symbol that represents something else. Metaphor is a much broader term than simile. Learn more about how to use figuratively and literally accurately. You’re like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie …. So you have no frame of reference here, Donny.Your love is like a rollercoaster (Ohio Players, “Love Rollercoaster”).Then she looks up at us with a scowl, like we’re keeping something from her, like we’re evil stepmothers keeping her rightful crown under lock and key.You are like a hurricane/There’s calm in your eye (Neil Young, “Hurricane”).(Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad) The man moved with exquisite calm, like a leaf drifting on the surface of a pond, making its own way on gentle currents.You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweet voices.Similes are everywhere: in poems, songs, novels, news reports, everyday conversation, and any writing or speech using a creative comparison that involves the words like or as. Simile comes from the Latin similis, meaning “similar.” A simile states that two things are similar (and explicitly signals that a comparison is being made by using like or as). But the use of like or as clearly indicates that a comparison is being made. Saying “The stars twinkled” doesn’t spark the imagination nearly as much as “The stars twinkled like diamonds.” Similes allow descriptions to be more concrete or better engage the senses-which makes the descriptions stand out more. Similes are generally used to make descriptions more vivid. But you can form similes in other ways, too: His temper is as furious as a thunderstorm or His temper is furious, much like a thunderstorm. ![]() The most basic form is X is like y, as in His temper is like a thunderstorm. This is typically done using the words like or as. What is a simile?Ī simile is a figure of speech in which two things are compared in a way that clearly indicates that a comparison is being made. Join us as we dig into how they work, explain how to tell them apart, and give you a treasure trove of examples. Similes and metaphors are two of the most common figures of speech-expressions that allow us to make comparisons, connections, and descriptions beyond literal ones. ![]() But do you know what makes a simile a simile and what makes a metaphor a metaphor? See what we did here? That first sentence uses a simile, and the second uses a metaphor. Understanding this difference-and knowing how to use both-can be a jewel in the crown of your writing, making your descriptions and comparisons more colorful and engaging. The difference between a metaphor and a simile is like the difference between precious metals and gems (both are valuable and useful, but one can take many more forms). The word metaphor is more broad and can also refer to a variety of ways of comparing or connecting different things, including those that don’t use words at all. A metaphor is a direct comparison between two things that does not use like or as: Her smile is sunshine. A simile is a comparison between two things that uses the word like or as: Her smile is as bright as sunshine.
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