Simile and Metaphor
Simile and Metaphor
Simile and Metaphor
Similes and metaphors are the two most common types of figurative language in the English language.
Similes and metaphors both compare two different things that do not usually go together. The difference between them is that
a simile uses the words "like" or "as" and a metaphor does not.
Similes and metaphors are very common in speaking, singing, and writing. Similes and metaphors are often used in stories,
music, and poetry to create good descriptions.
for comparison
for emphasis or stress
for humor
to make something clear or easy to understand
to say something in a new way
to help the reader/listener form a picture in their mind
to make something interesting and descriptive
Simile
A simile is a word or phrase that compares something to something else. It uses the words like or as.
Examples of similes:
The word "simile" comes from the Latin root similes, which means sameness or likeness. The word "similar" also uses the same
root word.
Similes are the most common type of figurative language in the English language.
1. as + adjective/adverb + as + noun
This is a list of some common similes. Add a subject to the beginning of each simile to make the sentence complete. There are
some examples below.
as cold as ice.
as white as snow
as gentle as a lamb
as funny as a clown
as light as a feather
as colorful as a rainbow
as slow as a turtle
as pretty as a flower
as tall as a giant
as quiet as a mouse
as fluffy as cotton candy
Metaphor
A metaphor is a comparison of two different things, without "like" or "as." It makes a description more interesting or powerful.
The word "metaphor" comes from the Latin word metaphoria and the Greek word metapherin. Both of these words mean "to
transfer." A metaphor gives (transfers) qualities from one noun to another noun.
Examples of metaphors:
Metaphors are like similes, but they do not use the words "like" or "as."
She is an angel.
(She is a nice.)
My hands are ice.
(My hands feel very cold.)
He is a pig.
(He is messy.)
Her eyes were diamonds.
(Her eyes were beautiful.)
The shark's teeth are daggers.
Not all metaphors are written in the simple pattern like those above.
Here are a few more examples of metaphors. Even though they are not written in the same pattern, they do compare two
different nouns.
(The dress is being compared to snow. The dress is soft and white.)
Simile vs metaphor
People often confuse similes and metaphors. They are very similar because they both compare two different things.
This simile compares Sam's home to a pigsty (where pigs live). It means that Sam's home is very messy. He probably does not
clean often and leaves dirty clothes on the floor.
A metaphor is not always as easy to understand and can sometimes be understood in different ways by different people or in
different situations.
Sam is a pig.
This sentence can have different meanings depending on the context. We can usually figure out the meaning based on a picture
or context of the paragraph or story.
In our example, "Sam is a pig" it could mean different things, since pigs can have different qualities. For example, they can be
dirty or greedy (eating everything).
New words: