Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Metaphors and Similes

A METAPHOR is a figure of speech that draws comparisons between two unlike things in an arresting or memorable way.

For example:

  • Life is a box of chocolates (Forrest Gump)
  • The world's a stage (William Shakespeare)
  • You are the sunshine of my life
  • Love is a universal migraine
  • John swelled and ruffled his plumage (implied metaphor)
  • He inspected her with a vulture's eye (implied metaphor)
  • The rugby player cradled the giant egg ball (implied metaphor)

A SIMILE a type of metaphor in which two unlike things are compared using "like" or "as."

For example:

  • As light as a feather
  • As heavy as an ox
  • As sly as a fox
  • As busy as a bee
  • As proud as a peacock
  • As clear as a bell
  • As pure as snow
  • As quick as lightning

  • He eats like a pig.
  • Her eyes are like the sun.
  • She ran like the wind.
  • The twins are like two peas in a pod
  • Her hair was like gravy, running brown off her head and clumping up on her shoulders.