Similes and metaphors

Similes and metaphors compare one thing with another to help the reader picture it. A simile says something is like something else, using ⟦like⟧ or ⟦as … as⟧: ⟦as brave as a lion⟧. A metaphor says something is something else: ⟦The classroom was a zoo.⟧ Neither is meant literally.

Key facts

  • Simile with ⟦like⟧: ⟦She ran like the wind.⟧ With ⟦as … as⟧: ⟦as cold as ice⟧, ⟦as light as a feather⟧.
  • Metaphor: ⟦Time is a thief.⟧ ⟦The test was a breeze.⟧ (no ⟦like⟧, no ⟦as⟧).
  • Ask: what two things are compared, and what do they have in common? ⟦The lake was as smooth as glass.⟧: the lake and glass, both smooth and shiny.
  • The effect: a strong picture in a few words. ⟦The playground was an oven⟧ makes us feel the heat more than ⟦it was very hot⟧.
  • Not every ⟦like⟧ is a simile: ⟦I like apples.⟧ is not a comparison.

Worked examples

Example 1

Simile or metaphor? ⟦His hands were as cold as ice.⟧

  1. It uses ⟦as … as⟧ to compare his hands with ice.
  2. So it is a simile.

Answer: simile

Example 2

Simile or metaphor? ⟦Her words were daggers.⟧

  1. It says her words were daggers, without ⟦like⟧ or ⟦as⟧.
  2. So it is a metaphor: her words were sharp and hurtful.

Answer: metaphor

Example 3

What does ⟦The test was a breeze.⟧ mean?

  1. A breeze is light and gentle: it takes no effort.
  2. So the test was very easy.

Answer: The test was very easy.

Example 4

Complete the simile: ⟦as busy as a ___⟧

  1. Bees fly from flower to flower all day.
  2. ⟦as busy as a bee⟧

Answer: ⟦bee⟧