Language
What is A metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another, making a vivid comparison without using 'like' or 'as'. Saying 'time is money' or 'the world's a stage' creates meaning by treating one idea in terms of another.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains a metaphor.
Key things to understand
- 1It states that one thing IS another to highlight a shared quality.
- 2Unlike a simile, it doesn't use 'like' or 'as' — it's a direct comparison.
- 3Examples: 'her voice is music', 'he's a night owl', 'the classroom was a zoo'.
- 4It makes abstract ideas vivid and memorable by linking them to concrete images.
- 5An 'extended metaphor' develops the comparison across several lines or a whole passage.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between a metaphor and a simile?
- A simile compares using 'like' or 'as' ('brave as a lion'); a metaphor says one thing IS another ('he is a lion'). Both draw a comparison, but the metaphor is more direct.
- What is an example of a metaphor?
- 'Time is money', 'the world is a stage', and 'she has a heart of gold' each describe one thing as another to make a point vivid.
- Why do writers use metaphors?
- To make ideas vivid, memorable, and emotionally resonant by connecting something abstract to a concrete, familiar image.