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What is a metaphor?

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Quick answer

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.

Key things to understand

  1. It states that one thing IS another to highlight a shared quality.
  2. Unlike a simile, it doesn't use 'like' or 'as' — it's a direct comparison.
  3. Examples: 'her voice is music', 'he's a night owl', 'the classroom was a zoo'.
  4. It makes abstract ideas vivid and memorable by linking them to concrete images.
  5. An 'extended metaphor' develops the comparison across several lines or a whole passage.

People also ask

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.
What is an extended metaphor?
A metaphor sustained over several lines or a whole passage, developing the comparison in depth.