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What is a simile?

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Quick answer

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'. Phrases like 'as brave as a lion' or 'fought like a tiger' paint a clear picture by likening one thing to another.

Key things to understand

  1. It directly compares two things using 'like' or 'as'.
  2. Examples: 'as busy as a bee', 'sleeps like a log', 'cool as a cucumber'.
  3. It's similar to a metaphor but keeps the comparison explicit.
  4. It makes descriptions vivid and relatable by using familiar images.
  5. It's common in everyday speech, poetry, and storytelling.

People also ask

What's an example of a simile?
'As light as a feather', 'eats like a horse', and 'her smile was like sunshine' all compare two things using 'like' or 'as'.
How is a simile different from a metaphor?
A simile says something is LIKE another thing ('brave as a lion'); a metaphor says it IS that thing ('he is a lion'). The simile keeps the comparison explicit.
Why use a simile?
To make a description clearer and more vivid by comparing it to something the reader already knows and can picture.