Language
What is A metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another to highlight a likeness — not literally, but to create meaning or vividness. 'Time is money' is a metaphor.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains a metaphor.
Key things to understand
- 1It directly equates two unlike things ('the world is a stage') to transfer meaning.
- 2Unlike a simile, it doesn't use 'like' or 'as'.
- 3Metaphors make abstract ideas concrete and writing more vivid.
- 4They're everywhere in everyday speech, not just poetry ('a flood of emails').
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 states it directly ('he is a lion').
- Why do writers use metaphors?
- To make ideas vivid, memorable, and emotionally resonant by linking them to something familiar.
- What is an extended metaphor?
- A metaphor sustained over several lines or a whole passage, developing the comparison in depth.