What is a short definition for metaphor?

Category: books and literature poetry
4.2/5 (204 Views . 22 Votes)
A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do have something in common. You may have to work a little to find the meaning in a metaphor. For example, a river and tears aren't very alike.



Also know, which is the best definition of a metaphor?

Definition of metaphor. 1 : a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money) broadly : figurative language — compare simile.

Similarly, what is metaphor and its importance? The use of metaphors by authors is a way for them to illustrate a point without coming right out and saying it. It is a tool used to get you to really think about something, to find new meaning in it and to see it from a different angle.

Similarly one may ask, what is metaphor with example?

A Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated, but which share some common characteristics. The following phrase is an example of metaphor, “My brother is the black sheep of the family,” because he is neither a sheep nor is he black.

What is a metaphor example for students?

A metaphor is a comparison which is not literally true. It suggests what something is like by comparing it with something else with similar characteristics. For example: 'My brother' is a piglet is a metaphor.

38 Related Question Answers Found

What are some famous metaphors?

Famous metaphors
  • “The Big Bang.”
  • “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
  • “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
  • “I am the good shepherd, … and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
  • “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.”
  • “Chaos is a friend of mine.”

What is a sentence with metaphor?

The song used sunshine as a metaphor for joy. A metaphor can be contained in a single sentence or it can be used as an underlying device throughout an entire story. 158. 165. The English teacher used a tree as a metaphor for her students' abilities to grow into strong, capable adults.

What is your metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. Metaphors are used in poetry, literature, and anytime someone wants to add some color to their language.

What is a simile for kids?

A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things. The simile is usually in a phrase that begins with the words "as" or "like." This is different from a metaphor, which is also a comparison but one says something is something else.

What does it mean to speak in metaphors?


noun. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”Compare mixed metaphor, simile(def 1). something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.

What is a simile example?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way. The object of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a reader's or listener's mind. An example of a simile is: She is as innocent as an angel. An example of a metaphor is: She is an angel.

What are some common metaphors?

Some examples:
  • Fit as a fiddle.
  • Happy as a clam.
  • She is an old flame.
  • Dull as dishwater.
  • Sharp as a tack.
  • Silent as the grave.
  • Time is money.
  • He is a pig.

What are the 10 examples of metaphor?

Animal Metaphors
  • The classroom was a zoo.
  • The alligator's teeth are white daggers.
  • She is a peacock.
  • My teacher is a dragon.
  • Mary's eyes were fireflies.
  • The computers at school are old dinosaurs.
  • He is a night owl.
  • Maria is a chicken.

What is meant by verb?

A verb is a word that expresses an action or a state of being. Because action verbs and linking verbs are strong enough to be used in sentences all by themselves, they are called main verbs.

How do you explain irony?


Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality.

What is the synonym of metaphor?

Synonyms of 'metaphor'
To them the monarchy is a special symbol of nationhood. analogy. emblem. the emblem of the Red Cross. conceit (literary)

What is the difference between metaphor and personification?

Answer and Explanation:
A metaphor is a type of comparison that makes an indirect comparison connecting two usually unrelated things. Personification is a different type of device that attributes human characteristics to an animal or an inanimate object.

What is an idiom example?

An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning can't be understood from the ordinary meanings of the words in it. For example, “Get off my back!” is an idiom meaning “Stop bothering me!” The idiom “You hit the nail on the head” means “You're exactly right.”

What is metaphor in poetry?

A metaphor is a comparison between two things that states one thing is another, in order help explain an idea or show hidden similarities. Unlike a simile that uses "like" or "as" (you shine like the sun!), a metaphor does not use these two words.

Is raining cats and dogs a metaphor?


"Raining cats and dogs" literally means that small animals are falling out of the sky. But, of course, this image of animals falling from the sky is a metaphor for very large, heavy drops of water (and possibly dark skies, since animals are opaque). The phrase is not an idiom, as the other answers misinform you.

What is difference between simile and metaphor?

While both similes and metaphors are used to make comparisons, the difference between similes and metaphors comes down to a word. Similes use the words like or as to compare things—“Life is like a box of chocolates.” In contrast, metaphors directly state a comparison—“Love is a battlefield.”

What is the purpose of metaphor?

In a metaphor, one subject is implied to be another so as to draw a comparison between their similarities and shared traits. The purpose of using a metaphor is to take an identity or concept that we understand clearly (second subject) and use it to better understand the lesser known element (the first subject).