Similes and Metaphors
Simile:
A simile is a type of figurative language in which one makes an explicit comparison between things that are basically dissimilar. Note: Similes always contain the words “like” or “as.”
Examples:
Life is like a box of chocolates.
Tom is as stubborn as a mule.
Minnesota Fats once said, “A pool player in a tuxedo is like a hotdog with whipped cream on it.”
My love for her is as pure as the driven snow.
“Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.” (Jonathan Swift)
Metaphor:
A metaphor is a type of figurative language in which one makes an implied comparison between things that are basically dissimilar. Note: Metaphors do not contain the words “like” or “as;” instead, metaphors directly imply that one thing equals the other.
Examples:
Life is a bowl of cherries.
Frank is an ornery bear when he first wakes up each morning.
Minnesota Fats once said that a pool player in a tuxedo is a hotdog with whipped cream on it.
“He has all the qualities of a dog, except its devotion.” (Gore Vidal)
My life is a wasteland, a vast, barren desert that echoes with emptiness.
