What Is a Metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t true but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. Metaphors create more vivid and interesting descriptions by comparing two seemingly unrelated things.

Here are some key points about metaphors:

Comparison: Metaphors compare two, unlike things, often to highlight a shared quality or characteristic.

Figurative language: Metaphors are a form of figurative language, meaning they are not meant to be taken literally.

Implied comparison: Unlike similes, which use “like” or “as” to make a comparison, metaphors state that one thing is another, even though it is not literally true.

Artistic and rhetorical use: Metaphors are often used in literature, poetry, and rhetoric to create more vivid, engaging, and persuasive language.

Everyday use: Metaphors are also common in everyday speech, helping convey complex ideas or emotions in a more relatable way.

Examples: Metaphors

Life is a rollercoaster. (comparing the ups and downs of life to a rollercoaster ride)

Time is money. (suggesting that time is a valuable resource, like money)

The world is a stage. (comparing the world to a stage, where people play different roles)

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a non-literal comparison between two dissimilar things, typically by stating or implying that one thing is another. Metaphors describe an object, idea, or action in a way that is not literally true but helps to explain or highlight certain qualities or characteristics.

Metaphors generally consist of two main components:

1. The tenor: This is the subject or concept that the metaphor aims to describe or clarify (e.g., “knowledge” in the metaphor “knowledge is a butterfly”).
2. The vehicle: This is the object or concept used to describe the tenor, often by comparing it to something more familiar or concrete (e.g., “a butterfly” in the metaphor “knowledge is a butterfly”).

Examples: Metaphor structure

Metaphor: Her eyes were diamonds.

Tenor: Her eyes

Vehicle: Diamonds

Explanation: This metaphor compares the person’s eyes to diamonds, implying they are bright, sparkling, and valuable.

Types of metaphor

There are several types of metaphors, each with its own specific characteristics and uses. Here are some of the main types:

Direct metaphor

A direct metaphor is a metaphor in which the comparison between the tenor and the vehicle is explicitly stated using the verb “to be” or other linking verbs such as “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were.”

Examples: Direct metaphors

• Life is a rollercoaster.
• Her eyes are sparkling jewels.
• The world is a stage.

Implied metaphor

An implied metaphor, also known as an indirect metaphor, is a metaphor in which the comparison between the tenor and the vehicle is not explicitly stated but is implied through the language used.

Examples: Implied metaphors

• The sun danced on the horizon. (implies that the sun’s movement is like dancing)
• The wind whispered through the trees. (implies that the wind’s sound is like whispering)
• The city never sleeps. (implies that the city is always active, like a person who doesn’t sleep)

Extended metaphor

An extended metaphor is a metaphor that is developed over multiple lines, paragraphs, or even an entire piece of writing. It explores the comparison between the tenor and the vehicle in greater depth and detail.

Example: Extended metaphor in William Shakespeare’s As You Like It

In Act II, Scene VII of “As You Like It,” Shakespeare extends the metaphor of the world as a stage:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages.

Shakespeare continues to develop this metaphor, comparing the different stages of life to the different roles played by actors.

Mixed metaphor

A mixed metaphor occurs when combining two or more metaphors to create a confusing or incongruous image.

Examples: Mixed metaphors

• The campaign is off the track and sailing into rough waters. (mixing a train metaphor with a sailing metaphor)
• The company is at a crossroads, and they need to step up to the plate. (mixing a road metaphor with a baseball metaphor)

Dead metaphor

A dead metaphor is a metaphor that has been used so often that it has lost its original impact and is no longer recognized as a metaphor. Dead metaphors have become a part of everyday language and are often used without the speaker or writer realizing they are using a metaphor.

Examples: Dead metaphors

• The leg of the table. (initially comparing the table’s support to a leg)
• The hands of the clock. (initially comparing the clock’s pointers to hands)
• The eye of the storm. (initially comparing the calm center of a storm to an eye)

Metaphor vs. simile

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a non-literal comparison between two unlike things by stating or implying that one thing is another. Metaphors help to create vivid and engaging descriptions by drawing connections between seemingly unrelated concepts.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using “like” or “as.” Similes also help create vivid descriptions by drawing connections between different concepts, but the comparison is more explicit than a metaphor.

Examples: Similes

• The baby’s skin was as soft as silk.
• The player moved across the field like a cheetah chasing its prey.
• The stars twinkled like diamonds in the night sky.
• The student’s mind was as sharp as a razor.

Metaphor vs. analogy

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. Metaphors create vivid and memorable descriptions by connecting the two things being compared.

An analogy is a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to explain a complex idea or to highlight the similarities between two seemingly unrelated things. Analogies are often more explicit and extended than metaphors.

There are two primary types of analogies:

• Identical relationship analogies: These analogies highlight the logical connection between two things (e.g., “‘Up’ is to ‘down’ as ‘on’ is to ‘off'”).

• Shared abstraction analogies: These analogies compare two dissimilar things to illustrate a point or concept.

Although shared abstraction analogies and metaphors involve comparing two unlike things, they serve different purposes. Metaphors are mainly used to compare, while shared abstraction analogies are employed to make an argument or provide an explanation.

Examples: Shared abstraction analogies

• Knowledge is like a tree; it grows stronger with deep roots and branching out.
• Love is like the ocean; it has depths that are difficult to fathom.

Allegory vs. metaphor

An allegory is a storytelling device in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas, principles, or moral qualities. Allegories often convey complex ideas or teach moral lessons through extended metaphors or analogies.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. Metaphors create vivid and memorable descriptions by connecting the two things being compared.

Example: Allegory

Animal Farm is a famous allegorical novella by George Orwell, published in 1945. On the surface, it tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer in an attempt to create a utopian state run by animals for animals. However, the work is a satirical allegory that represents the Soviet Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent descent of the revolution into a brutal dictatorship under Stalin.

Worksheet: Metaphor vs. simile

The worksheet below allows you to test your ability to differentiate between metaphors and similes by indicating whether each sentence contains a metaphor or a simile.

Practice Questions

1. Her thoughts were a whirlwind.

2. His spirit was as free as a bird soaring through the sky.

3. She is a shining star.

4. The classroom was like a prison.

5. Life is a roller coaster ride.

6. Her hair was silk.

7. The man was as sly as a fox.

8. The team was a well-oiled machine.

Answers

Practice Questions	Answers and Explanations
1. Her thoughts were a whirlwind.	Metaphor. This directly compares her thoughts to a whirlwind without using “like” or “as.”
2. His spirit was as free as a bird soaring through the sky.	Simile. This uses “as…as” to compare his spirit to a free bird.
3. She is a shining star.	Metaphor. It states that she metaphorically is a shining star.
4. The classroom was like a prison.	Simile. It uses “like” to compare the classroom to a prison.
5. Life is a roller coaster ride.	Metaphor. It compares life directly to a roller coaster ride.
6. Her hair was silk.	Metaphor. It states that her hair metaphorically is silk.
7. The man was as sly as a fox.	Simile. It uses “as…as” to liken the man to a sly fox.
8. The team was a well-oiled machine.	Metaphor. It portrays the team metaphorically as a well-functioning machine.