What Is a Metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison, but in a way

different from a simile. It makes the comparison as if it was literally true. In other words,
it can be said that a metaphor is an implied comparison.

Now, let us also take a look at how different dictionaries define a metaphor to have a
clearer understanding of the same.

Definition of a Metaphor
A metaphor, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “an expression, often
found in literature, that describes a person or object by referring to something that is
considered to have similar characteristics to that person or object.” According to the
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, a metaphor is defined as “a word or phrase used to
describe somebody/something else, in a way that is different from its normal use, in
order to show that the two things have the same qualities and to make the description
more powerful.” The Collins Dictionary defines a metaphor as “an imaginative way of
describing something by referring to something else which is the same in a particular
way”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a metaphor is “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.”

How to Use a Metaphor in a Sentence? Points to Keep in Mind

Every figure of speech is meant to create some effect in the mind of your audience. In
order to produce the desired effect on your audience, you should know for sure how to
make use of each and every figure of speech. Now, have a look at the following points
to learn how to make good use of metaphors in your sentences.

 When you are using a metaphor, double check if the metaphor is actually conveying the
meaning you want to convey to your target audience.
 There might be circumstances where you will have to make comparisons between two like or
unlike qualities or things. In such cases, do not deliberately make use of a metaphor. If you
think a simile would give the desired effect on your audience better than a metaphor would
do, then use a simile and not a metaphor.
 Read it twice or thrice to make sure you are making the right choice.
What Makes a Metaphor Different from a Simile?
Though metaphors and similes are meant to make comparisons and show
resemblances, they differ on some levels. Look at the table below to understand how a
metaphor differs from a simile. Also, take a look at the examples given to know their
usage as well.

Metaphor Simile

It is an implied comparison. It is a direct comparison.

Does not use any specific words to make a Uses words such a ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make a comparison.
comparison.

For example: Susan was a cheetah in the race For example: Susan ran as fast as a cheetah in the race
today. today.

Examples of Metaphors
Given below are a few examples of metaphors for your reference.

 My mom has a heart of gold.

 My friend’s sister, Sharon, is a night owl.
 My hands were icicles because of the cold weather.
 You just have to consider the world a stage and act accordingly.
 Dileep has a stone heart.
 You have ideas flowing one after the other. Your mind is an ocean.
 She was an autumn leaf.
 He is a lion when he comes to the field.
 Phoebe is a nightingale. Everyone waited eagerly for her to come up on stage.
 She is such a firecracker.

Check Your Understanding of Metaphors

Convert the following sentences into metaphors.

1. Natty ran as fast as a cheetah in the race.

2. Shanthi stays up all night.

3. He is like a shield to me.

4. Tom is as slow as a sloth.

5. The moon was like a broken bangle tonight.

6. Your eyes are like stars in the night sky.

7. He sits in front of the television the whole time like a couch potato.

8. Interviews are like battlefields.

9. Words are like swords; they can cut through people’s hearts and hurt them in a way
that we might not even think it could.

10. She is the only one who could dance like Michael Jackson in our college.

Now, check your answers from the sentences given below.

1. Natty was a cheetah in the race.

2. Shanthi is a night owl.

3. He is my shield.

4. Tom is a sloth.

5. The moon was a broken bangle tonight.

6. Your eyes are stars.

7. He is a couch potato.

8. Interviews are battlefields.

9. Words are swords; they can cut through people’s hearts and hurt them in a way that
we might not even think it could.

10. She is the Michael Jackson of our college.

Frequently Asked Questions on Metaphors in English Grammar
Q1

What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison, but in a way
different from a simile. Instead, it makes the description of an object look as if it was
literally true. In other words, it can be said that a metaphor is an implied comparison. It
makes a comparison between things or ideas that are generally unlike.
Q2

What is the definition of a metaphor?

A metaphor, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is defined as “an expression, often
found in literature, that describes a person or object by referring to something that is
considered to have similar characteristics to that person or object.” According to the
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, a metaphor is defined as “a word or phrase used to
describe somebody/something else, in a way that is different from its normal use, in
order to show that the two things have the same qualities and to make the description
more powerful.” The Collins Dictionary defines a metaphor as “an imaginative way of
describing something by referring to something else which is the same in a particular
way”, and according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a metaphor is “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.”
Q3

What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?

The major difference between a simile and a metaphor is that a simile uses words such
as ‘like’ and ‘as’ to make a comparison whereas a metaphor does not. Another
difference is that a metaphor is an implied comparison; on the other hand, a simile is a
direct comparison.
Q4

Give some examples of metaphors.

 He is a lion when he comes to the field.
 Phoebe is a nightingale. Everyone waited eagerly for her to come up on stage.
 My mom has a heart of gold.
 My friend’s sister, Sharon, is a night owl.
 My hands were icicles because of the cold weather.
Examples of metaphors

As common figures of speech, metaphors turn up everywhere, from novels

and films to presidential speeches and even popular songs. When they’re
especially good, they’re hard to miss.

Examples of metaphors in everyday speech

Work today was a nightmare!

Their bedroom is a pigsty.

The footballer Mohamed Salah is a machine.

Examples of metaphors in literature

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. —William Shakespeare, As You
Like It

In her hands, I always became the pawn. I could only run away. And she was the queen, able to
move in all directions, relentless in her pursuit, always able to find my weakest spot. —Amy
Tan, The Joy Luck Club

The sun was a toddler insistently refusing to go to bed: It was past eight thirty and still light. —
John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

Examples of metaphors in history

America has tossed its cap over the wall of space. —John F. Kennedy

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the
continent. —Winston Churchill

A good conscience is a continual Christmas. —Benjamin Franklin

 Examples of metaphors in pop culture
Chaos is a friend of mine. —Bob Dylan

You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, cryin’ all the time. —Elvis Presley

Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream. —Taylor Swift

Here’s a tip: Metaphors can be difficult to write—and good metaphors are even harder.
Grammarly can improve your writing with suggestions on word choice, tone, and clarity while
checking for spelling and grammar mistakes.

Metaphor vs. simile

Metaphors are closely related to similes; both are figures of speech that
compare two things. The key difference is that similes use the
words like or as to make a direct comparison, while metaphors do not.

Similes explicitly state that two things are similar, highlighting their
resemblance. In contrast, metaphors imply that one thing is another, creating
a figurative connection that the reader or audience must interpret.

 Metaphor: When I wake up in the morning, I’m a zombie.

 Simile: When I wake up in the morning, I’m as slow as a zombie.

While including like or as in a comparison may seem minor, it creates a

significant distinction. Metaphors tend to be more powerful and poetic
because they require the audience to interpret the figurative connection on
their own. On the other hand, similes make the comparison more explicit,
reducing the chance of misinterpretation by being more direct and less
nuanced.
Here are some more examples of similes:

It’s like taking candy from a baby.

He’s as cute as a button.

You’re as busy as a bee.

Types of metaphors

There are many different types of metaphors and even more strategies to use
them all. Let’s focus on a couple of the most common.
Implied metaphor

An implied metaphor departs from the “thing A is thing B” formula and allows
you to make a more sophisticated and subtle type of comparison through
implication.

Take these two examples:

Mr. Alvarez’s bark is worse than his bite.

The final scene cut me to the bone.

Notice how, in the examples of implied metaphors above, the things being
compared aren’t always mentioned—they’re implied. Mr. Alvarez is compared
to a dog, but the word dog isn’t there. A movie scene is compared to a knife,
but the word knife isn’t mentioned.

Implied metaphors are great for being poetic and creative, but make sure
you’re not being too vague. People may misinterpret an implied metaphor if
they can’t understand what you’re implying.

Sustained metaphor (extended metaphor)

A sustained or extended metaphor is carried through multiple sentences or

even paragraphs. Because it is used and developed over a longer section of
text, a sustained metaphor can be a powerful literary device that provides
strong, vivid imagery in the reader’s mind.

This kind of metaphor is often found in songs and poetry. In a famous

example from Shakespeare, Romeo compares Juliet to the sun over several
lines.
 But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief.

Romeo is comparing Juliet to the sun, and if his speech ended after the
second line, it would just be a regular metaphor. But over the following lines,
Romeo keeps going, adding more references and comparisons that all revolve
around Juliet being the sun, such as the moon being envious.

Dead metaphor

A dead metaphor is a cliché that has become so commonplace that the

imagery has lost its power. When these metaphors were first used, they were
clever and original. But with time (sometimes over centuries), they lost their
freshness and impact.

Here are some examples of dead metaphors:

 raining cats and dogs

 spill the beans

 dead end

 hold your horses

Not all metaphors are good, and some can actually harm your writing. Like all
clichés, dead metaphors come across as boring and banal to your audience.
Instead of repeating an old metaphor, reach a little further for an original
image or think about ways to use a familiar metaphor in an unconventional
way.

Mixed metaphor

A mixed metaphor uses two (or more) metaphors at the same time. While the
meanings of the metaphors may or may not stay intact, using multiple
metaphors at once can strain and confuse your audience.

Let’s get all our ducks on the same page.

The example above combines “get our ducks in a row” and “get on the same
page.” Mixed metaphors are often mistakes made by people who have
misheard or forgotten common metaphors.

Mixed metaphors can be pretty funny, however; the great Yogi Berra was
famous for his “Yogi-isms,” which often contained bewilderingly mixed
metaphors that still managed to get his point across:

Even Napoleon had his Watergate.

But if you’re not trying to be funny, mixed metaphors can come off as
awkward or even undermine the point you’re trying to make.

How to use metaphors

You don’t need anything except your imagination to come up with a good
metaphor, but some added flair can go a long way. Remember, metaphors
often represent something that is hard to take literally.
Consider the metaphor “rule with an iron fist” as an example. It would be a bit
difficult to find a person with an actual hand made of iron. However, we are
still able to interpret that metaphor as meaning someone who is hard and
heavy-handed in governance.

When creating metaphors, stick to concepts that people are familiar with but
may not necessarily associate with each other.

Here is a simple example:

It’s been a real circus at home since Mom went on vacation.

You wouldn’t typically refer to your house as a circus, but this sentence
implies that things are wild, full of excitement, and maybe a bit chaotic with
Mom out of the house.

Here are some other tips for using metaphors.

Use metaphors sparingly

Metaphors can be powerful tools in writing, but some writers tend to overuse
them. Using too many metaphors dilutes or weakens each one, taking away
some of their impact and forcing your audience to figure out the meanings of
one metaphor after another.

Instead, use metaphors sparingly so that each one achieves the maximum
effect. Try to save metaphors for situations that are harder to explain, such as
abstract concepts or emotions that are difficult to pinpoint.
Draw comparisons that aren’t obvious

Part of the appeal of metaphors is that they encourage the audience to think
and engage their imagination. However, if a metaphor is too obvious, readers
may overlook it without deeper consideration. To truly captivate your
audience, aim for thought-provoking and original metaphors that inspire
reflection and evoke strong imagery.

Anyone can compare life to a journey, but try to delve deeper to add more
meaning to your metaphors. For example, you could use words like “sailing in
turbulent waters” or “crossing a barren desert” when comparing life to a
journey.

Avoid mixed metaphors

As mentioned above, it’s best to avoid using mixed metaphors in your writing.
Mixing metaphors can add unnecessary confusion that detracts from a
metaphor’s meaning. Use one metaphor at a time and space them out.

Metaphors in different types of writing

Metaphors are useful in both formal and informal writing, though their
application varies depending on the context and purpose.

In creative writing, metaphors tend to be more artistic, drawing on emotions

and feelings to form connections that aren’t obvious. Likewise, in marketing
and advertising, metaphors can influence customers by making them feel a
certain way, especially in slogans.
For example, the slogan of Disney’s theme parks, “Experience the magic,” is a
metaphor. There’s no actual magic involved, but the metaphoric slogan
suggests that people who come to the parks will feel something magical,
encouraging them to visit.

Even in science or other nonfiction, metaphors can help explain concepts that
are otherwise difficult to grasp.

For example, Stephen Hawking once said, “Not only does God play dice, but
[…] he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen.” Although
Hawking was an atheist, he used this religious metaphor to explain the
randomness and mystery of the natural principles of science—something
even the most intelligent people have trouble understanding.