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Last updated on Feb 11, 2022

90+ Must-Know Metaphor Examples to Improve Your Prose

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About Dario Villirilli

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What figure of speech is so meta that it forms the very basis of riddles? The answer: a metaphor.

As Milan Kundera wrote in The Unbearable Lightness of Being : “Metaphors are dangerous. Metaphors are not to be trifled with.” Yet, paradoxically, they are an inescapable part of our daily lives — which is why it’s all the more important to understand exactly how they function.

To help, this article has a list of 97 metaphor examples to show you what they look like in the wild. But if you have a moment to spare, let's learn a bit more about what a metaphor is.

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a literary device that imaginatively draws a comparison between two unlike things. It does this by stating that Thing A is Thing B. Through this method of equation, metaphors can help explain concepts and ideas by colorfully linking the unknown to the known; the abstract to the concrete; the incomprehensible to the comprehensible. It can also be a rhetorical device that specifically appeals to our sensibilities as readers.

To give you a starting point, here are some examples of common metaphors:

• “Bill is an early bird.”
• “Life is a highway.”
• “Her eyes were diamonds.”

Note that metaphors are always non-literal. As much as you might like to greet your significant other with a warhammer in hand (“love is a battlefield”) or bring 50 tanks of gasoline every time you go on a date (“love is a journey”), that’s not likely to happen in reality. Another spoiler alert: no, Katy Perry doesn't literally think that you're a firework. Rather, these are all instances of metaphors in action.

How does a metaphor differ from a simile?

Simile and metaphor are both figures of speech that draw resemblances between two things. However, the devil’s in the details. Unlike metaphors, similes use like and as to directly create the comparison. “Life is like a box of chocolates,” for instance, is a simile. But if you say, “Life is a highway,” you’re putting a metaphor in motion.

The best way to understand how a metaphor can be used is to see it in practice — luckily, we’ve got a bucket-load of metaphor examples handy for you to peruse.

The Ultimate List of 90+ Metaphor Examples

Metaphors penetrate the entire spectrum of our existence — so we turned to many mediums to dig them up, from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to the Backstreet Boys’ ancient discography. Feel free to skip to your section of interest below for metaphor examples.

Literature Poetry Daily Expressions Songs Films Famous Quotations

Metaphors in literature are drops of water: as essential as they are ubiquitous. Writers use literary metaphors to evoke an emotional response or paint a vivid picture. Other times, a metaphor might explain a phenomenon. Given the amount of nuance that goes into it, a metaphor example in a text can sometimes deserve as much interpretation as the text itself.

Metaphors can make prose more muscular or imagery more vivid:

1. “Exhaustion is a thin blanket tattered with bullet holes.” ― If Then , Matthew De Abaitua

2. “But it is just two lovers, holding hands and in a hurry to reach their car, their locked hands a starfish leaping through the dark.” ― Rabbit, Run , John Updike

3. “The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill of the world.” — Lord of the Flies , William Golding

4. “Bobby Holloway says my imagination is a three-hundred-ring circus. Currently I was in ring two hundred and ninety-nine, with elephants dancing and clowns cart wheeling and tigers leaping through rings of fire. The time had come to step back, leave the main tent, go buy some popcorn and a Coke, bliss out, cool down.” — Seize the Night ,   Dean Koontz

Writers frequently turn to metaphors to describe people in unexpected ways:

5. “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!” — Romeo & Juliet , William Shakespeare

6. “Who had they been, all these mothers and sisters and wives? What were they now? Moons, blank and faceless, gleaming with borrowed light, each spinning loyally around a bigger sphere.  ‘Invisible,’ said Faith under her breath. Women and girls were so often unseen, forgotten, afterthoughts. Faith herself had used it to good effect, hiding in plain sight and living a double life. But she had been blinded by exactly the same invisibility-of-the-mind, and was only just realizing it.” ― The Lie Tree , Frances Hardinge

7. “’I am a shark, Cassie,’ he says slowly, drawing the words out, as if he might be speaking to me for the last time. Looking into my eyes with tears in his, as if he's seeing me for the last time. "A shark who dreamed he was a man.’” ― The Last Star , Rick Yancey

8. “Her mouth was a fountain of delight.” — The Storm , Kate Chopin

9. “The parents looked upon Matilda in particular as nothing more than a scab. A scab is something you have to put up with until the time comes when you can pick it off and flick it away.” — Matilda , Roald Dahl

10. “Mr. Neck storms into class, a bull chasing thirty-three red flags." — Speak , Laurie Anderson

11. “’Well, you keep away from her, cause she’s a rattrap if I ever seen one.’” — Of Mice and Men , John Steinbeck

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Metaphors can help “visualize” a situation or put an event in context:

12. “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.” —Isaiah 64:8

13. “He could hear Beatty's voice. ‘Sit down, Montag. Watch. Delicately, like the petals of a flower. Light the first page, light the second page. Each becomes a black butterfly. Beautiful, eh? Light the third page from the second and so on, chainsmoking, chapter by chapter, all the silly things the words mean, all the false promises, all the second-hand notions and time-worn philosophies.’” — Fahrenheit 451 , Ray Bradbury

To entertain and tickle the brain, metaphor examples sometimes compare two extremely unlike things:

14. “Delia was an overbearing cake with condescending frosting, and frankly, I was on a diet.” ― Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception , Maggie Stiefvater

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

16. “If wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog.” ― Fly by Night , Frances Hardinge

17. “What's this?" he inquired, none too pleasantly. "A circus?" "No, Julius. It's the end of the circus." "I see. And these are the clowns?" Foaly's head poked through the doorway. "Pardon me for interrupting your extended circus metaphor, but what the hell is that?” ― Artemis Fowl , Eoin Colfer

18. “Using a metaphor in front of a man as unimaginative as Ridcully was the same as putting a red flag to a bu — the same as putting something very annoying in front of someone who was annoyed by it.” ― Lords and Ladies , Terry Pratchett

Metaphors can help frame abstract concepts in ways that readers can easily grasp:

19. “My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.” —The Fault In Our Stars , John Green

20. “If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow and which will not, speak then to me.” — Macbeth , William Shakespeare

21. “Memories are bullets. Some whiz by and only spook you. Others tear you open and leave you in pieces.” ― Kill the Dead , Richard Kadrey

22. “Wishes are thorns, he told himself sharply. They do us no good, just stick into our skin and hurt us.” ― A Face Like Glass , Frances Hardinge

23. “’Life' wrote a friend of mine, 'is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.” ― A Room with a View , E.M. Forster

24. “There was an invisible necklace of nows, stretching out in front of her along the crazy, twisting road, each bead a golden second.” ― Cuckoo Song , Frances Hardinge

25. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” — As You Like It , William Shakespeare

Particularly prominent in the realm of poetry is the extended metaphor: a single metaphor that extends throughout all or part of a piece of work . Also known as a conceit , it is used by poets to develop an idea or concept in great detail over the length of a poem. (And we have some metaphor examples for you below.)

If you’d like to get a sense of the indispensable role that metaphors play in poetry, look no further than what Robert Frost once said: “They are having night schools now, you know, for college graduates. Why? Because they don’t know when they are being fooled by a metaphor. Education by poetry is education by metaphor.”

Poets use metaphors directly in the text to explain emotions and opinions:

26. She must make him happy. She must be his favorite place in Minneapolis. You are a souvenir shop, where he goes to remember how much people miss him when he is gone. —“ Unrequited Love Poem ,” Sierra DeMulder

27. She is all states, and all princes, I. Nothing else is. Princes do but play us; compared to this, All honour's mimic, all wealth alchemy. —“ The Sun Rising ,” John Donne

28. I watched a girl in a sundress kiss another girl on a park bench, and just as the sunlight spilled perfectly onto both of their hair, I thought to myself: How bravely beautiful it is, that sometimes, the sea wants the city, even when it has been told its entire life it was meant for the shore. —“I Watched A Girl In A Sundress,” Christopher Poindexter

Extended metaphors in particular explore and advance major themes in poems:

29. All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind. Thinking is always the stumbling stone to poetry. A great singer is he who sings our silences. How can you sing if your mouth be filled with food? How shall your hand be raised in blessing if it is filled with gold? They say the nightingale pierces his bosom with a thorn when he sings his love song. —“ Sand and Foam ,” Khalil Gibran

30. But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage / Can seldom see through his bars of rage / His wings are clipped and his feet are tied So he opens his throat to sing. —“ Caged Bird ,” Maya Angelou

31. Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference. —“ The Road Not Taken ,” Robert Frost

32. Marriage is not a house or even a tent it is before that, and colder: the edge of the forest, the edge of the desert the edge of the receding glacier where painfully and with wonder at having survived even this far we are learning to make fire —“ Habitation ,” Margaret Atwood

33. These poems do not live: it's a sad diagnosis. They grew their toes and fingers well enough, Their little foreheads bulged with concentration. If they missed out on walking about like people It wasn't for any lack of mother-love. —“ Stillborn ,” Sylvia Plath

34. Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops at all. —“ Hope Is The Thing With Feathers ,” Emily Dickinson

Expressions

Here’s some food for thought (35): you’ve probably already used a metaphor (or more) in your daily speech today without even realizing it. Metaphorical expressions pepper the English language by helping us illustrate and pinpoint exactly what we want to say. As a result, metaphors are everywhere in our common vocabulary: you may even be drowning in a sea (36) of them as we speak. But let’s cut to our list of metaphor examples before we jump the shark (37).

38. Love is a battlefield.

39. You’ve given me something to chew on.

40. He’s just blowing off steam.

41. That is music to my ears.

42. Love is a fine wine.

43. She’s a thorn in my side.

44. You are the light in my life.

45. He has the heart of a lion.

46. Am I talking to a brick wall?

47. He has ants in his pants.

48. Beauty is a fading flower.

49. She has a heart of stone.

50. Fear is a beast that feeds on attention.

51. Life is a journey.

52. He’s a late bloomer.

53. He is a lame duck now.

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Metaphors are a must-have tool in every lyricist’s toolkit. From Elvis to Beyonce, songwriters use them to instinctively connect listeners to imagery and paint a visual for them. Most of the time, they find new ways to describe people, love — and, of course, break-ups. So if you’re thinking, “This is so sad Alexa play Titanium,” right now, you’re in the right place: here’s a look at some metaphor examples in songs.

54. You ain't nothin' but a hound dog / Cryin' all the time —“Hound Dog,” Elvis Presley

55. You're a fallen star / You're the getaway car / You're the line in the sand / When I go too far / You're the swimming pool / On an August day / And you're the perfect thing to say — “Everything,” Michael Buble

56. 'Cause baby you're a firework / Come on show 'em what your worth / Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!" / As you shoot across the sky-y-y — “Firework,” Katy Perry

57. I'm bulletproof nothing to lose / Fire away, fire away / Ricochet, you take your aim / Fire away, fire away / You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium —“Titanium,” David Guetta

58. Life is a highway / I wanna ride it all night long / If you're going my way / I wanna drive it all night long —“Life Is A Highway,” Rascal Flatts

59. She's a Saturn with a sunroof / With her brown hair a-blowing / She's a soft place to land / And a good feeling knowing / She's a warm conversation —“She’s Everything,” Brad Paisley

60. I'm a marquise diamond / Could even make that Tiffany jealous / You say I give it to you hard / So bad, so bad / Make you never wanna leave / I won't, I won't —“Good For You,’ Selena Gomez

61. Remember those walls I built / Well, baby, they're tumbling down / And they didn't even put up a fight / They didn't even make a sound —“Halo,” Beyonce

62. Did I ever tell you you're my hero? / You're everything, everything I wish I could be / Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle / For you are the wind beneath my wings / 'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings —“Wind Beneath My Wings,” Bette Midler

63. You are my fire / The one desire / Believe when I say I want it that way —“I Want It That Way,” Backstreet Boys

64. Your body is a wonderland / Your body is a wonder (I'll use my hands) / Your body is a wonderland —“Your Body Is A Wonderland,” John Mayer

65. I'm walking on sunshine (Wow!) / I'm walking on sunshine (Wow!) / I'm walking on sunshine (Wow!) / And don't it feel good —“I’m Walking On Sunshine,” Katrina and the Waves

66. If you wanna be with me / Baby there's a price to pay / I'm a genie in a bottle / You gotta rub me the right way —“Genie in a Bottle,” Christina Aguilera

67. If God is a DJ, life is a dance floor / Love is the rhythm, you are the music / If God is a DJ, life is a dance floor / You get what you're given it's all how you use it —“God Is A DJ,” P!nk

68. If this town / Is just an apple / Then let me take a bite —“Human Nature,” Michael Jackson

69. I just wanna be part of your symphony / Will you hold me tight and not let go? —“Symphony,” Clean Bandit

70. My heart's a stereo / It beats for you, so listen close / Hear my thoughts in every note —“Stereo Hearts,” Gym Class Heroes

71. I'm the sunshine in your hair / I'm the shadow on the ground / I'm the whisper in the wind / I'm your imaginary friend —“I’m Already There,” Lonestar

Films can add a different angle to the concept of a metaphor: because it’s a visual medium, certain objects on-screen will actually represent whatever the filmmaker intends it to represent. The same principle applies, of course — there’s still a direct comparison being made. It’s just that we can see the metaphor examples with our own eyes now.

Films can visually make clear comparisons between two elements on the screen:

72. “What beautiful blossoms we have this year. But look, this one’s late. I’ll bet that when it blooms it will be the most beautiful of all.” —from  Mulan

73. “Love is an open door Can I say something crazy? Will you marry me? Can I say something even crazier? Yes!” —from  Frozen

Metaphors are used in dialogue for characters to express themselves:

74. “You're television incarnate, Diana. Indifferent to suffering, insensitive to joy.” — Network

75. “Life's a climb. But the view is great.” — Hannah Montana: the Movie

Did you know that Plato was using metaphors to express his thoughts all the way back in 427 BC? Since then, some of our greatest minds have continued to turn to metaphors when illuminating ideas in front of the general public — a practice that’s become particularly prominent in political speeches and pithy witticisms. Here’s a sample of some of the ways that famous quotes have incorporated metaphor examples in the past.

76. “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” —Albert Einstein

77. “A good conscience is a continual Christmas.” —Benjamin Franklin

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

79. “I don't approve of political jokes; I have seen too many of them get elected.” —Jon Stewart

80. “Conscience is a man’s compass.” —Vincent Van Gogh

81. “In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” —Albert Camus

82. “Time is the moving image of eternity.” ―Plato

83. “Every human is a school subject. This is rather a metaphorical way of saying it, to put it straight, those you love are few, and the ones you detest are many.” ―Michael Bassey Johnson

84. “Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” —Will Rogers

85. “Life is little more than a loan shark: it exacts a very high rate of interest for the few pleasures it concedes.” —Luigi Pirandello

86. “America: in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.  With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come.” —Barack Obama

87. “Bolshevism is a ghoul descending from a pile of skulls. It is not a policy; it is a disease. It is not a creed; it is a pestilence.” —Winston Churchill

88. “Books are mirrors of the soul.” —Virginia Woolf

89. “My life has a superb cast, but I can't figure out the plot.” —Ashleigh Brilliant

90. “I feel like we’re all in a super shitty Escape Room with really obvious clues like, ‘vote’ and ‘believe women’ and ‘don’t put children in cages.’” — Natasha Rothwell

91. “I travel the world, and I'm happy to say that America is still the great melting pot — maybe a chunky stew rather than a melting pot at this point, but you know what I mean.” —Philip Glass

92. “Life is a long road on a short journey.” —James Lendall Basford

93. “What therefore is truth? A mobile army of metaphors, metonymies, anthropomorphisms: in short a sum of human relations which become poetically and rhetorically intensified, metamorphosed, adorned, and after long usage seem to a nation fixed, canonic and binding.” —Nietzsche

94. “Life is a foreign language: all men mispronounce it.” —Christopher Morley

95. “Dying is a wild night and a new road.” —Emily Dickinson

96. “And your very flesh shall be a great poem.” —Walt Whitman

And as a bonus gift, here’s one last metaphor for the road, from one of our brightest philosophers. We’ll let Calvin have the last word:

6 responses

James Hubbs says:

21/10/2018 – 23:44

Very useful article. Thank you. However, Fahrenheit 451 was written by Ray Bradbury, not George Orwell.

↪️ Reedsy replied:

22/10/2018 – 00:42

Great spot, James! That's now been fixed. Glad that the article was useful :)

Jonboy says:

21/05/2019 – 19:11

That Sylvia Plath quote nailed me. Ouch! Haven't read it but have to now...

21/06/2019 – 17:02

Another metaphor I love is “I’m just like them— an ordinary drone dressed in secrets and lies.” It’s from Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

DAVID COWART says:

18/11/2019 – 01:59

life is a highway is Tom Cochrane, not Rascal Flats

↪️ Martin Cavannagh replied:

22/11/2019 – 12:54

Rascal Flatts did a cover of the song. We were deciding between the two and decided that "Rascal Flatts" sounded funnier :D

Comments are currently closed.

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25 Metaphors for Essays

Metaphors are a powerful tool in writing and can add depth and richness to your essay.  

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things, using “like” or “as” to make the comparison. 

By using metaphors in your writing, you can paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind and help them better understand and relate to your ideas. 

In this blog post, we will explore some common metaphors for essays and the different ways they can be used to enhance your writing. 

Whether you are just starting out with essay writing or are an experienced writer looking for new ways to engage your readers, this post will provide you with some helpful tips and ideas for using metaphors effectively. 

So, let’s dive in and explore the world of metaphors for essays!

Metaphors for Essays

• “The world is a stage.” This metaphor suggests that life is a performance and we are all actors on the stage of the world.
• “Time is money.” This metaphor equates the value of time with the value of money, implying that time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted.
• “He is a snake in the grass.” This metaphor describes someone who is sneaky and untrustworthy, likening them to a snake hiding in the grass.
• “She has a heart of gold.” This metaphor describes someone who is kind and generous, likening their heart to the precious metal gold.
• “He is a bear in the market.” This metaphor describes someone who is aggressive and successful in business, likening them to a bear in the stock market.
• “She is a ray of sunshine.” This metaphor describes someone who brings joy and light to a situation, likening them to a ray of sunshine.
• “He is a lion in the courtroom.” This metaphor describes someone who is confident and fierce in a legal setting, likening them to a lion.
• “She is a diamond in the rough.” This metaphor describes someone who has untapped potential or hidden qualities, likening them to a diamond that has yet to be polished.
• “He is a butterfly in the wind.” This metaphor describes someone who is unpredictable or fleeting, likening them to a butterfly being blown by the wind.
• “She is a rose among thorns.” This metaphor describes someone who stands out or is exceptional in a negative or difficult situation, likening them to a rose among thorns.
• “He is a fish out of water.” This metaphor describes someone who is uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation, likening them to a fish out of water.
• “She is a bird in a gilded cage.” This metaphor describes someone who is trapped or unable to fully experience life, likening them to a bird in a gilded cage.
• “He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” This metaphor describes someone who appears kind or harmless, but is actually dangerous or deceitful, likening them to a wolf disguised as a harmless sheep.
• “She is a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.” This metaphor describes someone who is going through a transformation or transition, likening them to a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
• “He is a snake oil salesman.” This metaphor describes someone who is dishonest or fraudulent in their sales tactics, likening them to a 19th century salesman who sold fake cures in the form of snake oil.
• “She is a feather in the wind.” This metaphor describes someone who is easily swayed or influenced, likening them to a feather being blown by the wind.
• “He is a monkey on his back.” This metaphor describes someone who is struggling with an addiction or problem that they cannot shake, likening it to a monkey clinging to their back.
• “He is a tiger in the jungle.” This metaphor describes someone who is strong and fierce in a particular environment, likening them to a tiger in the jungle.
• “She is a flower in bloom.” This metaphor describes someone who is flourishing or thriving, likening them to a flower in bloom.
• “He is a dragon hoarding treasure.” This metaphor describes someone who is greedy or possessive, likening them to a dragon hoarding treasure.

In conclusion, metaphors are a valuable and effective tool for writers looking to add depth and clarity to their essays. 

By comparing two unlike things and using “like” or “as” to make the comparison, metaphors can help readers better understand and relate to your ideas. 

Whether you are just starting out with essay writing or are an experienced writer looking for new ways to engage your readers, incorporating metaphors into your writing can be a powerful technique.

We hope that this blog post has provided you with some helpful tips and ideas for using metaphors effectively in your own essays. 

Remember to always consider your audience and the purpose of your writing when choosing and using metaphors, and don’t be afraid to get creative and try out different approaches. 

With a little practice and experimentation, you can master the art of using metaphors to add depth and impact to your writing.

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• Knowledge Base
• What Is a Metaphor? | Definition & Examples

What Is a Metaphor? | Definition & Examples

Published on August 11, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on November 6, 2023.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that implicitly compares two unrelated things, typically by stating that one thing is another (e.g., “that chef is a magician”).

Metaphors can be used to create vivid imagery, exaggerate a characteristic or action, or express a complex idea.

Metaphors are commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech.

The exam was a piece of cake.

This town is a desert .

Table of contents

What is a metaphor, types of metaphor, metaphor vs. simile, metaphor vs. analogy, allegory vs. metaphor, worksheet: metaphor vs. simile, frequently asked questions.

A metaphor is a rhetorical device that makes a non-literal comparison between two unlike things. Metaphors are used to describe an object or action by stating (or implying) that it is something else (e.g., “knowledge is a butterfly”).

Metaphors typically have two parts:

• A tenor is the thing or idea that the metaphor describes (e.g., “knowledge”).
• A vehicle is the thing or idea used to describe the tenor (e.g., “a butterfly”).

Sophia was a loose cannon .

There are several different types of metaphor.

Direct metaphor

A direct metaphor compares two unrelated things by explicitly stating that one thing is another. Direct metaphors typically use a form of the verb “be” to connect two things.

Ami and Vera are two peas in a pod.

Implied metaphor

An implied metaphor compares two unlike things without explicitly naming one of them. Instead, a comparison is typically made using a non-literal verb. For example, the statement “the man erupted in anger” uses the verb “erupted” to compare a man to a volcano.

The captain barked orders at the soldiers. [i.e., the captain was like an angry dog]

Extended metaphor

An extended metaphor (also called a sustained metaphor) occurs when an initial comparison is developed or sustained over several lines or paragraphs (or stanzas, in the case of a poem).

Extended metaphors are commonly used in literature and advertising, but they’re rarely used in everyday speech.

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

Mixed metaphor

A mixed metaphor is a figure of speech that combines two or more metaphors, resulting in a confusing or nonsensical statement.

Mixed metaphors are usually accidental and are often perceived as unintentionally humorous. Mixing metaphors can confuse your readers and make your writing seem to lack coherence.

She’s a rising star, and with the right guidance, she’ll spread her wings.

Dead metaphor

A dead metaphor is a figure of speech that has become so familiar due to repeated use that people no longer recognize it as a metaphor. Instead, it’s understood as having a straightforward meaning.

The guest of honor sat at the head of the table .

Metaphors and similes are both rhetorical devices used for comparison. However, they have different functions:

• A metaphor makes an implicit comparison between two unlike things, usually by saying that one thing is another thing (e.g., “my body is a temple”).
• A simile makes an explicit comparison between two unlike things, typically using the words “like,” “as,” or “than” (e.g., “you’re as stubborn as a mule”).

The old man’s beard was as white as snow .

There are two main types of analogy:

• Identical relationship analogies indicate the logical relationship between two things (e.g., “‘Up’ is to ‘down’ as ‘on’ is to ‘off’”).
• Shared abstraction analogies compare two unlike things to illustrate a point.

Metaphors are sometimes confused with shared abstraction analogies, but they serve different purposes. While metaphors are primarily used to make a comparison (e.g., “John is a caveman”), shared abstraction analogies are used to make an argument or explain something.

Metaphors are sometimes confused with allegories, but they have different functions:

• A metaphor makes an implied comparison between two unlike things, typically by stating that one thing is another (e.g., “time is money”).
• An allegory illustrates abstract concepts, moral principles, or complex ideas through symbolic representation.

Allegories are typically longer than metaphors and usually take the form of a story.

You can test your knowledge of the difference between metaphors and similes with the worksheet below. Choose whether each sentence contains a metaphor or a simile.

• Practice questions
• Answers and explanations
• You sing like an angel.
• The boxer is as strong as an ox.
• Hannah is a warrior.
• Your eyes are deeper than the ocean.
• Most of the time, you’re an angel. But you’re like a demon when you’re tired.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “like.”
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “as.”
• This sentence contains a metaphor because it makes an implicit comparison by saying that something is something else.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “than.”
• This sentence contains both a metaphor (“you are an angel”) and a simile (“like a demon”).

An extended metaphor (also called a sustained metaphor ) is a metaphor that is developed over several lines or paragraphs.

The following is an example of an extended metaphor in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet :

“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

That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.”

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a non-literal comparison between two unlike things (typically by saying that something is something else).

For example, the metaphor “you are a clown” is not literal but rather used to emphasize a specific, implied quality (in this case, “foolishness”).

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Essays on Metaphor

A metaphor essay notes that a metaphor is a figure of speech, defined by the use of words and expressions in a figurative sense. Metaphor essays highlight that it often uses analogy, similarity, and comparison. Essays on metaphor explain that metaphor is used in text to describe something using the characteristics of something else. It is usually included to provide a pore poetic, artistic and sensual explanation of something, rather than a literal one. Essays specify that writers use metaphors to emphasize something, to distinguish the described object, make it memorable. Our metaphor essay samples will tell you everything there is to know about metaphors – just check some of our best essay samples below.

The Famished Road by Ben Okri is a book that must always be discussed by referring to its title because the road serves as the book's primary symbol. There was a waterway at the start. The waterway turned into a road, and the road split off to reach the entire...

Words: 1214

Birches employs the metaphor of a boy swimming in the birches. This is a metaphor for being a teenager. The metaphor compares the youthful excitement that many individuals disregard in their youth and wish they had done when they are older. The individual ends up struggling with the burdens of...

Themes in Equus There are several themes that have been developed in the play Equus, most importantly the theme of religion and worship. Peter Shaffer doesn't stop to develop this theme from the beginning to the end of the play. Moreover, he makes use of different devices to build the theme...

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A box of chocolate or a bowl of cherries is a life symbol that my response would attempt to explore objectively in my interpretation. The solution attempts to explore life in two broad viewpoints in line with its position in today's culture. It's either leaning towards a chocolate box or...

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The novel called Germinal by Zola was first published in French on March 1885. It created a very significant mark in the french tradition among other great novels like Ladies Delight, Nana, L’ Assommoir, La Bete Humaine and The Belly of Paris. Its original copy was 591 pages but was...

Words: 1068

Judy Brady's dramatic irony has been included in I Want a Wife (1971) as the writer needs a wife to accompany her to college. The writer is a woman, but the reader might first think that she was a male. It is also ironic that a woman should accompany her...

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Examples of Metaphors in Literature

By Allison Bressmer

Though you may not have noticed, you have likely heard or used quite a few metaphors today. Perhaps you’ve said someone has a “heart of gold” or conversely, a “heart of stone” or called a lively child “a real firecracker!”

A metaphor makes a direct comparison between two things that are generally not related or similar, but share a specific quality or characteristic that is emphasized through the comparison.

While we may learn about metaphor most directly through poetry and literature, metaphors aren’t just for artists. They add color and carry meaning even in our everyday language.

What Is a Metaphor?

How is a metaphor different from a simile, why use metaphors, examples of types of metaphors, what is a mixed metaphor, how to use metaphors in your writing, examples of metaphors, why metaphors are powerful.

A metaphor is a type of figurative language . It is a figure of speech used to convey a message that goes beyond the literal meaning of their words.

Figures of speech are not intended to be taken literally.

A person can’t have a heart of gold or stone, and a child is a human, not an explosive!

So what’s the point of the comparison then? The point is to go beyond literal meanings.

Gold is precious; it’s pure and valuable. A person with a heart of gold is sincere and kind—a purely good person who adds value to others’ experiences.

Stone is cold and hard. A person with a heart of stone shows no emotional tenderness or empathy—no softness or warmth in their personalities.

A firecracker is full of energy and vibrancy. That firecracker child is probably running around the house and full of sass!

A metaphor makes a direct comparison between two unlike things in order to highlight the one (or so) shared quality between those two things. A metaphor outright “calls” or “labels” that one thing as another thing: the heart is gold or stone; the child is a firecracker.

While a metaphor makes a direct comparison—it states that one thing is another thing—a simile makes its comparisons a little less directly by including the words like or as .

• Simile: She’s as fast as a cheetah!
• Metaphor: She’s a cheetah!

• Simile: Their relationship was like a tornado.
• Metaphor: Their relationship was a tornado.

Sometimes you might prefer the directness of a metaphor; other times a simile will carry your meaning more effectively. Some comparisons just work better as similes than metaphors and vice versa. Whatever works for your specific situation, metaphors and similes can bring creativity and intensity to your words and writing style.

There are plenty of reasons to use metaphors in your work!

1. To Add Creativity

Writers want to express ideas creatively. They want to draw readers into experiences or emotions. They want to describe characters or scenes or events with originality to keep their readers engaged.

Sometimes, literal language just isn’t enough to get those jobs done. Or, maybe it can, but metaphor can do it better, with more intensity and vibrancy.

In Lucille Clifton’s poem “Miss Rosie,” the speaker, frustrated and angry by what Miss Rosie has become, calls her “you wet-brown bag of a woman.” I suppose the speaker could have said “Miss Rosie—you are useless” and still conveyed anger, but I doubt I would remember it. It’s kind of hard to forget that creative “wet-brown-bag” comparison.

2. To Bring Emotional Intensity

What statement conveys more feeling?

• I love you very much.
• My love for you is a raging fire.

Okay, perhaps my metaphor example is corny. But it is also more intense. Raging fire emphasizes the passion and heat and “out-of-controlness” that comes with being in love. It easily out-intensifies very much.

3. To Use the Power of Imagery

Each of the examples of metaphor used so far in this post have probably activated your senses. You can picture and perhaps even feel that cold heart of stone, or the pure, shining beauty of the heart of gold . You might have felt the heat of the fire and pictured its wild, red-hot flames.

4. To Provoke Thought

The meaning of a metaphor isn’t always glaringly obvious. You might have had to stop and think about the characteristics of a wet, brown bag before you could understand the speaker’s accusation in “Miss Rosie.” Once you stop and think, though, you can see the layers of meaning. A wet brown bag was once useful, but is now mushy, musty waste that’s good for nothing.

5. To Create Atmosphere

Sometimes, the sensory images or emotions evoked through metaphor can help set an atmosphere or mood for a scene or event, drawing audiences more deeply into the experience.

• The wedding was a fairytale.

The metaphor makes it easy to image a picture-perfect, enchanting celebration, full of happily-ever-after vibes.

• I finally found escape in the abandoned barn. The torrential rain was rapid machine-gun fire echoing threats of my destruction.

The metaphor adds to the danger of this moment. Not only has the person had to escape, but even the sound of the rain itself perpetuates the feeling that the character is under attack.

So far, the metaphors you’ve seen in this post have been standard metaphors . Standard metaphors simply make that direct comparison between two unlike things:

• Traffic was a beast today.
• That baby is a treasure!

However, standard is not the only type of metaphor. Here are some others:

Implied Metaphor

She hissed her warning— “Keep your mouth shut or I’ll shut it for you.”

In this case, no snake is mentioned, but the “hiss” implies the comparison of “she” to that dangerous, threatening creature.

Visual Metaphor

Visual metaphors show, rather than directly state, the comparison.

Does anyone remember the once-popular ad campaign that showed someone in a kitchen holding an egg and saying “this is your brain.” Then, the person cracked the egg into a hot pan, and as we watched that egg sizzle, said “This is your brain on drugs.”

Instead of directly saying, “drug use makes your brain a fried egg,” the campaign made a visual comparison.

Extended Metaphor

This term really defines itself! An extended metaphor is one that continues over multiple lines or stanzas of poetry, or sentences or paragraphs or segments of prose. Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope is the Thing with Feathers'' is an example.

Dead Metaphor

A dead metaphor is one whose meaning, due to frequent use and/or the passage of time, has shifted or just lost its metaphorical power and become rather boring or cliche.

For example, some metaphors I’ve used in this post could be considered dead.

Heart of gold and heart of stone ; love is a raging fire— these are metaphors that have lost some of their luster, maybe even prompt an eye roll, though we still understand their meanings.

If we call someone a laughing-stock, we mean the person is a fool, a joke, an embarrassment. But many who use the metaphor probably don’t know its likely origin, going back to the 1500s, when people were publicly punished and ridiculed by having their ankles and wrists locked into holes between two sliding boards—a contraption called “stocks.”

Thankfully, we don’t use that form of punishment anymore, but we have kept the metaphor.

A mixed metaphor is a mistake. It occurs when a person combines elements of two unrelated metaphors to confusing, and often humorous, effect.

For example, we might call a person who is emotionally strong a tough cookie, which is itself an interesting (possibly dead) metaphor. What qualities does a cookie share with a strong person? I can’t find an origin story, but I’ll assume that it refers to a cookie that perhaps required a bit of effort to bite into.

If you say someone is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, you’re saying that they aren’t too smart. This metaphor’s meaning is easier to discern as “sharp” or “keen” are synonyms for “smart.”

But if you say a person is “not the toughest cookie in the drawer” you’ve just mixed your metaphors, and haven't really said much of anything—other than perhaps you need to “sharpen” yourself!

Don’t force metaphors or try too hard to sound “poetic.” Sometimes, the desire to be creative can lead you to produce overdone, overwrought, or overly complex metaphors. Remember, you want the metaphor to enhance the readers’ experience, not leave them frustrated and confused.

Think with your senses. Metaphors can create or deepen your work’s sensory effect. What metaphors can you use to intensify the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touch of your work?

Don’t overwhelm your work— especially prose—with metaphors. Metaphors are powerful figures of speech, but that doesn’t mean they should fill every line of your speech or text. Use metaphors thoughtfully and strategically in order to maintain their power and effect.

Be original. Avoid the cliches and stay away from often used images. For example, there are already plenty of love-compared-to-roses and snow-compared-to-blankets metaphors.

You might have to do some brainstorming. The first ideas that come to mind might be obvious because they’re common. Keep thinking. Check out ProWritingAid’s Clichés Report to look for these exhausted figures of speech. Then you can try to freshen them up with a new, creative metaphor!

Sign up for a free account and try it for yourself.

Now that we know what a metaphor is, let’s take a closer look at some examples of metaphors at work in the real world.

Metaphor Examples from Literature

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

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”— As You Like It , William Shakespeare

“Her mouth was a fountain of delight.”— The Storm , Kate Chopin

“Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”— Mother to Son , Langston Hughes (the entire poem is an example of an extended metaphor)

“I’m a riddle in nine syllables”— Metaphors , Sylvia Plath (each line of the poem is a different metaphor, but the metaphors are all describing one thing.

“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? / It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.”— Romeo and Juliet , William Shakespeare

“The frosted wedding cake of the ceiling”— The Great Gatsby , F. Scott Fitzgerald

“Behind him, sitting on piles of scrap and rubble, was the blue kite. My key to Baba’s heart.”— The Kite Runner , Khaled Hosseini

“This blood is a map of the road between us.”— Tear , Linda Hogan

“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 spots.”— The Joy Luck Club , Amy Tan

Metaphor Examples from Music

“Life is a highway / I wanna ride it all night long”—Tom Cochrane

“Baby you’re a firework!”—Katy Perry, Ester Dean, Stargate, Sandy Vee

“You are the thunder and I am the lightning”—Selena Gomez, Antonina Armato, Tim James, Devrim Karaoglu

“Love is a temple, Love a higher law”—U2

“You are the sunshine of my life”—Stevie Wonder

Metaphor Examples from Speeches or Famous Quotes

“I assume unhesitatingly the leadership of this great army of our people dedicated to a disciplined attack upon our common problems.”—Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address

"All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.”—Albert Einstein

“If this virus were a physical assailant, an unexpected and invisible mugger, which I can tell you from personal experience it is, then this is the moment we have begun together to wrestle it to the floor.”— Boris Johson qtd. in the Guardian

“But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.”— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , “I Have A Dream”

“What’s that got to do with women’s rights or negroes’ rights? If my cup won’t hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn’t you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?”— Sojourner Truth , “Ain’t I a Woman?”

Metaphor Examples from Advertising

• Budweiser is the “king” of beers
• Chevrolet is the “heartbeat” of America
• Exxon Oil used to tell drivers: “put a tiger in your tank!”

In her article “ The Words that Help Us Understand the World, ” Helene Schumacher says that metaphors “can explain complex concepts we may not be familiar with, help us to connect with each other, and can even shape our thought processes. They help us better understand our world.”

Author James Geary, quoted in the article, says “The only way we have of learning something new is by comparing it to something we already know.”

Metaphors bring to light something we had not perhaps considered or recognized. That something may be a depth of emotion, an insight. Whatever that “something” is, the metaphor delivers it in a unique, stirring way not matched by literal words alone.

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Allison Bressmer

Allison Bressmer is a professor of freshman composition and critical reading at a community college and a freelance writer. If she isn’t writing or teaching, you’ll likely find her reading a book or listening to a podcast while happily sipping a semi-sweet iced tea or happy-houring with friends. She lives in New York with her family. Connect at linkedin.com/in/allisonbressmer.

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• Writing Tips

Figurative Language – Definition and Examples

• 3-minute read
• 13th April 2023

In this article, you’ll learn about figurative language: what it is, how to use it, and lots of examples to inspire your everyday speech and descriptive writing .

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. It is often used to create imagery, evoke emotion, or emphasize a point in a way that literal language cannot. Think of it as painting a picture with words in the minds of your audience – for example, “She was as light as a feather while dancing.”

5 Types of Figurative Language

Below, we’ll look at five types of figurative language – metaphor, idiom, simile, hyperbole, and personification – that you can use in an essay, poem , speech, or conversation.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two things by stating that one thing is another, without using “like” or “as.” Metaphors are used to create imagery, evoke emotions, and help readers or listeners to understand an idea or concept in a new and interesting way.

Here are some examples of metaphors:

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words. Idioms are often used in informal or conversational language to add color or humor.

Here are some examples of idioms:

If you want to include idioms in your everyday speech or writing, make sure you fully understand the figurative meaning before using them. If used incorrectly, they can cause confusion for your audience.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as.” They are a great writing technique to create vivid imagery and a memorable comparison.

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Here are some examples of similes:

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is mostly used to emphasize a point in a funny or memorable way. Hyperbole is great to use in everyday language or writing, but it’s important to use it in moderation – otherwise, it can come across as insincere or unbelievable.

Here are some examples of hyperbole:

Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or animal is given human-like qualities or characteristics. This technique is mostly used in poetry or descriptive writing to create vivid imagery.

Here are some examples of personification:

Figurative language is a great addition to your everyday speech and is frequently used in literature and poetry. It can add depth and richness to language, making it more interesting and expressive. However, it can also be confusing if the reader or listener does not understand the intended meaning of the figurative language. Therefore, it is important to have a basic understanding of figurative language in order to fully appreciate and understand written and spoken communication.

Interested in learning more about how use descriptive language and vivid imagery? Check out our Writing Tips blog to learn more.

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• Literary Terms
• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Write a Metaphor

I. What is a Metaphor?

Metaphor (pronounced meh-ta-for) is a common figure of speech that makes a comparison by directly relating one thing to another unrelated thing. Unlike similes , metaphors do not use words such as “like” or “as” to make comparisons. The writer or speaker relates the two unrelated things that are not actually the same, and the audience understands that it’s a comparison, not a literal equation. The word comes from a Latin phrase meaning “to carry across,” and a metaphor does just that—it carries a shared quality or characteristic across two distinct things.

Writers use metaphor to add color and emphasis to what they are trying to express. For instance, if you say someone has “a sea of knowledge,” you are using a metaphor to express how smart or educated they are. “Knowledge” and “the sea” are not literally related, but they are figuratively related because they are both immense things that are difficult to measure. By putting them together, you can accentuate how vast a person’s knowledge is.

A lot of common expressions are metaphors, and this includes phrases like “heart of gold” or calling someone a rat, snake, pig, or shark. These figurative expressions are so widespread that we rarely stop to think about them – but unless you literally think that someone has gills and fins, you’re using a metaphor when you call that person a shark.

II. Examples of Metaphor

All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree. (Albert Einstein)

Clearly, Einstein wasn’t talking about a literal tree. But he’s showing a close relationship between different topics by suggesting that they’re all part of the same living thing. He also basically raises an interesting question – if art, religion, and science are all branches, what should we call the tree’s trunk?

That football player is really putting the team on his back this evening!

Football commentators use this phrase all the time when an entire team appears to be depending on its running back. The image of a single man running hard with a whole football team on his back is an expression of hard work and dedication.

She was a rock star at our last business presentation.

This is probably not referring to a literal rock star falling from space or the other common metaphor: a musician performing at a rock concert. Instead, it simply means the person delivered a great performance at the meeting and stood out like a rock star on the stage.

III. The Importance of Metaphor

Like other forms of comparison, metaphor adds powerful detail to your writing. By bringing in sensory details in the form of metaphors, you can make your words more interesting and real, and help the readers imagine and even feel a scene or character. A good metaphor also exercises the reader’s imagination – it helps him or her see familiar concepts in a new way, or helps explain an otherwise vague topic.

Because metaphors are so common, you may find that they have all sorts of effects. This is part of what’s useful about analyzing them! You can take each one on its own terms and figure out how it works within its own specific context. And, as we’ll see in the following sections, there are plenty of metaphors that authors use as a sort of reflex – when someone says they have a “broken heart,” they aren’t necessarily employing metaphor deliberately. Sometimes, they’re just looking for a common figurative expression.

IV. Examples of Metaphor in Literature

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east , and Juliet is the sun !  (William Shakespeare – Romeo & Juliet )

This is one of the most famous metaphors in all of English literature. Obviously, Juliet, is not literally the sun, or Romeo would burn to death. The effect of using metaphor here is similar to the effect of simile, but stronger. Because Romeo doesn’t insert “comparing” words into his line, we get the sense that he is really stunned by Juliet’s beauty. She is, for him, just as radiant as the sun.

Our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.  (Khalil Gibran – Sand & Foam )

This has more or less the same meaning as other overused metaphors like “tip of the iceberg” or “mere shadows.” What’s seen and heard in the world is just a tiny fraction of what’s going on below the surface. But this metaphor is far more creative and original. It also has the benefit of being extended to two separate comparisons within a single unmixed metaphor: words=crumbs AND mind=feast.

I’ve eaten a bag of green apples.  (Sylvia Plath, Metaphors )

Sometimes, the meaning of a metaphor is not clear. Sylvia Plath’s poem Metaphors is full of figurative language like this one, whose meaning is not clear. In general, the poem is about Plath’s pregnancy, so this line may refer to her morning sickness (green apples can be sour and highly acidic, and a bag of them would certainly upset your stomach!) But the act of eating so many apples is strangely overindulgent, which adds a different view to the metaphor. What, on this metaphor, was the ravenous hunger that caused Plath to eat so many apples? This one is very much open to interpretation.

V. Examples of Metaphor in Pop Culture

Seek thee out the diamond in the rough. (Aladdin)

This cryptic phrase from Disney’s Aladdin refers to the hero of the movie as a “diamond in the rough.” Obviously, Aladdin is not literally a diamond in the rough – but he’s like one in that he’s scruffy and unpolished. But with a little work and polish, Alladin and a diamond in the rough can be great. Throughout the movie, there are frequent metaphors comparing jewels and gemstones to human beings, though most are more subtle than this one.

God is a DJ, life is a dance floor, love is a rhythm.  (Pink – God Is a DJ )

Again, an extended unmixed metaphor is often more effective than a simple one. These lyrics paint a whole picture of the world within the metaphor of a nightclub – which is especially effective since the song itself was often played in nightclubs, allowing dancers to connect their moment-to-moment experience with larger ideas.

You put the thing that kills you right between your teeth, but you never give it the power.  ( The Fault in Our Stars )

One of the characters in The Fault in Our Stars uses cigarettes as a metaphor for his relationship to death. He puts them in his mouth, but never lights them. The idea is that this makes him more comfortable with his own mortality without actually bringing him any closer to dying.

VI. Similar Terms

Simile/analogy vs metaphor.

Simile (also called “analogy”) is very similar to metaphor – so similar, in fact, that they’re often confused! But there’s a key difference: similes use explicit comparative language such as “like” and “as” to show a relationship between two things, often in the form of A is like B or A is as (adjective or adverb) as B . In this way, similes can be literally true, whereas a metaphor is not literally true.

Metaphor:  All the world’s a stage.

Simile:  All the world is like a stage.

Metaphor:  My heart is a lonely hunter.

Simile:  My heart is like a lonely hunter.

Metaphor:  She was a wildfire of rage.

Simile:  In her rage, she was as deadly as a wildfire.

The last simile is an exaggeration, so it’s not literally true – but the comparing language still makes it different from a metaphor.

• Personification

Personification is a figure of speech in which the author describes an inanimate object as if it were behaving in a human-like way. Metaphors and personification are related because with both devices, one idea stands in for another. For instance, if you say “lies can’t run very far,” this is a metaphor expressing that lies don’t last long, but it is also personification in that it describes lies running like people.

Here are some other examples:

• The door shrieked as it was opened.
• The town huddled against the foot of a steep cliff.
• Small fires raced through the forest.

Obviously, doors don’t literally shriek, towns don’t huddle, and fires don’t race; people do these things. But personification adds sensory detail and makes these sentences more vivid.

Allegory is a literary and rhetorical device that is essentially a complex, extended metaphor. To employ an allegory, an author uses a person, thing, image, or idea that, when interpreted, expresses hidden, symbolic, or secondary meaning. For example, George Orwell is well known for using this technique in his book Animal Farm, where the pigs on the farm are an allegory for important political figures from the Russian Revolution. A metaphor is generally just a phrase, but an allegory “extends” a metaphor (i.e. pigs as politicians) by drawing it out and using it to convey more complex beliefs or ideas.

Because they sound similar, people often confuse metaphor and metonym. In truth, these two things are almost opposites of each other. While both metaphor and metonym replace one thing with another, a metaphor applies an unrelated term to something, while a metonym uses a related term to replace another.  In other words, a metaphor provides a substitute idea, and a metonym provides an associated idea. Often, a metonym is a smaller part of something–for example, if you get a new car, you may say you got “new wheels”–wheels are not a metaphor for the car, but an associated part of the car that represents the whole.

The British fleet was thirty sails stronger than our own.

Here, sails stand in for ships; the sails are not a metaphor for ships. They stand in for the word “ship” because they are actual part of a ship.

Washington is now in talks with Beijing to coordinate a new trade policy.

This is an extremely common metonym in newspapers and foreign policy circles. The sentence is really talking about the national governments of China and the USA, but it uses the names of those countries’ capitals as metonyms.

My father had about a dozen hired hands working on his farm.

Another very common expression, in which hands stand in for workers (note that each person only counts for one hand, not two.) Again, “hands” are not a metaphor for workers, but they stand in for the word “worker” because hands are what workers actually use to do their trade.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
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Powerful Examples of Similes and Metaphors to Improve Your Writing

Understanding similes, simile definition, examples of similes, tips for using similes, understanding metaphors, metaphor definition, examples of metaphors, tips for using metaphors, applying similes and metaphors in your writing, enhancing description, creating imagery, adding emotion and depth, similes and metaphors in literature, classic literature, modern literature, similes and metaphors in pop culture, movies and tv, advertising.

Similes and metaphors are powerful tools that can help you take your writing to the next level. They allow you to create vivid imagery and evoke emotions in your readers, making your work more engaging and memorable. In this blog, we'll explore simile and metaphor examples, along with tips on how to use them effectively in your writing. Let's dive in!

Similes are a type of figurative language that compare two different things using the words "like" or "as." They help your readers better visualize and understand the ideas you want to convey. Let's start with the basics:

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as." This comparison highlights a specific quality or characteristic shared by the two things, making the description more vivid and relatable. For example:

• Her smile was as warm as the sun on a summer day.
• He ran like the wind, leaving everyone else behind.

Similes can add depth and color to your writing, making it more engaging. Here are some more simile examples to inspire you:

• Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.
• He was as stubborn as a mule, refusing to change his mind.
• Their love was as deep as the ocean.
• The baby's laughter was as sweet as the sound of a music box.
• The room was as silent as a graveyard at midnight.

To make the most of similes in your writing, keep these tips in mind:

• Be specific: Choose comparisons that paint a clear and vivid picture for your readers.
• Be relevant: Make sure the simile adds value to your writing and supports the point you're trying to make.
• Avoid clichés: Steer clear of overused similes, like "as busy as a bee" or "as cool as a cucumber." Instead, get creative and come up with your own unique simile and metaphor examples.

Metaphors, like similes, are a form of figurative language that can enrich your writing by creating strong imagery and conveying emotions. However, they differ from similes in one key aspect—metaphors don't use "like" or "as" for comparison. Instead, they directly state that one thing is another. Let's take a closer look:

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action by equating it with something else, without using "like" or "as." This comparison helps to emphasize a particular quality or characteristic of the object or action. For example:

• Her voice was music to his ears.
• Time is a thief that steals our moments away.

Using metaphors in your writing can create powerful imagery and make your words more memorable. Here are some metaphor examples to spark your creativity:

• All the world's a stage , and we are merely players.
• My thoughts are swirling leaves in the wind of my mind.
• Her heart is a garden blooming with kindness.
• The sun is a golden coin tossed into the sky.
• His words were daggers that pierced her heart.

When incorporating metaphors into your writing, consider these guidelines:

• Be original: Avoid clichéd metaphors that your readers have likely encountered before. Create your own fresh and unique metaphor examples.
• Stay focused: Ensure that your metaphor is relevant to the point you're trying to make and enhances the overall message.
• Keep it simple: While it's tempting to craft complex metaphors, remember that clarity is key. Keep your metaphors straightforward and easy to understand.

Similes and metaphors can add depth, emotion, and vivid imagery to your writing. When used effectively, they can elevate your work and create a lasting impression on your readers. Let's explore some ways to incorporate similes and metaphor examples into your writing:

Both similes and metaphors can help you describe characters, settings, and emotions more vividly. By comparing an object or action to something else, you can create a more striking image in your reader's mind:

• His eyes were as cold as ice when he looked at her. (simile)
• The city was a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened by the first rays of sunlight. (metaphor)

By comparing objects, actions, or emotions to something unexpected, similes and metaphors can paint vivid pictures in your reader's mind. This can enhance the overall reading experience and make your words more memorable:

• The clouds were like cotton candy floating in the sky. (simile)
• Her laughter was a symphony of joy that filled the room. (metaphor)

Similes and metaphors can be powerful tools for expressing emotions and adding depth to your writing. By choosing the right comparisons, you can evoke specific feelings or create a particular mood:

• She felt as if a thousand butterflies were fluttering in her stomach. (simile)
• Grief was a heavy stone that weighed her down. (metaphor)

Remember, the key to successful use of similes and metaphor examples is to be creative, clear, and relevant to the message you want to convey. By incorporating these techniques in your writing, you can create a stronger connection with your readers and leave a lasting impression.

Similes and metaphors have been used by writers throughout history to create memorable, evocative works. Let's look at some examples of similes and metaphors in both classic and modern literature, as well as poetry.

In classic literature, similes and metaphors have been used to create rich descriptions and convey emotions. Here are a few powerful examples:

• In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: "People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for, and they have the right to subject their children to it all."
• In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: "Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be."
• In Moby Dick by Herman Melville: "The sun hides not the ocean, which is the dark side of this earth, and which is two thirds of this earth."

Modern literature also employs similes and metaphors to create vivid imagery and evoke emotions. Here are some examples:

• In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations."
• In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: "Hope is the only thing stronger than fear."
• In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling: "The castle was a vast maze of ramparts, turrets, and halls."

Poetry often relies heavily on similes and metaphors to create powerful imagery and convey emotions. Here are some examples from famous poets:

• In "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference."
• In "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns: "O my Luve is like a red, red rose / That's newly sprung in June; / O my Luve is like the melody / That's sweetly played in tune."
• In "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth: "For oft, when on my couch I lie / In vacant or in pensive mood, / They flash upon that inward eye / Which is the bliss of solitude."

By examining simile and metaphor examples in literature, you can gain inspiration and insight into how these powerful devices can enhance your own writing and create a lasting impact on your readers.

Similes and metaphors aren't just limited to literature—they also play a significant role in popular culture. Let's explore some examples of similes and metaphors in music, movies, TV shows, and advertising to see how these devices add depth and meaning to our everyday entertainment.

Music often uses similes and metaphors to create vivid imagery and convey emotions. Here are a few examples from popular songs:

• In "Firework" by Katy Perry: "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag / Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?"
• In "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston: "If I should stay / I would only be in your way / So I'll go but I know / I'll think of you every step of the way."
• In "Let It Be" by The Beatles: "When the brokenhearted people living in the world agree / There will be an answer, let it be."

Movies and television shows often use similes and metaphors to create memorable scenes and lines. Here are some examples:

• In Forrest Gump : "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get."
• In The Dark Knight : "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain."
• In Game of Thrones : "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

Advertisers often use similes and metaphors to create catchy slogans and memorable ads. Here are some examples:

• In Nike's slogan: "Just do it."
• In McDonald's slogan: "I'm lovin' it."
• In Apple's "Think Different" campaign: "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers."

By examining simile and metaphor examples in pop culture, you can see how these powerful devices add depth and meaning to our everyday entertainment, making them more memorable and engaging for audiences.

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177 College Essay Examples for 11 Schools + Expert Analysis

College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Definition of Metaphor

Common examples of metaphor, examples of metaphor in movie lines, famous examples of metaphor.

Metaphor is also found in many famous examples of poetry, prose , drama , lyrics , and even clever quotations. Here are some famous examples of metaphor:

Difference Between Metaphor and Simile

It can be difficult in some instances to distinguish between metaphor and simile as literary devices . Both are figures of speech designed to create comparisons. In fact, simile is a subset of metaphor. However, they are distinguished by the presence of one of two words: “like” and “as.” Metaphors create direct comparisons without using either of these words. Similes feature either like or as in making a comparison.

Additional: Difference Between Metaphor, Allegory, and Simile

As far as the difference between an allegory and metaphor is concerned, both seem to belong to the same group of figures of speech. The reason is that both mean comparison. However, an allegory presents a long or sustained comparison that may comprise a full story , having allegorical characters and situations. It could be a story within a story such as the Allegory of Cave . Conversely, a metaphor is just a word or a phrase showing an implied comparison, while a simile is almost near in meanings as it shows the same thing with the use of the word ‘like’ or ‘as.’

Writing Metaphor

Create imagery.

Metaphors allow writers to create imagery for readers that is limited by description alone . In other words, an effective metaphor eliminates the need for excessive explanation or description on the part of the writer. Instead, by implicitly comparing two different things, an image is created for the reader to allow for greater meaning and understanding. This imagery is a powerful result of using metaphor as a literary device.

Evoke Thought and Emotion

Using metaphor in a sentence, examples of metaphor in literature.

Metaphor is a very effective literary device. Here are some examples of metaphor and how it adds to the significance of well-known literary works:

Example 1: Fire and Ice by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Example 2: Dreams by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow .

Example 3: since feeling is first by E.E. Cummings

we are for eachother: then laugh, leaning back in my arms for life’s not a paragraph And death i think is no parenthesis

In this poem, Cummings uses metaphor in a clever way to compare life and death to the constraints of a writing formality and punctuation . In fact, it is a negative comparison in the sense that the poet states life is “not” a paragraph and death is “no” parenthesis. The use of metaphor as a literary device in this work is both poetic and self-reflexive with significance. The metaphors for life and death are poetic because the poet is showcasing that life and death are concepts too monumental to be “contained” in writing or “enclosed” by punctuation (paragraph and parenthesis). Yet, the metaphors are also self-reflexive in that the comparisons of life and death are simultaneously “contained” in and “enclosed” by the poem itself.

Synonyms of Metaphor

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41 Common Metaphor Examples (+ Definition, Types, & Tips)

by Mel Wicks

on Jun 14, 2024

Freebie: Metaphors PDF

Looking for some great metaphor examples? In this post, you'll learn everything you need to know about metaphors.

Aristotle once wrote, “to be a master of metaphor is a sign of genius.”

And the best way to master the metaphor? Devour lots of good metaphor examples!

So, we’ve compiled some great examples of metaphors from content marketing, literature, famous speeches, and pop culture to give you a go-to resource. You’ll also learn:

• How metaphors and figurative language are related;
• The differences between metaphors and similes, analogies, and hyperbole;
• What are the six common types of metaphors;
• Tips for effectively using metaphors in your own writing.

In short, by the time you finish this post, you’ll be a certified metaphor genius.

But before we get to all that, let’s answer the questions people ask most often about metaphors.

We’ll start with a definition…

What is a Metaphor?

A metaphor (from the Latin metaphora ) takes an object or action and compares it to something blindingly familiar, but completely unrelated.

The comparison in a metaphor is always non-literal, which makes it weirdly illogical. And yet, its meaning is (usually) abundantly clear.

For example:

“Love is a fruit in season at all times and in reach of every hand.” — Mother Teresa

Love is not a fruit; however, the meaning of the comparison is easily understood.

Here’s another example:

“She was the black sheep of the family.”

Illogical, right? But you get the meaning right away.

Okay, so that’s the definition of metaphor…

What is Figurative Language?

Figurative language is a technique that supercharges your reader’s imagination by taking a flat (or factual) statement and injecting it with life, color, or humor to make it more interesting.

It allows you to paint vivid pictures , punch home your meaning, and be more persuasive as a writer .

A metaphor is one of several figure-of-speech devices that uses figurative language.

Here’s an example:

“The first rays of sunshine gently stroked my face.”

We all know sunshine can’t literally stroke your face, but we can all relate to the sensation. The figurative language makes it more vibrant than something like, “the first rays of sunshine woke me up.”

This type of figurative language is known as “personification,” which uses human qualities (stroking) to better illustrate a non-human action or thing (the sunshine). It’s a technique often found in metaphors.

There are several other figures of speech that use figurative language, including similes , analogies , metonymy , and hyperbole — which are often confused with metaphors.

So, let’s clear that up for you…

What’s the Difference Between Metaphors and Similes, Analogies, or Hyperbole?

Simile Definition: A simile is the metaphor’s first cousin. Where a metaphor states that something is something else, a simile compares two different things by using “like” or “as.”

Example of Simile:  “ Elderly American ladies leaning on their canes listed toward me like towers of Pisa.” — from ‘Lolita’ by Vladimir Nabokov

Difference Between Similes and Metaphors:  A simile directly compares two things using “like” or “as” (“ he was mad as hell”) , while a metaphor implicitly states a comparison, without intending it to be taken literally (“ he was boiling mad”).

To the latter example: Obviously, he wasn’t boiling, or he’d be dead. But were he a kettle, his lid would be rattling and steam would be coming from his ears. That’s how mad he’d be!

Analogy Definition: An analogy is a turbo-powered simile. While a simile compares  two different things, an analogy explains  the similarities or relationships between two different things.

Example of Analogy: “Longbottom, if brains were gold, you’d be poorer than Weasley, and that’s saying something.” — from ‘Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone’ by J.K. Rowling

Difference Between Analogies and Metaphors: While a metaphor uses a word or phrase to represent an idea, an analogy uses narrative or comparisons to explain  the idea.  

Hyperbole Definition: Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is not intended to be taken literally. It’s most commonly used for emphasis, humor, or drama.

Example of Hyperbole: “I was helpless. I did not know what in the world to do. I was quaking from head to foot, and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far.” — from “Old Times on the Mississippi” by Mark Twain

Difference Between Hyperbole and Metaphors: There is a gray area between the two and it’s often debated. But here are the facts: Hyperbole always uses exaggeration, whereas metaphors sometimes do.

If a metaphor is clearly an exaggeration, it can be described as a hyperbolic metaphor. An example would be, “cry me a river.” Obviously, no one can possibly shed that many tears.

On the other hand, “your suitcase weighs a ton” is hyperbole (not a metaphor).  

What are The Different Types of Metaphors?

• Common Metaphors (aka a Direct Metaphor, Primary Metaphors, or Conventional Metaphors)

Implied Metaphors

Extended metaphors (aka a sustained metaphor), dead metaphors, mixed metaphors, sensory metaphors.

Google “types of metaphors” and you’ll get hundreds of blog posts and scholarly articles with lists of metaphors ranging from 3 to 20+ types (see: conceptual metaphor, cognitive metaphors, generative metaphors, etc.).

Focus on the 6 most common types of metaphors:

Common Metaphors (aka a Direct Metaphor, Primary Metaphor, Simple Metaphor, or Conventional Metaphor)

These are the easiest-to-spot metaphors.

A common metaphor (or standard metaphor, simple metaphor, etc.) is a comparison where the link can be easily made and directly understood.

Example sentence:

“He was a fish out of water at his new school.”

We know immediately what the writer means, even though it’s illogical to compare a school student to a fish.

Vincent Van Gogh’s “conscience is a man’s compass” is another example. Illogical, but we understand the meaning.

Other examples of common metaphors are “night owl”, “cold feet”, “beat a dead horse”, “early bird”, “couch potato”, “eyes were fireflies”, “apple of my eye”, “heart of stone”, “heart of a lion”, “roller coaster of emotions”, and “heart of gold.”

Implied metaphors force you to use your imagination. This kind of metaphor doesn’t make a direct comparison, which is easy to spot. Instead, it makes an implied comparison. A common metaphor is:

“She was a dog with a bone”

The dog-like comparison is stated.

“She tucked her tail between her legs and ran away”

On the other hand, the above is an implied metaphor — the comparison to a dog is implied but not stated outright.

Extended metaphors can be direct or implied, but create a greater emphasis with the comparison they’re making thanks to their extended length.

They can continue for several sentences, several paragraphs, or even longer.

(For example, George Orwell’s novella Animal Farm is considered by many to be an extended metaphor and allegory for the Russian Revolution of 1917.)

Extended metaphors are often used in poetry and literature where the author wants to convey more passion and commitment to a concept.

Here’s a famous example from “I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou:

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage Can seldom see through his bars of rage His wings are clipped and his feet are tied The caged bird sings with a fearful trill And his tune is heard on the distant hill for The caged bird sings of freedom.

And here’s an extended metaphor from “Hope is the Thing With Feathers” by Emily Dickinson:

Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all.

A dead metaphor is a figure of speech that has been around so long or is so overused, it’s no longer effective.

Phrases like “it’s raining cats and dogs” , “melting pot” , and “you are the light of my life” have morphed from metaphors into trite banalities and should be avoided.

Mixed metaphors are when two or more inconsistent metaphors get jumbled together — often with humorous consequences.

If it’s used intentionally, a mixed metaphor can be an effective communication technique. But in the wrong hands, a mixed metaphor can become a jumbled mess.

Former British soccer manager, Stuart Pearce, gave us this gem:

“I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel.”

Sensory metaphors use figurative language to appeal to our senses — sight, sound (example: onomatopoeia ), smell, taste, or touch. As such, they’re immediately familiar and evocative.

“His voice was silky smooth.”

“Her smile lit up the room.”

Up to this point, you’ve already seen 10+ metaphor examples as we’ve explained the different types of metaphors and gone over several definitions.

Now, let’s get to the meat of the post.

Here are 41 more examples of metaphors from content marketing , English literature, great poems, speeches, movies, television shows, songs, and more:

Metaphor Examples from Content Marketing

As a content marketer , you fight a constant battle for attention. You need your words to leap off the page and galvanize your readers into action.

Using metaphors is a great way to do that.

Especially if you weave the metaphorical theme through your post. It helps give your writing a more intriguing creative tone . It makes your message sticky and memorable.

Take these examples of metaphors from some of the internet’s best content marketing blogs :

All these metaphor examples paint a vivid picture you can see, hear, or even taste. Some of them contain both metaphors and similes, some are extended metaphors, and some are sensory metaphors.

But none of them are dead metaphors.

Good metaphors are powerful even when you’re tackling a relatively mundane subject matter, like hiring copywriters , technical writers , or social media managers .

So, imagine how exciting metaphors can be in the hands of great fiction and literary writers whose subject matter can roam anywhere they darn well please.

Let’s look at a few such examples…

Examples of Metaphors in Literature

Metaphors in literature have been around for centuries.

They have cemented glorious stories and ideas into our minds. They have made the words on the page come alive and frolic through our imagination.

Let’s start with the king of literary terms and metaphors:

Hands up who doesn’t know these famous lines by William Shakespeare?

You’ll find them in every post and article about metaphors, literary devices , literary techniques, or figurative language, because it’s a classic extended metaphor example that’s hard to beat.

Here’s another one:

“Romeo and Juliet” is chock full of love metaphors. Nothing less than the fair sun and envious moon could express the depth of Romeo’s emotional state at that moment.

Imagine if he had been factual and said, “What light through yonder window breaks? Oh look, it’s Juliet heading for the bathroom”.

Shakespeare’s magnificent metaphors (and his celebrated examples of irony ) have wormed their way into our modern, everyday language and today we can recite them without a second thought.

Like these examples:

• “A horse, a horse. My kingdom for a horse!” — from Richard III
• “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” — from Sonnet 18
• “Parting is such sweet sorrow…” — from Romeo and Juliet
• “All that glitters is not gold…” — from The Merchant of Venice
• “Why, then, the world’s mine oyster…” — from The Merry Wives of Windsor

I bet you didn’t know that last one was by Shakespeare.

Metaphors are also used throughout the Bible:

In fact, the Bible is a hotbed of metaphors, similes, and other types of figurative language:

• “I am the way, the truth and the life.” — John 14:6
• “You are the Father, we are the clay and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.” — Isaiah 64:8
• “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” — John 6:35

We can find great metaphor examples in recent works of literature too:

That’s a formidable metaphor. This one’s a little sweeter:

And this one pulls no punches:

Ouch! Poor Matilda.

Or how about metaphor poems? Here’s an extract from a poem written when the author thought she might be pregnant:

Yikes! Can’t you feel Sylvia’s swollen discomfort? Perhaps it was just as well she turned out not to be pregnant after all.

This one sentence manages to fit in two different comparisons, words/crumbs and feast/mind. Impressive.

Metaphor Examples from Famous Speeches

Famous metaphors are found in great speeches throughout history.

Notable statesmen and leaders know they need to capture the hearts and minds of their audience, and nothing does that better than a slam-dunk metaphor. Like these:

Examples of Metaphors from Pop Culture

Metaphors don’t always have to be profound or literary. In the hands of song, TV, and movie writers; metaphors are often light, whimsical, and funny (or sad) .

But, they’re always entertaining.

Songwriters turn to metaphors because it allows them to be more creative, expressive, and raw with their lyrics. Metaphors in songs are designed to be felt.

Here are a few lyric examples:

In TV and movies, metaphors are often used as a device to handle taboo subjects such as sex or bodily parts. If you dress them up in comedic banter, it makes them more acceptable (and even funny).

The TV show Seinfeld  was masterful at this:

And next time you go to the movies, watch out for an entire metaphorical theme lurking behind the scenes:

Now that we’ve looked at numerous metaphor examples, let’s go over some practical tips that’ll help you use metaphors in your own creative writing .

How to Use Metaphors to Supercharge Your Writing

• Use Metaphors in Your Headlines
• Make an Entire Post or Article Metaphorically Themed
• Use Metaphors to Make Facts and Figures Come to Life
• Be Sure to Use Metaphors Relevant to Your Audience
• Use of Metaphors to Make Dull Ideas Sparkle
• Metaphors Don’t Have to Be Written (Or, Get Creative With Metaphorical Images)
• Avoid the Cliches and Don’t Overdo Your Metaphor Quota

1. Use Metaphors in Your Headlines

We all know that headlines are the most important part of your post . If your headline doesn’t grab your reader’s attention, the rest of your post will be dead in the water.

So, what better place to slip in a nifty metaphor than in your headline? Like so:

• Toy Story 4 is a Salute to Parents of Grown Children  — from Nature Moms
• Win the War on Debt: 80 Ways to be Frugal and Save Money  — from Art of Manliness

2. Make an Entire Post or Article Metaphorically Themed

This is a great way to bring a subject to life or make a complex idea more easily understood. Here’s how:

First, take your subject and think of a second concept you could align it to. Let’s say your subject is “how to write a content brief,” which involves a formula and process — a bit like cooking.

So, let’s use that as your second concept.

Now start brainstorming words and ideas that can be applied to each concept separately:

Next, look at your two lists and identify words or ideas that might overlap:

• “Set of instructions” and “recipes”
• “Audience” and “diners”
• “Outcomes” and “end result”
• “Style/voice” and “secret herbs and spices”
• “Outline” and “ingredients”

Can you feel a theme coming on?

3. Use Metaphors to Make Facts and Figures Come to Life

Data. Facts and Figures. We all know they’re important to substantiate your arguments, but on their own they can be meaningless and, to be honest, downright boring.

If I told you the circumference of the earth was 24,901 miles, you’d probably yawn.

But if I said the circumference of the earth was 801,500 Olympic size swimming pools laid back to back, it paints a much more relatable picture.

Think about the way we teach children how to add and subtract. We say, “if I give you three apples and take away one, how many are you left with?”

We are no different as adults. Our brains process facts and figures more effectively when they are anchored to relatable imagery or a concrete idea.

4. Be Sure to Use Metaphors Relevant to Your Audience

Think about who you are writing for and the context of your subject matter. If your post is aimed at teenage girls, you probably wouldn’t use a war analogy.

On the other hand, writers in the self-improvement niche often use metaphors related to battles as we strive to conquer our demons and make changes in our lives.

Use metaphors that are relevant to the times we live in and changes in our society and culture. Think about the age and generational context of your target audience. If they are young, don’t use outdated or old-fashioned metaphors that will leave them cold.

5. Use of Metaphors to Make Dull Ideas Sparkle

Like it or not, there’s probably going to come a time when you find yourself having to write about something dull. (And if you write for clients , there definitely will come a time when you’re bored to tears.)

That’s when metaphors become the writer’s best friend.

Metaphors allow you to hold your audience’s attention by shifting their focus away from the boring bits onto something far more imaginative and creative. Comparing religion, art, and science to branches on a tree, as Albert Einstein once did, is a good example.

Kristina Halvorson does this in her post How to Embrace (and Gently Encourage) the Content Audit .

Let’s face it, a content audit is not the most riveting subject matter, but Kristina manages to bring it to life by comparing audits to clearing up other people’s “icky detritus” after the winter snow has melted.

6. Metaphors Don’t Have to Be Written (Or, Get Creative With Metaphorical Images)

Metaphors don’t have to be limited to text. You can make your point just as powerfully — and faster — with a visual metaphor.

In blogging, no one does metaphorical illustrations better than Henneke Duistermaat and her hand-drawn “Henrietta” cartoons.

We can’t all be talented artists like Henneke, but we can find entertaining or vivid imagery that represents our message.

When you’re searching for the right image on sites like Unsplash  and Gratisography , remember not to think of the literal meaning. Think metaphorically.

Let’s say you want to write a post on writer’s block. The obvious image would be something like this:

But that’s too obvious. What we need is a metaphor for writer’s block .

What emotions would you compare to writer’s block? Emptiness, fearfulness, loneliness, frustration, feeling trapped?

Look for images that capture one or more of those feelings. Like this:

Which of those two images is going to attract more attention and add more spice and character to your blog post ?

7. Avoid the Cliches and Don’t Overdo Your Metaphor Quota

Finally, here are a few what not to-dos:

• Don’t overuse metaphors. Opt for simple metaphors (or sprinkle a few well-placed metaphors for the sake of clarity or persuasion). Too many will weigh your post down and start to sound messy.
• Don’t force metaphors into your writing. It’s like overusing adjectives or flowery words. Readers will spot them a mile away.
• Avoid the overly obvious or dead metaphors. They tend to be clichéd and have lost their ability to conjure up a visual image. Examples are “going belly up,” “kicking the bucket,” and “you light up my life.”

You Just Read the Definitive List of Metaphor Examples. Ready to Unleash Their Power?

Metaphors are all around us.

They sneak into everyday life and everyday speech ( “the traffic was a nightmare” ). They help us form impressions of people and situations ( “he fought cancer and won” ).

But most of all — as I hope these examples of metaphors have shown you — they are possibly the most powerful literary device in a writer’s toolbox. (Although, I’m sure alliteration would beg to differ.)

Metaphors are a zap of electricity between you and your audience — a jolt that’s often the difference between a lackluster sentence and a sparkling gem of persuasive genius.

So, next time you want to compel your readers to take action, savor your words, or quickly grasp your meaning, use a metaphor.

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22 thoughts on “41 common metaphor examples (+ definition, types, & tips)”.

Brilliant article! In my book on storytelling, I wrote that metaphors can be unpacked into full-blown stories. The movies are a good example.

Yes, Cathy, used well a metaphor can be the foundation for an entire book (or movie). Thanks for your comment. Cheers, Mel

Great article on the writing craft itself! So often, bloggers focus on the marketing side of writing with a quick nod to the actual content. Today’s world demands the creation of scroll-worthy, meaty headlines with only scraps of mediocre content in the actual main piece.

I agree, Julie. I’m passionate about the craft of writing.

Thanks for your enlightening article. Put to good use, your article will help spice up my content broth.

Tasty metaphor, Bob!

This is very useful post thank for share your post this is great post

Glad you found it useful, Ayushya

What a wonderful article to savour on a Sunday afternoon!

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday!

Hi Mel, thank you for this very informative piece on metaphor filled with some great examples. I will surely have to try using these soon in my articles and titles. I surely could spice up my writing for this fall season!

Glad you found it useful, Lisa

Such an awesome list of metaphor examples. For my creative writing, it will gonna help fo sure.

Thanks for sharing such a great post.

You’re welcome, Jitendra

Great article. I appreciate all the info here.

Thanks, Ekin

Metaphors, similes and analogies are three literary devices used in speech and writing to make comparisons and we know very well, each is used in a different way. Knowing the similarities and differences between metaphor, simile, and analogy can help make your use of figurative language stronger. A metaphor is a simpler construction and can usually be expressed in one sentence whereas a fully developed analogy can take several which I learned from online source. You have explained very nicely with perfect examples and I learned several things from you, this time I found very informative post for me. Eventually, thanks for exploring your thought with us.

With best wishes,

Great article, found this after trying to explain this to my daughter for her homeschooling but it’s also helped me out too!

Oooh, I love the fact that I helped someone with their homeschooling. It makes writing the post even more worthwhile! And I’m glad it helped you too. Stay safe.

Great article, found this after trying to explain this to my daughter for her homeschooling but it’s also helped me out too!

Awesome! I was just about to publish a post when I came across this jewel … super helpful and great examples. I use metaphors quite a bit while talking, but seem to forget them when I write. I hope that changes now. Thank you for such a comprehensive and insightful post.

Hi, Mel! Very interesting metaphors and a useful article! Thanks 🙂

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Extended Metaphor

Extended Metaphor Definition

What is an extended metaphor? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

An extended metaphor is a metaphor that unfolds across multiple lines or even paragraphs of a text, making use of multiple interrelated metaphors within an overarching one. So while "life is a highway" is a simple metaphor, it becomes an extended metaphor when you say: "Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that help you get where you're going." Now you've spread the idea of "life = highway" across multiple sentences and related ideas, and created an extended metaphor.

Some additional key details about extended metaphors:

• Extended metaphors are distinguished from regular metaphors by their complexity (or how many different metaphors they contain) as well as their length. Extended metaphors can span an entire story or poem, or just a few clauses of the same sentence.
• As in a regular metaphor, the comparisons created in an extended metaphor are not meant to be taken literally. For instance, nobody is suggesting that life is literally a highway when they use that common metaphor. Rather, extended metaphors are figurative —they create meaning beyond the literal meanings of their words.
• The terms "conceit" and "extended metaphor" can be used interchangeably, though "conceit" is also sometimes used in an even more specialized way than "extended metaphor" is.

Extended Metaphor Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce extended metaphor: ex- tend -id met -uh-fore

Extended Metaphors in Depth

All metaphors can be broken down into two elements: a tenor and a vehicle.

• The tenor is the thing a metaphor describes.
• The vehicle is the thing to which the tenor is compared.

For instance, in the metaphor " Life is a highway ," life is the tenor because it's the thing being described, while "highway" is the vehicle because it's the thing life is being compared to. The metaphor operates by borrowing key attributes from the vehicle and attributing them to the tenor. The "Life is a highway" metaphor takes the attributes of a highway—including its association with journeys, adventures, speed, and the fact that we all travel them side-by-side—and connects them to life.

The Structure of Extended Metaphors

Extended metaphors have a main tenor and vehicle that make up the overarching or primary metaphor, but they also make use of other tenors and vehicles as the metaphor becomes more elaborate. Let's continue to use the example from above:

Life is a highway that takes us through green pastures, vast deserts, and rocky mountains. Sometimes your car breaks down or you run out of gas, and sometimes you get lost. Friends are the roadmaps that help you get where you're going.

Within the overarching metaphor of "life is a highway," several other metaphors make up the extended metaphor, and each one has its own tenor and vehicle : the various stages of life are like the varied landscapes of a large country; the challenges of life are like car troubles ; friends are like road maps .

Extended Metaphor and Related Terms

People often use the term extended metaphor to refer to things that aren't actually extended metaphors. Here are a couple things that people often—and understandably—confuse for extended metaphors:

• Recurring metaphors: An extended metaphor is not just a single metaphor that repeats throughout a text. For instance, in Shakespeare's Othello , the image of a monster is used several times throughout the book as a metaphor for jealousy. The repeated use of the same metaphor in multiple places throughout a text does not make it an example of an extended metaphor; an extended metaphor must contain different tenors and vehicles, that together fit into the metaphor of the overarching tenor and vehicle.
• Symbolism: Symbolism is a literary device in which a writer uses one thing—usually a physical object or phenomenon—to represent something more abstract. A famous example of a symbol in literature occurs in To Kill a Mockingbird , when Atticus tells his children Jem and Scout that it's a sin to kill a mockingbird because mockingbirds cause no harm to anyone; they just sing. Because of these traits, mockingbirds in the novel symbolize innocence and beauty, while killing a mockingbird symbolizes an act of senseless cruelty. Although it might seem like this constitutes an extended metaphor, it doesn't. The main reason is that the story about the mockingbird is supposed to be literally true—it's not a figurative use of language to illustrate or describe something else. Furthermore, in stories that use symbolism, writers don't clearly state what a symbol represents, whereas in metaphor they typically do, making it clear that the use of language is actually figurative.
• Allegories: An allegory is a story in which essentially every character and event have symbolic meanings. The main difference between an allegory and an extended metaphor is that, in allegories, writers don't clearly state what each character or event represents, whereas in a metaphor they typically would, making it clear that the use of language is figurative. Also, metaphors state or imply that one thing is another thing, while in allegories (as with symbolism more generally), one thing might stand for another thing, but it isn't said to actually be that other thing.

Extended Metaphor and Conceit

Conceit is a term that is similar to extended metaphor. In fact, conceit is often used as a synonym for metaphor—and to use it in that way is perfectly correct. However, conceit also has another, slightly more complicated definition. Here's a quick run-down of the two different ways the terms can be used:

• Conceit can be a synonym for extended metaphor: Most often, conceit is used interchangeably with extended metaphor to describe any metaphor or analogy that spans a longer passage in a work of literature.
• Conceit can refer to a particularly fanciful or even strained extended metaphor: However, for some people (and literary critics in particular) the word conceit carries the connotation of a fanciful or elaborate extended metaphor in which an unlikely, far-fetched, or strained comparison is made between two things. The term is most often used to refer to such metaphors in Renaissance literature and the poetry of the 17th century (such as "metaphysical poetry"). To learn more about this definition, take a look at our entry on conceit .

Extended Metaphor Examples

The following examples of extended metaphors are taken from literature, music, and speeches, showing just how prevalent extended metaphors are in all sorts of writing.

Extended Metaphor in Frost's "The Road Not Taken"

Robert Frost's famous poem is an example of an extended metaphor in which the tenor (or the thing being spoken about) is never stated explicitly—but it's clear that the poet is using the road less traveled as a metaphor for leading an unconventional way of life. The entire poem, then, is an extended metaphor.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Extended Metaphor in As You Like It

This passage, spoken by the character Jaques in Shakespeare's As You Like It , has become rather famous for its initial metaphor of "All the world's a stage." But not as many people know that the famous line is just the beginning of an extended metaphor, which contains several metaphors within it, using the language of scenes, actors, and parts. Over all, the lines develop an extended metaphor of remarkable breadth.

JAQUES: 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. At first, the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.... ...Last scene of all, That ends this strange eventful history, Is second childishness and mere oblivion, Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

To analyze just one part of this extended metaphor, in the final sentence Jaques speaks of the "last scene of all," referencing death—when each of us "plays the part" of someone who has regressed to a childlike state, having lost everything: teeth, vision, taste, and, finally, life.

Extended Metaphor in Romeo and Juliet

Romeo delivers this monologue in Act 2, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet , after sneaking into Juliet's garden and catching a glimpse of her on her balcony. Romeo compares Juliet to a radiant sun, and then extends the metaphor by entreating her to "kill the envious moon."

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, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.

The moon is used here as a symbol of virginity, so when Romeo states that Juliet is the moon's maid, he means that she's still a virgin, and when he entreats her to "kill the moon" and "cast off" its vestal livery (a garment worn by virgins), he's suggesting that she should part with her virginity. The metaphor of the sun (Juliet) killing the moon (her virginity) works because the sun can be said to "kill the moon" each day—in the sense that its bright light drowns out the light of the moon in the sky, making it invisible.

Extended Metaphor in Katy Perry's "Firework"

In "Firework," Perry uses an extended metaphor to compare a firework to an inner "spark" of resilience which, in the context of the song, stands in opposition to the dreary experience of life and the difficulty of communicating with others. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics that captures the extended metaphor in action:

Do you know that there's still a chance for you? 'Cause there's a spark in you You just gotta ignite the light And let it shine Just own the night Like the Fourth of July 'Cause baby, you're a firework C'mon, show 'em what you're worth Make 'em go "Aah, aah, aah" As you shoot across the sky Baby, you're a firework C'mon, let your colors burst Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah" You're gonna leave them all in awe, awe, awe

Extended Metaphor in Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

The following quote from Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is a clear example of extended metaphor, as MLK builds upon the initial metaphor of "cashing a check" in each successive sentence:

In a sense we’ve come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the “unalienable Rights” of “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

Why Do Writers Use Extended Metaphors?

Writers use extended metaphors for many of the same reasons they use metaphors in general:

• To explain or describe an abstract concept in vivid and memorable terms.
• To help the reader make a new, insightful connection between two different entities that might not have seemed related.
• To help communicate personal or imaginary experiences in terms to which readers can relate.
• To lead the reader to surprising and important discoveries by connecting different spheres of experience and language. The figurative meaning that metaphors create can help a reader to see the world or a concept in a new way.

Other Helpful Extended Metaphor Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Extended Metaphor : An in-depth explanation of metaphor, its history, and how it relates to other figures of speech.
• The Dictionary Definition of Metaphor : A basic definition and etymology of the term—it comes from the Greek metaphora, meaning "a transfer."
• Extended Metaphors on YouTube : A video of Jaques' famous "seven ages" monologue, as delivered by Kevin Kline, in Kenneth Branagh's As You Like It .
• The Road Not Taken aloud : Audio of Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken."

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Metaphor examples for intermediate readers.

• The detective listened to her tales with a wooden face.
• She was fairly certain that life was a fashion show.
• The typical teenage boy’s room is a disaster area.
• What storms then shook the ocean of my sleep.
• The children were roses grown in concrete gardens, beautiful and forlorn.
• Kisses are the flowers of love in bloom.
• His cotton candy words did not appeal to her taste.
• Kathy arrived at the grocery store with an army of children.
• Her eyes were fireflies.
• He wanted to set sail on the ocean of love but he just wasted away in the desert.

I was lost in a sea of nameless faces.

• John’s answer to the problem was just a Band-Aid, not a solution.
• The cast on Michael’s broken leg was a plaster shackle.
• Cameron always had a taste for the fruit of knowledge.
• The promise between us was a delicate flower.
• He’s a rolling stone, and it’s bred in the bone.
• He pleaded for her forgiveness but Janet’s heart was cold iron.
• She was just a trophy to Ricardo, another object to possess.
• The path of resentment is easier to travel than the road to forgiveness.
• Katie’s plan to get into college was a house of cards on a crooked table.
• The wheels of justice turn slowly.
• Hope shines–a pebble in the gloom.
• She cut him down with her words.
• The job interview was a rope ladder dropped from heaven.
• Her hair was a flowing golden river streaming down her shoulders.
• The computer in the classroom was an old dinosaur.
• Laughter is the music of the soul.
• David is a worm for what he did to Shelia.
• The teacher planted the seeds of wisdom.
• Phyllis, ah, Phyllis, my life is a gray day
• Each blade of grass was a tiny bayonet pointed firmly at our bare feet.
• The daggers of heat pierced through his black t-shirt.
• Let your eyes drink up that milkshake sky.
• The drums of time have rolled and ceased.
• Her hope was a fragile seed.
• When Ninja Robot Squad came on TV, the boys were glued in their seats.
• Words are the weapons with which we wound.
• She let such beautiful pearls of wisdom slip from her mouth without even knowing.
• Scars are the roadmap to the soul.
• The quarterback was throwing nothing but rockets and bombs in the field.
• We are all shadows on the wall of time.
• My heart swelled with a sea of tears.
• When the teacher leaves her little realm, she breaks her wand of power apart.
• The Moo Cow’s tail is a piece of rope all raveled out where it grows.
• My dreams are flowers to which you are a bee.
• The clouds sailed across the sky.
• Each flame of the fire is a precious stone belonging to all who gaze upon it.
• And therefore I went forth with hope and fear into the wintry forest of our life.
• My words are chains of lead.
• But into her face there came a flame; / I wonder could she have been thinking the same?

Metaphor Examples for Advanced Readers

• The light flows into the bowl of the midnight sky, violet, amber and rose.
• Men court not death when there are sweets still left in life to taste.
• In capitalism, money is the life blood of society but charity is the soul.
• Whose world is but the trembling of a flare, / And heaven but as the highway for a shell,
• Fame is the fragrance of heroic deeds, / Of flowers of chivalry and not of weeds!
• So I sit spinning still, round this decaying form, the fine threads of rare and subtle thought.
• And swish of rope and ring of chain / Are music to men who sail the main.
• Still sits the school-house by the road, a ragged beggar sunning.
• The child was our lone prayer to an empty sky.
• Blind fools of fate and slaves of circumstance, / Life is a fiddler, and we all must dance.
• Grind the gentle spirit of our meek reviews into a powdery foam of salt abuse.
• Laugh a drink from the deep blue cup of sky.
• Think now: history has many cunning passages and contrived corridors.
• You are now in London, that great sea whose ebb and flow at once is deaf and loud,
• His fine wit makes such a wound that the knife is lost in it.
• Waves of spam emails inundated his inbox.
• In my heart’s temple I suspend to thee these votive wreaths of withered memory.
• He cast a net of words in garish colours wrought to catch the idle buzzers of the day.
• This job is the cancer of my dreams and aspirations.
• This song shall be thy rose, soft, fragrant, and with no thorn left to wound thy bosom.
• There, one whose voice was venomed melody.
• A sweetness seems to last amid the dregs of past sorrows.
• So in this dimmer room which we call life,
• Life is the night with its dream-visions teeming, / Death is the waking at day.
• Then the lips relax their tension and the pipe begins to slide, / Till in little clouds of ashes, it falls softly at his side.
• The olden days: when thy smile to me was wine, golden wine thy word of praise.
• Thy tones are silver melted into sound.
• Under us the brown earth / Ancient and strong, / The best bed for wanderers;
• Love is a guest that comes, unbidden, / But, having come, asserts his right;
• My House of Life is weather-stained with years.
• See the sun, far off, a shriveled orange in a sky gone black;
• Three pines strained darkly, runners in a race unseen by any.
• But the rare herb, Forgetfulness, it hides away from me.
• The field of cornflower yellow is a scarf at the neck of the copper sunburned woman
• Life: a lighted window and a closed door.
• Some days my thoughts are just cocoons hanging from dripping branches in the grey woods of my mind.
• Men and women pass in the street glad of the shining sapphire weather.
• The swan existing is a song with an accompaniment.
• At night the lake is a wide silence, without imagination.
• The cherry-trees are seas of bloom and soft perfume and sweet perfume.
• The great gold apples of light hang from the street’s long bough, dripping their light on the faces that drift below, on the faces that drift and blow.
• From its blue vase the rose of evening drops.
• When in the mines of dark and silent thought / Sometimes I delve and find strange fancies there,
• The twigs were set beneath a veil of willows.
• He clutched and hacked at ropes, at rags of sail, / Thinking that comfort was a fairy tale,
• O Moon, your light is failing and you are nothing now but a bow.
• Life is a dream in the night, a fear among fears, / A naked runner lost in a storm of spears.
• This world of life is a garden ravaged.
• And therefore I went forth, with hope and fear / Into the wintry forest of our life;
• My soul was a lampless sea and she was the tempest.

Common Core State Standards Related to Metaphor

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.4 – Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

ELA Standards: Literature

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology (e.g., Herculean). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of rhymes and other repetitions of sounds (e.g., alliteration) on a specific verse or stanza of a poem or section of a story or drama. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

ELA Standards: Language

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5 – Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships and nuances in word meanings. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5a – Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5b – Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5a – Interpret figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.5b – Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.6.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., personification) in context. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., literary, biblical, and mythological allusions) in context. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g. verbal irony, puns) in context. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.9-10.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.11-12.5a – Interpret figures of speech (e.g., hyperbole, paradox) in context and analyze their role in the text.

506 Comments

Onlinestudyingservices.

This is what I was looking for thanks

Thank you for providing me with this resource!

Can you please help me, how can I add methamorphic words in my essay about my dreams?

What do these metaphors mean? 1. a friendly classroom 2. a clear road ahead

Can you give me a metaphor about being stripped form your religious beliefs, forcing to follow laws and beliefs that are seen as sinful

this things rock

Is raining cats and dogs an idiom or a metaphor?

One interesting thing about idioms is that they are generally instances of figurative language that have been used so many times that they become a part of the language, understood by native speakers without having to decode it.

Raining cats and dogs is definitely an idiom. The specific instance of figurative language is less clear.

Some say the expression came from when cats and dogs climbed to the rafters of old, straw roofed buildings to take shelter from the weather. The rain came in and the animals slipped, occasionally falling.

In this sense, the expression could be interpreted as hyperbole. It could also be interpreted as a metaphor. Quite frequently, the two overlap. When I am designing questions, I usually limit the answers to one or the other to guide interpretation.

Best wishes!

I need to know if “Its Antarctica here “ is a metaphor

Boi don’t ask for names

Hi, I need 4 metaphors that are funny. Mostly about animals if that’s ok.

Why do you need to know my name.

I’m using this for my home work and it’s really helped me. Although I didn’t understand some of them I got my work done.

What does this means? “I am thankful for the way you slip metaphors like medicine on days when I forget to see the sky”? Thanky

I`ve got a good one:

The moon was a white balloon.

thank you i love your example.

I need a metaphor that involves a motorcycle.

this one was kinda easy but we are reading this bcoz we’re using it as a kahoot lol fhanks

I have to use figurative language for my assessment and I can’t think of any to describe jk Rowling :((

is there an answer sheet to this.?

Answers? These aren’t questions. They are metaphors.

what is meaning of The child was our lone prayer to an empty Sky

I believe the beloved child answered their prayers in a world that seemed empty.

will henderson

what does this metaphor mean : Words are the weapons with which we wound.

It means that words used in the context of an argument can be harmful like weapons used in battle.

Thanks For making this because I didi it with my school

kentcen miller

how do you know when your dealing with a metaphor ???

I love metaphors.

Can you give me a example of a metaphor describing distraction? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Trouble was a flashing red beacon to the student with free time.

Do you have any metaphors about something crazy that didn’t need to happen?

Can you please give examples for grade 3

You’re welcome. Thanks for visiting!

yeshaescala

thanks for your helpings <3

Fretchie Santos

I find this metaphors not amazing…

clarklouisemaile

wow thanks for the metaphors beacuse i think i will get 100 score

can you give easy examples

can you please explain to me what is the meaning of this methapors sample?

The speaker says that he or she is “lost in a sea of […] faces.” In this example, the faces are being compared to a sea without using the word like or as . This makes it a metaphor.

Literally, the speaker is saying that he or she is surrounded by people who he or she doesn’t know and that he or she feels alienated.

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Extended Metaphor

Ai generator.

An extended metaphor is a literary device that extends a metaphorical comparison throughout a piece of writing, weaving it into the narrative, poem, or speech. Unlike a simple metaphor that draws a quick comparison, an extended metaphor continues to link two ideas, adding depth and dimension to the work. This artistic tool paints a vivid picture and builds a cohesive theme, allowing the writer to explore complex emotions or abstract concepts in an accessible way.

What is an Extended Metaphor?

An extended metaphor is a metaphor that unfolds across multiple lines, sentences, or even an entire work. It is a literary device used to draw a comparison between two unlike things, but instead of being a brief analogy, it continues throughout the piece. By developing the metaphor example over an extended passage, the writer can provide a multi-layered illustration that deepens the reader’s understanding and emotional engagement with the subject.

What is the Best Example of Extended Metaphor?

One of the most celebrated examples of an extended metaphor is found in William Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet.” In Act 2, Scene 2, the famous balcony scene, Juliet employs an extended metaphor comparing Romeo to a rose. She says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet extends this metaphor example in romeo and juliet , contemplating the nature of identity and love beyond mere names. This eloquent use of an extended metaphor has made it one of the most quoted and analyzed metaphor examples in English literature.

100 Extended Metaphor Examples

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1. Life as a Journey: A common metaphor where life’s stages are likened to stops along a trip. 2. The Ship of State: Comparing a country’s governance to the steering of a ship. 3. Time as a River: Describing time’s constant and unchangeable flow. 4. Mind as a Garden: Cultivating thoughts like plants in a garden. 5. Education as Construction: Building knowledge in stages, like a structure. 6. A Business as a Machine: Describing a business where all parts must function together. 7. Human Emotions as Weather: Describing feelings as sunny, stormy, etc. 8. War as a Game: The strategies and tactics likened to a chess game. 9. Love as a Battlefield: Conveying love as an ongoing struggle or conflict. 10. The Internet as an Information Superhighway: Linking information like roads and highways. 11. A Book as a Portal: Opening doors to new worlds or experiences. 12. The Heart as a Pump: Comparing the heart’s function to a mechanical pump. 13. The Mind as a Computer: Likening human cognition to computer processing. 14. Society as a Body: Different societal segments as body parts. 15. The Family as a Tree: Branching family connections from common roots. 16. Life as a Theatre: Life’s events as acts and scenes on a stage. 17. Consciousness as Light: Brightness and darkness symbolizing awareness and ignorance. 18. The Soul as a Fortress: Inner strength and integrity depicted as impenetrable walls. 19. Relationships as a Dance: Graceful, awkward, or dynamic movements mirroring relational dynamics. 20. Ideas as Seeds: Ideas growing and bearing fruit like seeds in soil. 21. Community as a Quilt: Different people and parts woven together. 22. Faith as a Mustard Seed: Small beginnings growing into substantial belief. 23. A Country as a Melting Pot: Different cultures blending together. 24. Grief as an Ocean: Overwhelming sorrow depicted as an endless, deep sea. 25. Life as a Tapestry: Interwoven events creating a full picture. 26. Democracy as a Ship: Navigating the complex waters of governance. 27. Wisdom as Light: Illuminating the path of understanding. 28. Youth as Springtime: New beginnings, freshness, and growth. 29. Knowledge as a Building: Constructing understanding layer by layer. 30. Aging as Autumn: The winding down and preparation for life’s winter. 31. A Novel as a Friend: Providing companionship, empathy, and understanding. 32. Death as Sleep: The peaceful transition from life. 33. Career as a Ladder: Climbing rungs representing advancement. 34. The Earth as a Mother: Nurturing and providing for its inhabitants. 35. Science as a Torch: Lighting the way to discovery. 36. Fear as a Monster: An overpowering, terrifying force. 37. Justice as Scales: Weighing evidence and rendering fair decisions. 38. Memory as a Library: Storing thoughts and experiences like books on shelves. 39. Progress as a Climb: A difficult ascent symbolizing struggle and achievement. 40. Peace as a River: Flowing smoothly and bringing life. 41. Education as a Key: Opening doors to opportunity. 42. A Child’s Mind as a Sponge: Absorbing knowledge effortlessly. 43. The Universe as a Symphony: Cosmic harmony and orchestrated movement. 44. A Team as a Well-oiled Machine: Coordination and efficiency in action. 45. Poverty as a Prison: Trapping individuals in a cycle of despair. 46. Equality as a Level Playing Field: Fair competition without advantage or hindrance. 47. Success as a Mountain Summit: The pinnacle of achievement after a hard climb. 48. Opportunity as a Door: An entry point to something new and promising. 49. Challenge as a Puzzle: A complex problem needing solving. 50. Creativity as a Fountain: A constant flow of fresh ideas and inspiration. 51. Language as a Bridge: Connecting cultures, individuals, and ideas. 52. Hope as a Beacon: Guiding through darkness and uncertainty. 53. Lies as Webs: Intricate, tangled, and trapping. 54. Argument as War: The adversarial clash of opinions and positions. 55. Technology as a Double-edged Sword: Offering both benefits and risks. 56. Courage as Armor: Protection against fear and doubt. 57. Words as Weapons: Cutting, defending, or attacking with language. 58. History as a Teacher: Offering lessons from the past. 59. The Market as an Ocean: Waves, currents, and unpredictable movements of economy. 60. Civilization as a Building: Constructing and maintaining social structures. 61. Global Economy as a Web: Interconnected and dependent on various strands. 62. Cities as Organisms: Growing, adapting, living, and sometimes dying. 63. Art as a Mirror: Reflecting society and individual experiences. 64. Emotions as Colors: Painting feelings with shades and hues. 65. Innocence as a White Dove: Pure, gentle, and untainted. 66. The Brain as an Orchestra: Different parts playing in harmony. 67. Reality as a Film: Viewing life through different lenses. 68. Freedom as a Bird: Soaring without restraint or confinement. 69. Humanity as a Body: Working together or suffering together. 70. Literature as a Window: Glimpses into different worlds and minds. 71. Culture as an Iceberg: Visible aspects with much hidden beneath. 72. Nations as Neighbors: Interaction, disputes, and common boundaries. 73. Dreams as Stars: Guiding lights or distant, untouchable goals. 74. Destiny as a Path: A predetermined route through life. 75. Tradition as a Chain: Linking generations and preserving values. 76. Ethics as Compass: Guiding moral decisions and behavior. 77. A Company as a Family: Interconnected relationships working toward common goals. 78. Economy as a Balloon: Inflating, deflating, and sensitive to conditions. 79. Marriage as a Partnership: Shared responsibilities and mutual support. 80. Addiction as a Pit: Difficult to escape and potentially destructive. 81. Character as a Diamond: Formed under pressure, hard, and valuable. 82. Suffering as a Furnace: Refining and purifying through hardship. 83. Leadership as a Shepherd: Guiding, protecting, and nurturing followers. 84. Reputation as a Shadow: Following, reflecting, and sometimes distorting. 85. Growth as Sunrise : A gradual increase or improvement. 86. Ideas as Flames: Spreading, warming, and sometimes consuming. 87. Work as Worship: Dedication and reverence in one’s profession. 88. Politics as Theater: Playing roles, scripting speeches, and performing for an audience. 89. Faith as a Shield: Protection against doubts and fears. 90. Beauty as a Flower: Fragile, appealing, and sometimes fleeting. 91. The Human Body as a Temple: Sacred and to be cared for. 92. Truth as a Light: Dispelling darkness and revealing reality. 93. Friendship as a Treasure: Valuable, rare, and to be cherished. 94. Music as a Universal Language: Speaking to all across cultural barriers. 95. Loss as a Void: An emptiness that can’t be filled. 96. Anger as Fire: Burning, destructive, but also purifying. 97. Patience as a Tree: Slow-growing, sturdy, and long-lasting. 98. Love as Water: Essential, nourishing, and taking many forms. 99. Change as Seasons: Natural, cyclical, and often expected. 100. Wisdom as a Tree: Deep-rooted, expansive, and providing shelter.

Extended metaphors are potent tools in literature and rhetoric, allowing complex ideas to be conveyed with creativity and depth. These examples represent various themes and subjects, illustrating the richness of metaphorical language.

Extended Metaphor Sentence Examples

• The office was a jungle, complete with its lions, snakes, and occasional tree to hide beneath: Here, a typical work environment is likened to the wild unpredictability of a jungle, illustrating various office personalities and dynamics.My heart’s engine roared to life, igniting every piston with fiery passion: This portrays the heart’s emotional responses as the workings of a mechanical engine.
• His thoughts were a never-ending labyrinth, always leading him to the same dead ends: The intricacies of the mind are compared to a maze, signifying confusion.
• Our relationship was a delicate dance, each step either in harmony or a dangerous misstep: This denotes the complexities and balance in a relationship.
• Childhood is an open field, slowly being filled with experiences and memories: Childhood’s vast potential is likened to a field awaiting cultivation.
• Life in the city was like an ever-spinning carousel, dizzying and full of ups and downs: The constant motion of urban life is portrayed as a carousel ride.
• Her voice was a soothing river, flowing with stories and lullabies from days long past: The voice’s calming nature is compared to the gentle flow of a river.
• Their friendship was like a sturdy bridge that weathered every storm and weight it bore: This highlights the strength and durability of a bond.
• The night was a thick book, filled with tales of stars and distant galaxies: Night’s mysteries are likened to a book of celestial stories.
• His ambitions were a towering skyscraper, reaching for the skies but with a risk of toppling: The height and potential dangers of unbridled ambition are portrayed.

Extended metaphor sentence examples are where a metaphor is extended throughout the entire sentence, or even a whole paragraph or passage. These metaphors help to draw a more in-depth comparison between two unlike things. For instance, comparing life to a journey or the human mind to a labyrinth. Extended metaphors can create powerful imagery and make abstract concepts more tangible and relatable.

Extended Metaphor About Life Examples

• Life is a tape measure, marking milestones and significant moments along its length: Life’s phases are compared to measurements on a tape.
• Life is an unpredictable ocean, with calm waves and tempestuous storms: The highs and lows of life are likened to oceanic conditions.
• Life is a train journey, with stations of joy, sorrow, and inevitable goodbyes: Life’s events are likened to train stops.
• Life is a mosaic, where every piece, no matter how broken, contributes to its beauty: The value of all life experiences, good or bad, is highlighted.
• Life is a marathon, not a sprint; the value lies in enduring, not just running: Persistence and long-term vision in life are emphasized.
• Life is a classroom, and every challenge is a lesson to be learned: Life’s challenges are seen as educational moments.
• Life is a novel, and every day writes a new page, whether of mystery, romance, or tragedy: The unpredictability and variety of life are showcased.
• Life is a bakery, filled with sweet moments and occasional burnt cookies: Pleasant and unfavorable experiences in life are highlighted.
• Life is a canvas, and our actions and choices are the strokes of paint: The idea that we shape and color our own lives is depicted.
• Life is a mountain, offering valleys of rest and peaks of triumph: Life’s ups and downs, challenges, and moments of reprieve are described.

Life offers endless experiences and emotions, and extended metaphors about life are a poetic way to describe the intricate and multi-layered aspects of existence. Comparing life to diverse things like a marathon, a mosaic, a bakery, or an ocean can unveil profound insights. Extended Life metaphors often serve as philosophical reflections, highlighting the essential lessons and values.

Extended Metaphor in Movies Examples

• “The Matrix” – life as a simulated reality, where the truth is hidden beneath layers of deception: This film uses the metaphor of a digital simulation to question reality.
• “Inception” – the mind as a multi-layered maze, where dreams blend with reality: The complexities of the subconscious are explored through dream levels.
• “The Lion King” – the circle of life, where every end leads to a new beginning: The natural flow and cycle of life are portrayed in Simba’s journey.
• “The Shawshank Redemption” – prison as a state of mind, and freedom as a state of being: The physical and mental aspects of captivity and liberation are explored.
• “Avatar” – the planet Pandora as a living, breathing entity interconnected with its inhabitants: The deep connection between nature and living beings is emphasized.
• “Wall-E” – Earth as a wasteland, depicting the consequences of unchecked consumerism: The movie serves as a warning about environmental neglect.
• “Up” – the house with balloons as a symbol of dreams, memories, and letting go: Personal attachments and the journey to move on are depicted.
• “Frozen” – Elsa’s powers as a metaphor for suppressed emotions and self-acceptance: Embracing one’s true self and managing emotions are key themes.
• “Inside Out” – the mind as a control center, manned by emotions: The intricate workings of emotions and their influence are depicted.
• “Moby Dick” (adapted from the novel) – the white whale as an obsession that can lead to ruin: The dangers of unchecked ambition and revenge are illustrated.

Movies frequently use extended metaphors to deepen themes, build characters, and create a more vivid cinematic universe. These metaphors for movies can range from symbolic objects or characters to entire plot structures that mirror real-world issues. By doing so, filmmakers are able to communicate complex ideas in an accessible and engaging way.

Short Extended Metaphor Examples

• My days became a bakery, always rising before the sun to create something fresh: The routine of early mornings and creation is likened to a baker’s life.
• Her words were a garden, always blooming with vibrant tales: The beauty and growth of her words are emphasized.
• Our love is a duet, always in tune, even when improvising: A harmonious relationship is described through music.
• Your mind is a treasure chest, filled with gems of ideas: Valuable thoughts and insights are highlighted.
• This town is a sleepy cat, basking in the afternoon sun: A laid-back, leisurely town is portrayed.
• The car’s engine was a grumbling bear, aching for some rest: Mechanical issues and noises likened to an animal’s growl.
• His career was a roller coaster, filled with thrilling highs and terrifying drops: A career’s unpredictability and excitement are depicted.
• The forest was a hidden palace of nature’s jewels, waiting to be explored: The beauty and mysteries of nature are likened to royal treasures.
• Her laugh was a merry carousel, infectious and full of joy: A lively and contagious laughter is illustrated.
• He was a weathered ship, still sailing despite the storms of time: Resilience and continued pursuit, despite age, are emphasized.

Short extended easy metaphors are concise yet profound comparisons that convey larger truths or themes. Even in a single sentence or a brief phrase, these metaphors can encapsulate complex ideas, emotions, or observations. By likening one thing to another—such as love to a duet or a town to a sleepy cat—a short extended metaphor can paint a vivid picture or evoke strong feelings.

Extended Metaphor in Literature

• “Animal Farm” by George Orwell – the farm as a microcosm of a corrupt political system: The novel illustrates the flaws of totalitarianism.
• “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling – Hogwarts as a sanctuary, a place of growth and self-discovery: The magical school represents personal development.
• “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo – society as a dark maze where the downtrodden are lost: Society’s failures and injustices are portrayed.
• “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger – Holden’s red hunting hat as a symbol of his uniqueness: Themes of isolation and self-discovery are highlighted.
• “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee – the mockingbird as a symbol of innocence: Moral conscience and loss of innocence are central themes.
• “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville – the white whale as an obsession: Obsession and self-destruction are explored.
• “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald – the green light as a symbol of unattainable dreams: The illusion of the American Dream is portrayed.
• “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte – the red room as a symbol of oppression: Themes of confinement, rebellion, and growth are developed.
• “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding – the island as a symbol of human society: The inherent evil in human nature is depicted.
• “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez – the Buendía family as a symbol of Latin America’s history: Time, solitude, and magical realism are explored.

Literature often utilizes extended metaphors to weave deeper meaning, symbolism, and thematic resonance within a story. Classic and modern works alike employ these metaphors as a means to explore societal issues, human nature, relationships, and more. These extended literature metaphors serve to engage readers, prompting them to think beyond the surface of the narrative.

Extended Metaphor in Poems

• “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost – the diverging roads as choices in life: Decisions, paths, and reflections on life are explored.
• “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley – the ruined statue as the impermanence of power: The transient nature of power and the ravages of time are depicted.
• “Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold – the tide as a metaphor for the ebbing faith in a tumultuous world: A sense of loss, despair, and longing for stability is conveyed.
• “Sonnet 18” by William Shakespeare – the summer’s day as a comparison to the beloved’s beauty: The timelessness of love and beauty is celebrated.
• “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth – daffodils as a symbol of solitude and joy: Reflections on nature, joy, and the human connection are presented.
• “The Waste Land” by T.S. Eliot – the barren land as a symbol of cultural disillusionment: Desolation, fragmentation, and the search for redemption are depicted.
• “Hope is the thing with feathers” by Emily Dickinson – hope as a bird that perches in the soul: The resilient nature of hope and its comforting presence are described.
• “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost – the wall as a metaphor for boundaries and human separation: Barriers, relationships, and the paradox of isolation are explored.
• “A Poison Tree” by William Blake – the growing poison tree as a metaphor for anger and vengeance: The destructive nature of unchecked emotions and resentment is depicted.
• “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou – rising above adversity as a symbol of resilience and empowerment: Themes of strength, pride, and defiance against oppression are highlighted.

Poetry frequently embraces extended metaphors in poems as a way to connect with readers on an emotional level. By drawing an extended comparison between two unrelated things, poets can evoke a wide range of feelings, thoughts, and images. Whether it’s the depiction of hope as a bird or the wasteland as a symbol of cultural disillusionment, extended metaphors enrich poetic expression and provoke deeper reflection.

How do you write an Extended Metaphor?

Writing an extended metaphor is an art that requires a bit of practice, creativity, and understanding of the subject matter you are trying to describe. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create your own extended metaphor:

Step 1: Identify Your Core Concept

First, decide what you want to write about. It could be a theme, emotion, character, or a complex idea. Your metaphor will revolve around this core concept.

Step 2: Choose a Metaphorical Subject

Next, select something that can symbolize your core concept. This metaphorical subject should have characteristics or features that you can align with the attributes of your core concept. It may help to brainstorm a list and then choose the most fitting one.

Step 3: Map the Connections

Outline the specific parallels between the core concept and the metaphorical subject. List down how each characteristic or feature of the metaphorical subject relates to the core concept. The more detailed, the better.

Step 4: Build Your Extended Metaphor

Begin to weave these parallels into your writing. You can start with a clear statement of the metaphor and then extend it by using the connections you’ve mapped out. Use vivid and descriptive language to paint a clear picture.

Step 5: Maintain Consistency

An extended metaphor continues throughout a paragraph, stanza, or even an entire work. Be consistent with the metaphorical subject and its characteristics. Don’t mix different metaphors, as it might confuse the reader.

Step 6: Utilize Supporting Imagery

Add details, imagery, and examples that support the metaphor. Describe the metaphorical subject in a way that reinforces the similarities without repeating them unnecessarily.

Step 7: Check for Clarity

Read over your extended metaphor to ensure that the comparison is clear and the connections are logical. If possible, get feedback from someone else to ensure that your metaphor is effective and accessible to others.

Step 8: Revise and Refine

Take the time to revise and polish your extended metaphor. Remove any redundancy, and make sure every element of the metaphor contributes to the overall understanding of the core concept.

Step 9: Consider Tone and Style

Make sure your extended metaphor fits the tone and style of the piece. An extended metaphor in a scholarly article may look different from one in a poem or a novel.

Step 10: Conclude with Impact

If your extended metaphor has a beginning and an end (like in a poem or a specific passage), make sure to conclude it in a way that reinforces the main point and leaves a lasting impression.

If you were to write an extended metaphor about life being a journey, you might compare the different stages of life to parts of a trip, hardships to obstacles on the road, achievements to milestones, and so on.

By following these steps, you can create an engaging and thoughtful extended metaphor that adds depth and meaning to your writing. Whether in poetry, fiction, or non-fiction, extended metaphors can bring abstract ideas to life and make your work more resonant and memorable.

What is Extended Metaphor Also known as?

An extended metaphor is also known as a conceit or sustained metaphor. It is a literary device that extends a metaphor over several lines, paragraphs, or even an entire literary work. Unlike a simple implied metaphor , which often compares two unlike things in one concise statement, an extended metaphor continues the comparison throughout the piece, drawing multiple parallels between the subjects and exploring them in greater detail. By doing so, it allows the writer to delve more deeply into the nuances of the comparison, creating a richer and more layered understanding of the subject.

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Hills Like White Elephants: Exploring The Hidden Meaning

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