good similes for creative writing

Author, teacher, coach, geek

February 8, 2012

51 Great Similes to Spark Imagination

I love similes. They say more in 5-10 words than a whole paragraph. They are like spice to a stew, or perfume to an evening out. They evoke images far beyond the range of words.

Simile–the comparison of two unlike things using the word ‘like’ or ‘as’. As bald as a newborn babe. As blind as a bat. As white as snow.

Wait–no self-respecting writer would use those. Similes are as much about displaying the writer’s facility with her/his craft as communicating. We are challenged to come up with new comparisons no one has heard before. I’ve seen contests on writer’s blogs for similes and most leave me bored, if not disgusted. It’s harder than it looks to create a simile that works. Look at these I found on G+:

• #1 – Being with him was like sitting through a Twilight Marathon, all sparkles and self-loathing.
• #2 – She was as nervous as my guinea pig, Mittens, when we turned him loose in the hog-stall last winter. Soon we found out that he wasn’t THAT sort of a pig .
• #3 – The snow fell like billions of breadcrumbs, promising a flurry of activity and a huge pile of shit in the aftermath .
• #4 – Her eyes were as blue as the ink in my pen, that trickled its life’s blood gently down the front of my pocket, as I tried in vain to get her attention..
• #5 – His hair soared in the wind like a captive egret, finally released into the wild. Not a minute had passed before a passerby made a joke about “if it was truly yours, it’ll come back to you…” He punched that person.

OK, there’s one more rule about similes: Make them concise. If you look at the tried-and-true ones above, you’ll notice they’re pithy and quick:

• dead as a doornail
• blind as a bat
• dry as dust
• good as gold

They also seem to benefit from alliteration, though that isn’t required.

I’ve started collecting the ones I read that I like, hoping they’ll spark my imagination when the need arises. Enjoy these (and the occasional metaphor thrown in):

• Stuck out like a leg in a cast, like a dick on a female statue (or, as I’ve read: like a blue dick on a pig)
• Tangled as Grandma’s yarn
• Like Vulcan Kal-tow
• Sense of menace, like the purr of a puma feasting on an elk
• As supportive as a good recliner
• Like having someone else’s shadow
• Hung around his neck like a dead skunk
• Memories jumped him like muggers in the darkness
• when the click of the front door lock behind her sounds like the trumpet of angels
• Like putting toothpaste back in the tube
• dug in like a tick
• set up like a bowling pin (ala Jerry Garcia)
• as flexible as a rubber band
• fell on me and like mold, grew over the top
• on it like a NASCAR pit crew & it disappeared in minutes
• change his views like leaves change colors
• they melted away like snow from a fire
• computers are like dogs; they smell fear
• like exchanging stares with a statue
• It’s good to get up each morning as though your hair were on fire
• Belly preceding him like a cowcatcher on a locomotive
• like the difference between being thrown from the 15th and 16th floor–they both kill you
• that’s a stretch like a fat lady in ski pants
• looked like a college football player ten years out of shape
• waste you like a popsicle on a warm day
• stupider than a ball-peen hammer
• limp like an uprooted weed
• looked like a sunrise, extravagant and full of promise
• like air, you never tire of breathing it
• more beautiful than a bird dog on point
• our troops are the steel in our ship of state
• Is your garage like your garden or like your television set?
• Like a violin in a marching band
• Like a fireman, summoned only when there was trouble
• As limp as a French handshake
• Wanted to hear bad news like he wanted to remove a bandage—quickly as possible
• Collapsed like the French in Algeria
• Not unlike a long walk in tight shoes
• It’s like tinkering with the Titanic
• Vanish like my pay check during tax season?
• I felt completed, like a plant that has been watered
• She was as stiff and unyielding as a lawn chair
• She was like a cable stretched too tight and beginning to fray
• As subtle as a gun
• As much curiosity as a parsnip
• Her voice implied sexual desire the way an alto sax implies jazz
• as easy to read as a large print Tom Clancy novel
• page looks like somebody put it into a blender and hit the Whip button.
• The potential for disaster was enormous, like a family picnicking on the train tracks
• Like a rabies shot
• Winter morning was as bright as a hookers promise and warmer than her heart
• Beaming like a full moon
• As welcome as a fart in an elevator

Do you have any to share?

Jacqui Murray is the editor of a technology curriculum for K-sixth grade and creator of two technology training books for middle school. She is the author of Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy midshipman. She is webmaster for five blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com , Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers , IMS tech expert, and a weekly contributor to Write Anything . Currently, she’s editing a thriller for her agent that should be be out to publishers this summer. Contact Jacqui at her writing office or her tech lab, Ask a Tech Teacher.

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This entry was posted in Writing and tagged in metaphors , similes , writing .

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A List of Similes and Metaphors to Enrich Your Literary Skills

Figures of speech can render a piece of art with so much more appeal than a plain text, don't you think? Similes and metaphors are simple to understand, and they make for some very interesting pieces of art. In fact, they are some of the simplest forms of literary techniques and can be easily identified in a text.

Figures of speech can render a piece of art with so much more appeal than a plain text, don’t you think? Similes and metaphors are simple to understand, and they make for some very interesting pieces of art. In fact, they are some of the simplest forms of literary techniques and can be easily identified in a text.

Making the Distinction

Similes will use words like ‘as’, ‘like’, and ‘than’; whereas metaphors will use words like ‘was’, ‘is’ and ‘were’.

The work gains angles and dimensions, you start to look beyond the obvious and a superlative form of art begins to draw itself, to say the least. And while there are several such figures of speech that can be looked into, in this particular article, we will focus on two literary devices―Similes and Metaphors.

A list of similes and metaphors will help you identify the same and you will understand what it means to have these play in your text. In this following Penlighten article, we will provide you with a list of the same for easy reference and understanding. But before that, let us understand what similes and metaphors are.

What are Similes and Metaphors??

A simile is a literary technique that is used to compare two concepts. These concepts might be completely different in all aspects, but when they are being compared, there is that one distinct concept that draws a similarity between them. The comparison is usually carried through with words like As, Like and Than. A characteristic style of the usage of similes is that the two objects that are being compared remain different in all matters and the reader has no doubt about the same.

Example of Simile

John’s words felt like shards of glass when he spoke such hateful things.

Explanation

In the example given above, in case of a simile, John’s words are compared to shards of glass, which means that just as the shards of glass would lead to immense hurt, similarly, his words are just as hurtful and cause for as much hurt.

Metaphors and similes have a common theme running, whereby they compare two very different concepts, or concepts that are not connected in either way to each other. The difference is that metaphors do not keep the concepts at differing levels but merge them into one and thereby draw similarities―considering, in fact, that they are one.

Example of Metaphor

John’s words were shards of glass when he spoke such hateful things.

In case of this example, the hurt caused by John’s words is not ‘compared’ to shards of glass, but takes on the exact quality of glass and causes for the hurt in that way.

List of Metaphors and Similes for Kids

List of common similes.

~ As quiet as a mouse ~ As quick as a flash ~ As white as a sheet ~ As brown as a berry ~ As red as a beetroot ~ As black as night ~ As sick as a dog ~ To sleep like a log ~ As sick as a parrot ~ As blind as a bat ~ As alike as two peas in a pod

~ As big as an elephant ~ As black as coal ~ As bright as a button ~ As brave as a lion ~ As bold as brass ~ As busy as a bee ~ As clean as a whistle ~ As clear as crystal ~ As clear as a bell ~ As cold as ice ~ As common as dirt ~ As blue as the deepest ocean ~ As stubborn as a mule ~ As soft as silk

~ As cool as a cucumber ~ As cunning as a fox ~ As dead as the dodo ~ As deaf as a post ~ As dead as a doornail ~ As different as chalk from cheese ~ As dry as a bone ~ As drunk as a lord ~ As dull as dishwater ~ As dry as dust ~ As easy as A.B.C.

~ As flat as a pancake ~ As easy as apple-pie ~ As fresh as a daisy ~ As free as a bird ~ As gentle as a lamb ~ As hot as hell ~ As hungry as a wolf ~ As light as a feather ~ As innocent as a lamb ~ As mad as a hatter ~ As pale as death

~ As obstinate as a mule ~ As mad as a hornet ~ As old as the hills ~ As proud as a peacock ~ As poor as a church mouse ~ As quick as a wink ~ As plain as day ~ As sharp as a razor ~ As silent as the dead ~ As slippery as an eel ~ As slow as a snail

~ As smooth as silk ~ As sour as vinegar ~ As stiff as a board ~ As steady as a rock ~ As straight as an arrow ~ As strong as an ox ~ As stubborn as a mule ~ As sturdy as an oak ~ As thin as a rake ~ As timid as a rabbit ~ As sure as death and taxes

~ As tough as old boots ~ As wise as an owl ~ To drink like a fish ~ As white as snow ~ To have a memory like a sieve ~ To sleep like a log ~ To have eyes like a hawk ~ To work like a dream ~ As cute as a bug’s ear ~ As clear as mud ~ As fit as a fiddle

~ As playful as a kitten ~ As loose as a goose ~ As nutty as a fruitcake ~ As hard as nails ~ As hot as blue blazes ~ As silent as the grave ~ As smooth as glass ~ As thorny as a rose bush ~ As smooth as a baby’s bottom ~ As tight as a drum ~ As bright as the moon

List of Metaphors

~ A laugh in a sea of sadness ~ He has a voice of a crow ~ He has a voice of a wolf ~ He has the heart of a lion ~ He is the sun of my sky ~ He swam in the sea of diamonds ~ He tried to help but his legs were rubber

~ Her hair was bone white ~ Her lips were butterflies ~ Her positive attitude is a lighthouse for the hopeful ~ His belt was a snake curling around his waist ~ His plans were rock solid and so were his aims ~ Ideas are wings ~ It’s raining men

~ Life is a mere dream, a fleeting shadow on a cloudy day ~ Light of their life ~ Love is fire ~ She is a dog when she eats ~ Spiritual seeking is treasure hunting ~ Thoughts are a storm, unexpected ~ Truth is food for him

~ You are the light in my life ~ They were eaten up with hatred ~ Mistrust had poisoned their relationship ~ I’ve been caught between a rock and a hard place ~ The weeks crawled by until we could meet again ~ Anger bottled up inside her ~ His words were cotton candy

~ He was a lion on the battlefield ~ The computers at school are old dinosaurs ~ The ballerina was a swan, gliding across the stage ~ The stars are sparkling diamonds ~ My big brother is a couch potato ~ They had entered their autumn years ~ Her tears were a river flowing down her cheeks

When you study literature and other works of art in more detail, you’ll find that the author or writer uses these figures of speech with more subtlety, or even grandeur. The levels of comparison also get more and more sophisticated, and that is where the beauty of the text lies. Similes and metaphors lend texts several layers of depth and make any work a pleasure to read.

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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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As a writer, you create visual images in readers’ minds through word choice, description, dialogue, and a host of literary devices like the simile.

When you directly compare two unrelated things using either like or as to bridge them together, you’re using a simile. Similes are an awesome tool to paint a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing for your reader.

However, some similes have been used so often they’ve become clichés, like, “he knows this street like the back of his hand” or “she’s as sly as a fox.” The key to using similes is to find fresh and unique comparisons between two unrelated objects.

Let’s look at a few examples.

What is a simile?

A great story is like the prize in a Cracker Jack box: you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s going to be fun finding out.

That was a simile comparing a story to the prize everyone looks forward to in the Cracker Jack box. You could use the following simile to evoke a different meaning and emotion to the same concept:

A disappointing story can be like the surprise hidden in the box of cereal: you stick with it to the very end, only to find a cheap plastic trinket.

Why you should use similes.

Similes can be found in all types of writing, from journalism to fiction to advertising. They’re creative ways to bring more attention and clarity to your meaning than straight narrative.

If you want to give your reader a thoughtful mental image while they’re reading, a simile is a great place to start. When you compare your main character to an animal or even an inanimate object like a giant sequoia, you’re exposing your reader to another way of looking at something that’s fresh and new.

Similes and metaphors are different.

Don’t confuse a simile with a metaphor . Similes compare two objects using the words like or as , and metaphors make a direct comparison between two very dissimilar objects.

Simile example: John was like a giant sequoia, massive and sturdy.

Metaphor example: John is a giant sequoia, massive and sturdy.

Sometimes it makes more sense to compare two things with a like or as than it does to insinuate John is a tree.

Similes tend to be more direct in their comparisons, while metaphors can be more subtle. For more information about creating awesome metaphors, check out How to Create Fantastic Metaphors .

Famous examples of similes.

You don’t want to trot out the trite similes that have been overused though. Try to create a comparison that’s unique and fresh. Here’s a list of some similes that have lost their charm from too much playing time:

• as busy as a bee
• as blind as a bat
• as black as coal
• as brave as a lion
• as strong as an ox
• as easy as shooting fish in a barrel
• slept like a log
• dead as a doornail
• stand out like a sore thumb
• as cold as ice
• as hard as nails
• as innocent as a lamb
• as sweet as sugar
• as tall as a giraffe

as white as a ghost

“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.”

Perhaps one of the easiest remembered similes, this one from Forrest Gump’s mom points out life can be haphazard. Much like choosing a chocolate from a box, you never know until you bite in whether you’re getting a cream-filled one or a cherry in the middle.

• “Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”

Another of today’s mainstream similes, “as dead as a door-nail” was probably a revolutionary description when Dickens wrote it.

• “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore—and then run?”

Langston Hughes penned the above simile in his poem “Harlem 2,” opted by Lorraine Hansberry for the famous play A Raisin in the Sun .

Shakespeare is the king of similes, thanks to the amazing collection of comparisons in his sonnets and plays. There are far too many to list here, and you probably know them all, anyway!

Not all similes are created equal. Let’s take a quick look at the good, the bad, and the ugly to determine when and how to use them.

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The good: painting pictures with similes.

These two sentences have the same meaning:

Marcus stomped across the yard with one thing in mind.

Marcus barged across the yard like a battleship preparing to fire.

Which one lets your mind create a better mental picture? The one with the simile, of course. That first sentence is pretty bland, wouldn’t you say? But the second one helps readers see Marcus in an imposing light.

The bad: similes to avoid.

How many times have you seen these?

• different as night and day
• stood out like a sore thumb
• clear as mud
• memory like a steel trap
• as alike as two peas in a pod
• as big as an elephant
• as cool as a cucumber

The next time you want to describe your character who’s received a shock looking “as white as a ghost,” find a fresh way that’s all your own. It’s handy to know the common similes out there, but only use them as a springboard to something uniquely yours.

The ugly: be careful with your similes.

Similes can get awkward if you reach too far for disparate comparisons. For example:

• Her face was like a dessert at a Mexican restaurant, fried on the outside and gooey in the middle.

Wait, what?

For a little fun, click here to read some of the worst similes ever.

Final thoughts.

Similes let you find creative ways to appeal directly to your readers’ senses. Use them wisely so readers see a vibrant mental image of whatever it is you’re describing. Readers love to use their imagination to understand what you’re trying to say, and a simile primes the pump. But the best similes offer something new to readers so they see the world differently.

Looking for more to read about similes? Try this article.

Common Questions about Similes

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Metaphors and similes are both used for comparison. Metaphors do a direct comparison by saying one thing is another thing. They often contain "is" and "was." Similes also do a comparison but they use "like" or "as." "Her skin is as cold as ice" is a simile while "She's an ice queen" is a metaphor. Metaphors and similes are both figures of speech found in prose, poetry and song.

Similes and metaphors need to strike a chord with the reader and make sense on some level. Stephen King says in On Writing , "When a simile or metaphor doesn't work, the result are sometimes funny and sometimes embarrassing."

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25 Similes for Writing

Similes are a great tool for writers to add depth and interest to their writing.  

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words “like” or “as.” 

By using similes, writers can create vivid images and convey complex ideas in a more relatable and understandable way. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best similes for writing and how to use them effectively in your own writing. 

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, these similes will help you take your writing to the next level. So let’s get started!

Similes for Writing

• As bright as a beacon: This simile is used to describe something that is very bright and noticeable, like a beacon of light that guides ships at sea.
• As smooth as glass: This simile is used to describe something that is very smooth and even, like a pane of glass.
• As hard as a rock: This simile is used to describe something that is very hard and unyielding, like a rock.
• As white as snow: This simile is used to describe something that is very white and pure, like freshly fallen snow.
• As strong as an ox: This simile is used to describe someone who is very strong and able to do a lot of work, like an ox.
• As fast as lightning: This simile is used to describe something that is very fast, like lightning.
• As quiet as a mouse: This simile is used to describe something that is very quiet, like a mouse.
• As sweet as honey: This simile is used to describe something that is very sweet, like honey.
• As brave as a lion: This simile is used to describe someone who is very brave, like a lion.
• As light as a feather: This simile is used to describe something that is very light, like a feather.
• As cold as ice: This simile is used to describe something that is very cold, like ice.
• As fresh as a daisy: This simile is used to describe something that is very fresh and new, like a daisy that has just bloomed.
• As slippery as an eel: This simile is used to describe something that is very slippery and difficult to hold onto, like an eel.
• As sharp as a razor: This simile is used to describe something that is very sharp and able to cut easily, like a razor.
• As heavy as lead : This simile is used to describe something that is very heavy and difficult to lift, like lead.
• As graceful as a dancer: This simile is used to describe someone or something that moves very gracefully, like a dancer.
• As stubborn as a mule: This simile is used to describe someone who is very stubborn and difficult to persuade, like a mule.
• As fast as the wind: This simile is used to describe something that moves very quickly, like the wind.
• As delicate as a butterfly: This simile is used to describe something that is very delicate and fragile, like a butterfly.
• As colorful as a rainbow: This simile is used to describe something that is very colorful and vibrant, like a rainbow.
• As quiet as a whisper: This simile is used to describe something that is very quiet and barely audible, like a whisper.
• As wild as a tornado: This simile is used to describe something that is very wild and chaotic, like a tornado.
• As soft as velvet: This simile is used to describe something that is very soft and smooth, like velvet.
• As gentle as a lamb: This simile is used to describe someone or something that is very gentle and kind, like a lamb.
• As tough as nails: This simile is used to describe someone who is very tough and resilient, like nails that are difficult to bend or break.

In conclusion, similes are a powerful tool for writers to add depth, interest, and clarity to their writing. 

Whether you’re using them to create vivid images, convey complex ideas, or add emotional depth to your characters, similes are a versatile and effective way to improve your writing. 

I hope this blog post has provided you with some useful similes for writing and inspired you to try using them in your own writing. 

With practice and a little creativity, you’ll be able to use similes to take your writing to new heights. Happy writing!

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Using Similes and Metaphors to Enrich Our Writing (Part 1)

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Consider these two sentences from Leonard Gardner's novel Fat City :

The stooped forms inched in an uneven line, like a wave , across the onion field. Occasionally there was a gust of wind, and he was engulfed by sudden rustling and flickering shadows as a high spiral of onion skins fluttered about him like a swarm of butterflies .

Each of these sentences contains a simile : that is, a comparison (usually introduced by like or as ) between two things that are generally not alike--such as a line of migrant workers and a wave, or onion skins and a swarm of butterflies.

Writers use similes to explain things, to express emotion, and to make their writing more vivid and entertaining. Discovering fresh similes to use in your own writing also means discovering new ways to look at your subjects.

Metaphors also offer figurative comparisons, but these are implied rather than introduced by like or as . See if you can identify the implied comparisons in these two sentences:

The farm was crouched on a bleak hillside, where its fields, fanged in flints, dropped steeply to the village of Howling a mile away. (Stella Gibbons, Cold Comfort Farm )

Time rushes toward us with its hospital tray of infinitely varied narcotics, even while it is preparing us for its inevitably fatal operation. (Tennessee Williams, The Rose Tattoo )

The first sentence uses the metaphor of a beast "crouched" and "fanged in flints" to describe the farm and the fields. In the second sentence, time is compared to a doctor attending a doomed patient.

Similes and metaphors are often used in descriptive writing to create vivid sight and sound images , as in these two sentences:

Over my head the clouds thicken, then crack and split like a roar of cannonballs tumbling down a marble staircase; their bellies open--too late to run now!--and suddenly the rain comes down. (Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire )

The seabirds glide down to the water--stub-winged cargo planes--land awkwardly, taxi with fluttering wings and stamping paddle feet, then dive. (Franklin Russell, "A Madness of Nature")

The first sentence above contains both a simile ("a roar like that of cannonballs") and a metaphor ("their bellies open") in its dramatization of a thunderstorm. The second sentence uses the metaphor of "stub-winged cargo planes" to describe the movements of the seabirds. In both cases, the figurative comparisons offer the reader a fresh and interesting way of looking at the thing being described. As essayist Joseph Addison observed three centuries ago, "A noble metaphor, when it is placed to an advantage, casts a kind of glory round it, and darts a luster through a whole sentence" ( The Spectator , July 8, 1712).

• Practice in Using Metaphors and Similes
• Use Song Lyrics (with Caution) to Teach Figures of Speech
• Simile Definition and Examples
• Engage Kids With Songs That Can Teach Them About Metaphors
• Valentine's Day Language: Learning Idioms, Metaphors, and Similes
• What Is Writing Like?
• The Power and Pleasure of Metaphor
• The Different Types of Metaphors
• Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples
• Allegory: Definition and Examples
• What Is Personification?
• Organizational Metaphor
• 14 Sound Similes Evaluating Figurative Comparisons
• Use Popular Songs to Teach Similes
• Submerged Metaphor
• A Collection of Classic Love Poetry for Your Sweetheart

How to Make Your Similes Sparkle

by Joe Bunting | 33 comments

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A simile, as our fourth-grade English teachers intoned, is a comparison of two, usually dissimilar, objects, with the use of “like” or “as.” To enliven our writing, similes can evoke the particular sense we want to transmit.

Photo by Christina Rutz

Many of our most now-trite similes were fresh when first used—Burns’ “my love is like a red, red rose,” Shakespeare’s “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” But repetition and endless assignment in freshman English classes has made them as shopworn as the bargain table after a sale.

Simile Fatigue

It’s easy to succumb to overused and by now boring similes. You know the ones: eyes like stars, fits like a glove, swim (or smoke) like a fish, fierce as a lion, dead as a doornail, sleep like a log, dry as dust, smooth as silk, white as snow, cute as a button. When we write, they seem to spring up like spring flowers, I mean, like groupies at a rock star’s world tour.

I’m not against similes, although they’re less elegant than their more subtle, no-like/as cousins, the metaphors (her eyes were stars, he was a fierce lion in battle, the air was dust in my nostrils). But notice in the examples of similes above, and many more you can probably think of, that some of the objects compared make little sense today.

How dead is a doornail? Why is it deader than a screw or a staple? How does a log sleep? Does it twitch, snore? How cute is a button? What if it’s a button on the jumpsuit of a prisoner? Or the black coat of a funeral director?

I encountered the tired-simile syndrome with a recent passage in a novel and, desperate for freshness, developed a method to create better similes. Describing the arms of a middle-aged mother, I first wrote, “They were like . . .” and several barely passable similes spewed out: “like bowling pins,” “like tree trunks,” “like sausages,” “like pieces of wood.” Each of these felt either too old (bowling pins) or not quite right (tree trunks were too big, sausages needed adjectival spice, pieces of wood felt stagnant).

Reaching for Surprising Similes

I wanted the simile to convey more than a striking image. The mother’s arms should evoke the bulk of her body and, more subtly, underscore the theme—her strong-armed ways tyrannized her family.

So I did what I’m suggesting to you below. And found the right simile: “Her arms were like the thick ends of baseball bats.”

When you avoid the cliché similes like the plague, I mean, like mud after a downpour, and choose imaginative ones, you can write effective description, heighten the reader’s experience, and deepen your theme.

Have you read any similes lately that surprised you?

Choose a description of an object, either something that fascinates you or from a piece you’re working on. To describe the object, write out all the similes you can think of. Start with the ones that come easily. Get at least three or four. You’re purging your system of commonalities.

Then visualize the object; see it clearly in front of you. Even better, set it out before you (unless it’s a skyscraper or an orca). Ask yourself:

• How does it look, feel, smell, taste?
• How would a friend, sibling, stranger react to it?
• What else is this object like?
• What does this object make me think of?

Write your responses to each question. And wait and listen. Something, or several things, more will come to you.  Write them all down. When your insides cry “That’s it!” you’ll know it’s the perfect, rare simile. Like my woman’s arms.

When you're finished, share a few of your favorite similes here in the comments section.

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Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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33 Comments

My favorite descriptions always involve food! When the apple pie emerged from its oven womb, its golden crust glowed as promising as a sunrise, its aroma as enticing as a pastry shop in France. It was as crisp as the air on an autumn day and bubbly as family conversation around the holiday table.

Exquisite use of similes, Eva!

Now I’m hungry – yum!

you’ve inspired me today to pop a couple incredible similes in the proposal I’m polishing today. Hey, if they aren’t incredible, I’ll leave them out!

I think the last line says it all 🙂

Oops, I think you intended your comment for the blogger.

This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone champion similes! Fab. I struggle to craft a decent metaphor yet similes seem to pop out like ready-made tarts

YC… “…like ready-made tarts,” she said, with a simile on her face.

Hmmm, I need more practice at this, but it was a fun exercise. Plus, it gave me another opportunity to praise my favorite guitar, the Fender Stratocaster!

I picked up the Strat and looked it over. The jade pearl finish was as smooth and glossy as stones from a tumbler. The chrome glistened like trim on a custom Harley. The weight felt perfect, as balanced as my yoga instructor’s favorite pose. I plugged it into an amp and started to play. The neck felt so comfortable, like my own bed after a long trip. The tone was bright and clear, like church bells in January. Each note was as distinct as a cardinal’s song on a spring morning. I was in love!

I liked your church bells the best.

Thanks, Kelly

Thank you, all, for your enthusiasm and great similes. Paul, you did the exercise perfectly. And now, like the trainer of a wild stallion, a little restraint, please!

This is the entirety of what I managed in fifteen minutes. ………………………………………………………………………. But what’s it like? The sea. Is it gentle like a first kiss? Is it as chilling as bad news? It is as refreshing as a peel of laughter Or the gurgling laugh of a child. It is often like the voice of god at his most vengeful Or at his most forgiving. It brings a shining brightness to the skin, like the rays of the sun, yet far more tangible. But dangerous as the night and glistening like the cold steel of a blade, the sea rages.

These are extraordinary images. Very thought provoking. I liked it

I like ‘extraordinary’ it feeds my ego! Ha. Thanks.

I loved the contrast, especially in the last two lines

Cheers, mucker.

By the way, that means: ‘thank you, fellow human’ on the Isle of Wight

Ah, I was wondering about that. “Cheers” is familiar (I have a number of acquaintances in Derby & Bristol), but “mucker” was new. Thanks for clarifying!

Loved the variety of the images. Envious of your invention!

What a lovely thing to say!

SO helpful – thank you!

Not too good at similes, I have a very literal mind. However, here goes.

Gently he walked towards it, the ice crackling underfoot like breaking glass. The ice yacht lay on its side, partially submerged like a great drowning albatross, its sail rippling in the breeze like a broken wing. He went as far as he dared and lay down, his arms outstretched toward it like a man worshipping.

He felt a hand touch his, cold as a frozen cod. He grasped it and edged backward as a child might crawl from underneath a bed. At last they were on firmer ground and they stood upright as though unfurling like leaves. Safe at last.

I think it helps to just write lots of different ideas down (as you did). Having something in front of you that you don’t like crystallises the criteria you want to use. So if you say this is too X and not enough Y, you suddenly know that you need to write something that is not at all X but is very Y indeed.

Steve–Keep at it. It will get easier, and then you may have the blessed problem of too many similes. It’s only that your right brain needs a little nudging.

Alex–Great idea. As they say, Writing begets writing.

lips that curved into a smile of sweet loveliness, like the melodic tinkling of the small child’s laugh, as kind and gentle as the chirp of the dove, as radiant as the fragile petal of the rose.

cruel as death, cold as the icy breath of winter, destructive as lightning

eyes cold as the winter sky at night, as deep and unforgiving as the abyss of depression

Came up with these in minutes, and I’m only 12 years old.

i hope you don’t mind but I used lips that curved into a smile of sweet. is that ok?

I just saw this and couldn’t resist sharing a few.

She took the beating on her head as quietly as constructive criticism Poverty turned him thoroughly like gravels in a cement mixer

He kept bugging her with the consistence of a seasoned tax-collector He wept, the tears like two wet flies crawling down his cheek His smile was as artificial as a mud mansion Like a massive concrete blanket the tired wall was eager to cover them She held the pistol on its barrel like a frightened child would hold a dead lizard by the tail

Here’s mine The night came, silent as the merest breeze.

here’s mine: talking like the tides against a cliff….. hows it???

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Last updated on Feb 11, 2022

90+ Must-Know Metaphor Examples to Improve Your Prose

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.” — 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

Daily 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

Famous Quotations

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:

Did we miss any of your favorite metaphors? Have more metaphor examples for us? Leave them in the (non-metaphorical) box below and we'll add them right in.

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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Simile examples for intermediate readers.

• “Food?”  Chris inquired, popping out of his seat like a toaster strudel.
• Grandpa lounged on the raft in the middle of the pool like an old battleship.
• If seen from above the factory, the workers would have looked like clock parts.
• The truth was like a bad taste on his tongue.
• The people who still lived in the town were stuck in place like wax statues.
• Cassie talked to her son about girls as though she were giving him tax advice.
• Alan’s jokes were like flat soda to the children, surprisingly unpleasant.
• My mother’s kitchen was like a holy place: you couldn’t wear your shoes, you had to sit there at a certain time, and occasionally we’d pray.
• The bottle rolled off the table like a teardrop.
• The handshake felt like warm laundry.
• She hung her head like a dying flower.
• Arguing with her was like dueling with hand grenades.
• The classroom was as quiet as a tongue-tied librarian in a hybrid car.
• Janie’s boyfriend appreciated her as an ape might appreciate an algebra book.
• The clouds were like ice-cream castles in the sky.
• The shingles on the shack shook in the storm winds like scared children.
• When he reached the top of the hill, he felt as strong as a steel gate.
• When the tree branch broke, Millie fell from the limb like a robin’s egg.
• She swam through the waters like she was falling through a warm dream.
• They children ran like ripples through water.
• Mikhail scattered his pocket change in front of the beggars like crumbs of bread.
• Her hair was as soft as a spider web.
• Each dollar bill was a like a magic wand to cast away problems.
• The man held the blanket like a memory.
• The ice sculptor’s hands fluttered like hummingbird wings.
• I’m about as awesome as a flying giraffe.
• You are soft as the nesting dove.
• Andre charged down the football field like it was the War of 1812.
• The stars looked like stupid little fish.
• Her laughter was like a warm blanket or a familiar song.
• The river flows like a stream of glass
• Blood seeped out of the wound like red teardrops.
• Paul carried his science project to school like he was transporting explosive glass.
• She looked at me like I was speaking in some strange alien tongue.
• The town square was buzzing like a beehive.
• Kelsey followed her dreams like most kids would follow a big sister.
• Kyle looked at the test with a stare as blank as his notebook.
• The robins are as thick today as flakes of snow were yesterday,
• Her eyes are like the eyes of statues.
• The gray moss drapes us like sages.
• The music burst like a bent-up flood.
• The curtains stir as with an ancient pain.
• But now her hands like moonlight brush the keys with velvet grace.
• I flitted like a dizzy moth.
• The flowers were as soft as thoughts of budding love.
• The gray of the sea, and the gray of the sky, / A glimpse of the moon like a half-closed eye.
• Yes, the doors are locked and the ashes are white as the frost.
• A mist about your beauty clings like a thin cloud before a star.
• She went like snow in the springtime on a sunny hill.
• Then I knew those tiny voices, clear as drops of dew.

Simile Examples for Advanced Readers

• I dream of silent verses where the rhyme glides noiseless as an oar.
• Though they knew it not, their baby’s cries were lovely as jeweled butterflies.
• He kissed her as though he were trying to win a sword fight.
• The paparazzi circled like vultures above a tottering camel.
• She was as distant as a remote tropical island, uncivilized, unspoiled.
• Our hearts, though stout and brave, still, like muffled drums, are beating funeral marches to the grave.
• He had hidden his wealth, heaped and hoarded and piled on high like sacks of wheat in a granary.
• Pieces of silver and of gold / Into the tinkling strong-box fell / Like pebbles dropped into a well;
• The cabin windows have grown blank as eyeballs of the dead.
• What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
• Each face was like the setting sun, / As, broad and red.
• Barefooted, ragged, with neglected hair, she was a thin slip of a girl, like a new moon.
• A fatal letter wings its way across the sea, like a bird of prey.
• I will sing a slumberous refrain, and you shall murmur like a child appeased.
• For she knows me! My heart, clear as a crystal beam / To her alone, ceases to be inscrutable.
• Leaf-strewing gales utter low wails like violins,
• He spit out his teeth like stones.
• Talk of your cold: through the parka’s fold it stabbed like a driven nail.
• Dawn breaks open like a wound that bleeds afresh.
• Like winged stars the fire-flies flash and glance, / Pale in the open moonshine.
• The breath of her false mouth was like faint flowers, / Her touch was as electric poison.
• Then, as a hunted deer that could not flee, I turned upon my thoughts and stood at bay, wounded and weak and panting;
• There are thick woods where many a fountain, rivulet, and pond are as clear as elemental diamond.
• Years heap their withered hours, like leaves, on our decay.
• The ripples wimple on the rills, like sparkling little lasses.
• She was like a modest flower blown in sunny June and warm as sun at noon’s high hour.
• And the face of the waters that spread away / Was as gray as the face of the dead.
• As in depths of many seas, my heart was drowned in memories.
• Then like a cold wave on a shore, comes silence and she sings no more.
• And shout thy loud battle-cry, cleaving the silence like a sword.
• My soul is lost and tossed like a ship unruddered in a shoreless sea.
• The clouds like crowds of snowy-hued and white-robed maidens pass
• Dreams, like ghosts, must hide away; / ‘Tis the day.
• The evening stretches before me like a road.
• I would have hours that move like a glitter of dancers.
• Toby manipulated the people in his life as though they were chess pieces.
• And only to think that my soul could not react, but turned on itself like a tortured snake.
• There are strange birds like blots against a sky.
• She goes all so softly like a shadow on the hill, a faint wind at twilight.
• The horse-chestnuts dropped their buds like tears.
• They walk in awful splendor, regal yet, wearing their crimes like rich and kingly capes.
• Death is like moonlight in a lofty wood that pours pale magic through the shadowy leaves.
• I was sick of all the sorrow and distress that flourished in the City like foul weeds.
• As I read it in the white, morning sunlight, the letters squirmed like snakes.
• Oh, praise me not the silent folk; / To me they only seem / Like leafless, bird-abandoned oak.
• The windflowers and the lilies were yellow striped as adder’s tongue.
• I have seen old ships sail like swans asleep.
• For the world’s events have rumbled on since those days like traffic.
• And dance as dust before the sun, light of foot and unconfined.
• The fishes skim like umber shades through the undulating weeds.
• Gather up the undiscovered universe like jewels in a jasper cup.

Common Core State Standards Related to Simile

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.

163 Comments

I like similes….! am sober like a judge

I need a simile describing something negative at school

Esther Owate

I need similies that start with as

as cool as a cucumber

Patricia Wills-Obong

This Similie are awesome

Shiloh Jones

hey guys i need a simile thats about a blank white word document…. like ummmm

the blank white page stared at me like ….?

The blank. White page stared at me like as if there was something on my face

Delony Hamilton

Thank you it helped me with English and even helped me wrote a song.

she was screaming like a donkey and the donkey was screaming like my sister

Friendship is as sweet as ice-cream.

The clear water semmed like as if diamonds were melted into the water.

The clear water was like millions of melted diamonds.

It really helps this because we have assignment and I research for it about similes sentence ty

Abeeha Qadri

Is this sentence of metaphor is right: My sister’s memory is a camera that remembers everything we see

I need to write some similes for describing a hospital

Please help me with this…Write the similes of the following words- sold,tea,teach,reach,take,leave,fence,hear,son,earth please I need help with this words

Pls I need the following similes for… The clear water was like a…. The sick man was as …..as a child. The crafty man got his own way, he is a….

As anxious as…

so enlightening thanks its really good

the kittens fur was like velvet.

bill joy the 2nd

the banana was as yellow as the sun

I love dis. It helped me in doing my English assignment.

Plz help me out. I want to make sentences using both similies in a sentence. Plz help me plz at least five sentences I want

1.The true friendship is as sweet as ice cream 2.Honesty and laughter in a friendship are like bricks that support a building. 3. Friendship is like a circle that never end.s. 4.The heart of the person is like untracked nut. 5.The child is brave like lion.

Thanks for helping with my homework.

my head was aching like the downfall of ten thousand bombs

I am very happy to learn this topic

I’m so stuck with my English homework and I don’t know much about English language, so I need some help for these sentences to create a simile please:

1. A petrol bomb exploding 2. A military jail

Susan de la Vergne

Try freshening up your comparisons. Instead of “eyes blue as the sky” try “eyes blue as a shallow tropical lagoon at dawn.” One danger of similes is using cliches. Writing (and speaking) is much better without cliches.

My pillow was as hard as steel.

Martha Snyder

Help me with this. Write a simile to compare. A person’s eyes to the sky

eyes as blue as the sky or eyes as soft as the clouds

I need a simile The cellphone is like a The boy is small like a

A still pond is like Autumn leaves are like A volcano is like A poppy is like

I like this

i like this similes

Quite informative

this the thing that want and i got it now

please may you email some of your similies please

Why? They are here on this page.

i need a simile His golden fur was like…

Acre7227277272727272

His golden fur was like a candle in a dark room against the darkness behind him

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145+ Examples of Simile for Everyday Usage

• Updated on  
• Nov 4, 2023

Almost all of us have used a simile in our daily conversations. Consciously or otherwise, this is one of the most commonly used figures of speech that has become a part of our daily vocabulary. Knowing about different similes can be beneficial, especially for aspirants of competitive examinations such as the IELTS , GRE , TOEFL, etc. To help you understand what this literary device is and how it is used, this blog brings you a comprehensive guide on the definition and examples of simile, along with the ways it can be used in a sentence.

This Blog Includes:

Importance of using a simile , how to use a simile in a sentence, 31 examples of simile for daily usage, examples of similes to use as phrases, best examples of similes for kids, examples of simile in classic literature, examples of simile in song lyrics, examples of simile in advertising slogans  , examples of simile in writing, examples of simile using “as”, examples of simile using “like” , what is the difference between simile and metaphor, similes and exaggeration, practice with simile quiz , download simile quiz pdf, simile worksheets, what is a simile.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things that have similar properties or characteristics. Similes are often confused with metaphors, which is another different figure of speech used for comparison. The easiest way to identify a simile as opposed to a metaphor is to look for the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. Thus, the best examples of similes include ‘ as ’ or ‘ like ’ such as “as proud as a peacock”.

Similes are a powerful tool for making language more interesting, descriptive, and creative. Because the mind thinks in images and associations, similes can elicit stronger and more effective descriptions than adjectives or exact descriptions; they can activate linked emotions, generate new mental connections, and underline specific features. From common conversation to poetry, similes are almost required for creative expression.

A simile is generally used in a sentence to make comparisons between two or more nouns and this is done with the use of words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’. The general idea of using a simile with the word ‘as’ is by using a noun that is known for a particular quality.

For example : as proud as a peacock, as busy as a bee and so on.

A simile is a direct comparison of two like or unlike things. A simile helps your reader or listener visualize, understand, and have a better conception of the quality of the nouns being compared. It makes it a lot more vivid and descriptive. In other words, it can be said that similes can be used to provide a mental image to your reader or listener.

Now that you are familiar with what simile means, we have compiled a comprehensive list of some of the popular examples of similes you must know about! Check out the following list of similes:

• As black as coal Example: His face became as black as coal after being criticized.
• As blind as a bat Example: My uncle is as blind as a bat without his spectacles.
• As cool as a cucumber Example: While all of us were panicking just before the declaration of the results, Naina was as cool as a cucumber.
• As brave as a lion Example: While fighting the war, the soldier was as brave as a lion.
• Cunning like a fox Example: Don’t trust his words, he is cunning like a fox.
• As cold as ice Example: The expression on her face was as cold as ice.
• As busy as a be e Example: My wife is as busy as a bee in the mornings.

Like these examples of similes? Check out our blog on 50 Common Proverbs with Meaning and Examples !

• As clean as a whistle Example: The maid has done a good job, and the hall is as clean as a whistle
• As soft as velvet Example: I just love my new blanket, it is as soft as velvet!
• As sharp as a razor Example: Despite being over 75 years of age, my grandmother’s mind is as sharp as a razor.
• As white as snow Example: The clothes she wore were as white as snow.
• As white as a ghost Example: Her face became as white as a ghost when she spotted the burglar in her house.
• As fresh as a daisy Example: You still look as fresh as a daisy after finishing all the work!
• As stiff as a board Example: I am sure that he is very nervous, he is standing as stiff as a board on the stage.
• As proud as a peacock Example: She is as proud as a peacock after getting selected for the lead role in the drama.
• As gentle as a lamb Example: My grandmother may seem scary to others, but she is as gentle as a lamb.
• As bright as a button Example: She seems to be as bright as a button!
• As strong as an ox Example: Although he has lost some weight, he is still as strong as an ox.
• As hot as hell Example: How can you bear to go out in this weather? It is as hot as hell!
• As tough as leather Example: My brother can help you move all this furniture, he is as tough as leather!
• As bright as the moon Example: Her eyes shined as bright as the moon on receiving her birthday gift.
• As thin as a rake Example: How can you eat so much and still be as thin as a rake?
• As wise as an owl Example: This problem seems tough! You can only solve this if you are as wise as an owl!

Have fun with these examples of similes, and explore our exclusive blog on 50 Common Difficult Idioms with Examples !

• As clear as crystal Example: She loved visiting the lake high up in the mountains, whose water was as clear as crystal.
• As smooth as silk Example: Her voice is as smooth as silk.
• As stubborn as a mule Example: It’s no use trying to change his mind, that man is as stubborn as a mule.
• As silent as the grave Example: He knew something was wrong when he found his friends as silent as the grave.
• As light as a feather Example: This shawl is made from very fine material, it’s as light as a feather!
• As old as the hills Example: Her grandmother’s love story was as old as the hills.
• As straight as an arrow Example: You can trust him, he is as straight as an arrow.

You can use similes in everyday language and that makes you look as smart as a fox! You saw what we did there? Now let’s see all the similes that you can use in your everyday life.

• As innocent as a lamb
• As tough as nails
• As shiny as a new pin
• As hot as hell
• As white as a ghost
• As bright as a button
• As cool as a cucumber
• As cold as ice
• As light as a feather
• As sweet as sugar
• As blind as a bat
• As common as dirt
• As tall as a giraffe
• As hard as nails
• As cute as a kitten
• As bold as brass
• As happy as a clam
• As black as coal
• As American as apple pie.
• As big as an elephant.
• As black as coal.
• As blind as a bat.
• As boring as watching paint dry.
• As brave as a lion.
• As busy as a bee.
• As cunning as a fox
• As dead as a doornail
• As deaf as a post
• As difficult as nailing jelly to a tree
• As dry as a bone
• As dull as dishwater
• As easy as ABC
• As old as the hills
• As pale as death
• As for fit as a fiddle
• As flat as a pancake
• As free as a bird
• As fresh as a daisy
• As gentle as a lamb
• As good as gold
• As heavy as lead
• As helpless as a baby
• As honest as the day is long
• As hot as blue blazes
• As hungry as a bear
• As cheap as dirt.
• As clean as a whistle.
• As clear as mud.
• As clear as crystal.

• As boring as watching paint dry
• As busy as a bee
• As clean as a whistle
• As sick as a dog
• As silent as the grave
• As slippery as an eel
• As slow as molasses
• As smooth as a baby’s bottom
• As snug as a bug in a rug
• As solid as the ground we stand on
• As sour as vinegar
• As stiff as a board
• As straight as an arrow
• The breeze was gentle like a butterfly.
• She danced lightly, like a fluttering butterfly.
• You are as pale as a white sheet.
• Your hands are as cold as the Arctic.
• His mind is like an encyclopedia.
• It was as light as a penny.
• He soared like an eagle.
• It was damp like dew in the morning.
• He was as lost as a sheep.
• She worked as hard as an ant gathering his harvest.
• She was as prickly as a cactus.
• The puppy wagged his tail like a toddler who just got a lollipop.
• The children were as happy as a hog with fresh mud.
• The burglar looked as sketchy as jelly with green fuzz on top.
• As American as apple pie
• Her teeth were as white as pearls.
• She moved as gracefully as a prima ballerina.
• They ran around, going this way and that, like leaves on a blustery day.

Literature has some of the best usages of similes. From Virginia Woolf to Shakespeare, every famous writer and poet has used similes to accessorize their literature. Let’s check out some of the best examples of similes in Classic Literature: 

• “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.”- Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
• f reach.” — Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
• “Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• “The water made a sound like kittens lapping.” — The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
• “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
• Or fester like a sore— And then run?”— Harlem by Langston Hughes 

Many song lyrics have used similes in their lyrics to enhance them. Let’s check them out:

• “Hit me like a ray of sun, Burning through my darkest night”- Halo by Beyonce
• “Questions of science, science, and progress
• Do not speak as loud as my heart”- The Scientist by Coldplay
• “Shine bright like a diamond
• Find light in the beautiful sea
• I choose to be happy”- Diamonds by Rihanna
• “If all it’s gonna cause is pain
• Truth and my lies right now are falling like rain
• So let the river run”- River by Eminem
• “I see both sides like Chanel
• See on both sides like Chanel”- Chanel by Frank Ocean
• ” Body Like a Back Road” By Sam Hunt

Similes have often been utilized in popular advertisements and memorable brand slogans. Take a look at a couple of old favourites. 

• State Farm Insurance – “Like a good neighbour” 
• Doritos Snack Chips – “Taste like awesome feels”
• Chevrolet Trucks – “Like a rock” 
• Honda Cars – “The Honda’s ride is as smooth as a gazelle in the Sahara. Its comfort is like a hug from Nana.”
• Almonds Joy/Mounds Candy – “Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t.” 

Similes are a terrific way to spice up regular writing by conjuring up a vivid image with only a few words. Consider the following sentences:

• Adam walked across the room with purpose. 
• Adam moved across the room like a warship sailing into battle.

The first sentence is fairly uninteresting. The comparison in the second phase, on the other hand, allows the reader to imagine an old-fashioned vessel heading to battle: majestic, resolute, proud, and maybe dangerous. It portrays Adam as a commanding figure and suggests that once he gets to the other side of the room, he’ll be plotting something major.

The below-mentioned examples of similes all follow the “as___as” format: 

• She was as sly as a fox 
• That knife is as sharp as a razor
• He’s as sick as a dog 
• It was as big as an elephant 
• He is as bright as a button
• She’s as cold as ice
• It’s as tough as an old boot
• He’s as good as gold
• It’s as dry as a bone out there
• The car is as clean as a whistle

Written under are the examples of similes using the “__like__” format: 

• She eats like a pig 
• She ran like lightning 
• He looks like a fish out of water
• She slept like a log 
• It was soft like velvet 
• Life is like a box of chocolates
• It leaked like a sieve
• It cuts like butter
• The aeroplane soared like an eagle
• The shark had teeth like razors

The questions where one has to identify whether the given sentence is a simile or a metaphor are the trickiest. Thus, while understanding or going through the examples of similes, it is important to understand the difference between similes and metaphors. The latest understanding of the difference between the two- 

Venue comparison is made using connecting words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’ when the sentence refers to a simile. Whereas, whenever a direct relationship is established between two things, the sentence is a metaphor in nature.

For Example:

• He seemed bright like the sun when I met him last. 
• He is the son and the sun of the family. 

The first sentence depicts the use of simile whereas the second one is a metaphor. 

Metaphors are considered to be stronger because they directly cite a comparison between things rather than just indicating that they are similar. On the other hand, similes are majorly used for comparison where the readers are assisted in understanding a subtle connection between things.

Hyperbole, or exaggeration, is frequently used in similes. Example:

• You are as sweet as honey. 
• You dance like an angel 

Similes concentrate on a single component of a comparison, preventing hyperbolic comments from sounding exaggerated. Consider the following sentences:

• Lara is a mean snake.
• Lara is as mean as a snake.

The first version is a metaphor, but it’s so straightforward that it comes across as sloppy or infantile. The second version, a simile, stresses the trait Lora has in common with a snake, namely, meanness. Figurative language is a great approach to spice up your writing by adding intrigue and images. So, the next time you’re having trouble coming up with the proper words for a description, consider using a simile that’s as flawless as a diamond.

Read more about Present Indefinite Tense Here

• Jesse is as sly as a :

A. snake B. fly C. fox D. elephant

• My grandmother is as sweet as :

A. vinegar B. potatoes C. a carrot D. strawberry jam

• That sidewalk is as slippery as :

A. a pancake B. glass C. sand D. bark

• When school let out for the summer, I felt as free as a :

A. bird B. prisoner C. dollar D. bicycle

• That fence is as solid as :

A. a pillow B. a rock C. fog D. an open window

• Amber can run as fast as :

A. the wind B. an elephant C. a turtle D. a snowstorm

• The road went off into the distance as straight as :

A. a bowling ball B. a cyclone C. a figure-eight D. an arrow

• My mouth was as dry as :

A. an ice cube B. a shower C. dust D. a river

• The night was as black as :

A. snow B. a sunset C. coal D. a flower

• My grandfather’s mind is still as sharp as :

A. an eraser B. a dull knife C. a tack D. a pillow

For those who require more in-depth assistance, a US  assignment writing service  can provide further guidance and support in understanding and applying literary devices like similes.

The main purpose of a simile, which is a figure of speech, is to compare two or more things that have a similar quality. It compares things using words like “like” or “as.”

A simile is described as “a term or phrase that compares something to something else, using the words like or as” in the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. A simile is described as “a term comparing one thing with another, always incorporating the words as or like” by the Cambridge Dictionary. According to the Collins Dictionary, a simile is an expression that describes a person or thing as being similar to someone or something else. A simile is “a figure of speech comparing two, unlike things that are often introduced by like or as,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

A simile is a straightforward comparison of two like or disparate items. A simile aids the reader or listener in seeing, comprehending, and developing a better understanding of the characteristics of the words being compared. It becomes much more vivid and detailed as a result. In other words, similes may be utilised to help your reader or listener form an image in their mind.

Hope you found this blog on the definition and examples of similes interesting and useful. Preparing for competitive exams like TOEFL or IELTS? Give a boost to your preparation by joining Leverage Live classes, where you can access live interactive sessions by top experts along with the best study material and exclusive doubt clearance sessions that will enable you to ace your exam and get your dream score. Register for a demo session with us today! Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.

Digvijay Singh

Having 2+ years of experience in educational content writing, withholding a Bachelor's in Physical Education and Sports Science and a strong interest in writing educational content for students enrolled in domestic and foreign study abroad programmes. I believe in offering a distinct viewpoint to the table, to help students deal with the complexities of both domestic and foreign educational systems. Through engaging storytelling and insightful analysis, I aim to inspire my readers to embark on their educational journeys, whether abroad or at home, and to make the most of every learning opportunity that comes their way.

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I like this website

Thank you, Abdulkader! Here are some blogs for you to enjoy: https://leverageedu.com/blog/common-proverbs/ https://leverageedu.com/blog/antonyms/

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Using Metaphors in Creative Writing

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What is a metaphor?

The term metaphor meant in Greek "carry something across" or "transfer," which suggests many of the more elaborate definitions below:

Related terms

Why use metaphors.

People get so accustomed to using the same words and phrases over and over, and always in the same ways, that they no longer know what they mean. Creative writers have the power to make the ordinary strange and the strange ordinary, making life interesting again.

When readers or listeners encounter a phrase or word that cannot be interpreted literally, they have to think—or rather, they are given the pleasure of interpretation. If you write "I am frustrated" or "The air was cold" you give your readers nothing to do—they say "so what?" On the other hand, if you say, "My ambition was Hiroshima, after the bombing," your readers can think about and choose from many possible meanings.

By writing "my dorm is a prison," you suggest to your readers that you feel as though you were placed in solitary, you are fed lousy food, you are deprived of all of life's great pleasures, your room is poorly lit and cramped—and a hundred other things, that, if you tried to say them all, would probably take several pages.

There are many gaps in language. When a child looks at the sky and sees a star but does not know the word "star," she is forced to say, "Mommy, look at the lamp in the sky!" Similarly, when computer software developers created boxes on the screen as a user interface, they needed a new language; the result was windows. In your poems, you will often be trying to write about subjects, feelings, etc., so complex that you have no choice but to use metaphors.

Or so says Aristotle in Poetics: "[T]he greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor." It is "a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars."

Creative ways to use metaphors

Most books give rather boring examples of metaphors such as my father is a bear or the librarian was a beast. However, in your poetry (and fiction for that matter) you can do much more than say X is Y, like an algebraic formula. Definitely play with extended metaphors (see above) and experiment with some of the following, using metaphors...

12 Sun, Sunrise & Sunset Metaphors for Writers

The sun is one of the most common contextual features of a setting that we write about. But it’s hard to come up with creative new ways to talk about something that has been discussed in countless books over Millenia. Below, I’ve compiled some creative sun metaphors that can help you break through that writer’s block and find the perfect setting description in your story.

After exploring metaphors for the sun, I’ll also provide some further adjectives and color descriptions that can help add flair to your writing, and create the perfect image in your reader’s mind.

Sun Metaphors and Similes

1. it slipped through my fingers.

You can picture in your mind sunrays on your hand and, with your fingers outstretched, some of them passing through the gaps in your fingers to lay on the ground below. To say it slipped through your fingers is metaphorical because it didn’t literally slip through anything. It didn’t slide or bounce or refract off your fingers at all. In fact, the it is a long, long way away. Rather, it’s the sunrays that pass between the fingers. But we can be much more creative and visual in our description than to say “the sun rays passed between my fingers” – so we say “it slipped through”.

2. The Blazing Sun Mocked Me

This is an example of personification of the sun. In this metaphor, the sun isn’t a friend but a tormentor. An example of a time when it might mock a protagonist is when they’re out on a hike through the desert. The protagonist is exhausted and dehydrated, with a long way to walk in the heat of the day. Here, we might imagine the protagonist being along and feeling as if the sun is their only company. But the heat means it isn’t a friend but an enemy, mocking you as you try to escape its heat.

Related: A List of Summer Metaphors, Similes and Idioms

3. It Peeked Through the Clouds

We use this metaphor for the moon as well. Imagine the clouds obscuring the sun’s view, but as the clouds part, it seems like it “peeks out” at you to take a look. This is another example of personification. Of course, an object without personality or a brain can’t take a peek at anything. But this personification helps us to create an image in our minds.

This metaphor can be used at the end of a storm to show the end of the storm and the return to better weather.

4. It is a Golden Coin

When I took college classes in creative writing, my professor shared a book he wrote, and it opened with the line: “the sun flipped a golden coin”. I’ve always remembered it and banked this in my mind as a great way to start a story. Others have had their own adaptations of this, such as calling the sun a golden orb or medallion in the sky ( See Also: Sky Metaphors ).

5. The Sun Chased away the Clouds

Here again we have personification. Of course an inanimate object can’t chase anything or anyone! But what is happening here is the description of the changes in the weather as a battle between different elements. The clouds are being chased like a sheepdog chases sheep, to return to its rightful position as the top dog in the skies.

6. It Stood Watch over its Realm / Looked over You

We can imagine the sun being the ruler over us. It sits so far overhead and is visible from just about anywhere you are (so long as you’re outside). It almost feels like it’s watching us constantly, standing guard. Again, this is of course personification – it doesn’t really do any watching at all! If we were to consider it to be like a god , we can imagine it’s watching us and passing judgement on us all day long.

7. It Smiled Upon Me

This one is another more positive, upbeat metaphor. The idea that you are being smiled at from above gives you a sense that you’re blessed and cared for throughout your day. This might be a metaphor you use if you feel as if you’ve had a lucky day or got some good news today. You can’t imagine using this metaphor when you’re going through hardship or feeling the punishing heat of rays on your skin.

8. The Sun’s Yolk

This metaphor calls the sun an egg! It may sound absurd, but if you look at it, it looks like a yolk from the inside of an egg. You might write “the yolk of the sun” as a metaphor to describe it, for example. This is your classic straight-up metaphor where you are directly calling one thing something else.

Sunrise Metaphors and Similes

9. god’s morning star.

This is a metaphor you might want to use if you’re writing a story from a religious perspective. To wake to “God’s morning star” is to see God in nature – be it a Christian, Muslim or Buddhist God, or even simply a pantheist . It might be seen as a moment to reflect on God, the beauty of the world, or even a moment for quiet prayer before eating.

The character might be waking feeling blessed, or even, feeling as if they’re downtrodden but continue to sustain their faith in their religion.

The sun is quite literally a star , so this is borderline figurative or literal (also depending on you believe in God!).

Related: A List of 19 Light Metaphors

10. The Sunrise Greeted me in the Morning

I love this metaphor. I can imagine someone pulling open the curtains and feeling joyful about their day ahead. When the curtains open, the sun is revealed – shining big and bright right back at the protagonist. The sun is a symbol of the person’s mood and greets or “welcomes” you to a day you’re looking forward. Here, it is being personified, which means you’re giving human features to non-human things.

   Related Sun, Moon, Sky and Stars Articles:

• Red Sky Symbolism
• Sunrise Symbolism
• Sunset Symbolism
• Morning Symbolism
• Harvest Moon Symbolism
• Orange Sky Symbolism
• Sun and Sunrise Sayings
• Morning Star Symbolism
• Symbolism of the Sun
• Night Symbolism
• Darkness Symbolism

Sunset Metaphors and Similes

11. the sun succumbed to the moon.

This is a description you might use at the end of the day as night falls. Here, we can imagine the sun and moon taking shifts (there’s another metaphor for you!). They swap each 12 hours, almost like they’re in an unending battle. Here, the sun is the loser, succumbing to the moon (or night), to “retreat” through night.

12. It went to Bed

This is a metaphor to explain the coming of the night. Just as we go to bed, we can also imagine that orb in the sky going to sleep for the night. We shape the patterns of our lives around the night and day, so it makes sense for us to project some of our behaviors back onto the sun itself. This, again, is a form of personification where it’s being given the trait of an animal or human – the idea of going to bed!

Read Also: A List of Nature Idioms and Nature Metaphors

Colors to Describe the Sun

• Yellow – This is probably the most common color that comes to mind. On a clear day in the middle of the day, we’d expect its color to be yellow.
• Amber – This is the color you might expect to see during dusk or early in the morning.
• Copper – We’ll often use “copper” as an adjective in creative descriptions, such as “the scorching copper sun”.
• Honeycomb – This is the color you might experience in a certain ambiance, such as in a forest where the rays slip through the leaves and spot the forest surface with honeycomb colors and patterns.
• Golden – Like Amber, we might use this descriptive color when the atmosphere is thick at dawn or dusk.

Adjectives to Describe the Sun

• Blazing – A term you might use on a particularly hot day.
• Flaming – Similar to blazing – for hot days.
• Glowing – A good term for sunrise or sunset when there is a golden color in the air.
• Shining – A good term for the middle of the day.
• Scorching – Another one for hot days.
• Scolding – Again, this adjective describes the heat of the day.
• Licking – When you can feel rays dancing on your skin.
• Tickling  – Similar to licking.

Sun metaphors can help enhance your writing and make it more descriptive. Aim to create an image in your reader’s mind by using adjectives and colors that match the mood you are trying to set. You can use different metaphors or idioms for different times of day or moods of your protagonists.

Other metaphors you can use in your writing to enrich it include happiness metaphors and fear metaphors.

I’m Chris and I run this website – a resource about symbolism, metaphors, idioms, and a whole lot more! Thanks for dropping by.

42 Metaphor Writing Prompts

Learning the art of similes and metaphors is a fun and imaginative part of students furthering their creative writing skills.

Once they know the difference between similes and metaphors, your young writers’ skills will bloom as they figure out new ways to tell a story.

We’ve put together a list of prompts to help them work on this skill and have fun in the process.

Using This Guide

Adding fun creative writing assignments to your curriculum keeps students interested and engaged in the material.

There are many ways to use this guide, and the main point is to make your students comfortable and willing to take on these new challenges.

Here are a few ways to use this list in the classroom:

• Assign prompts by table or group in your classroom.
• Ask students to pick the prompts they think will be the hardest, and have them tackle those first.
• Challenge your students to use one prompt a day for a week.

Writing Prompts

• Write a metaphorical poem about rain.
• What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor? Use examples.
• Write a short story using the metaphor “she was feeling blue”.
• Write a story that uses at least two metaphors.
• Write a poem using the metaphor “her bubbly personality”.
• Change the following simile to a metaphor, and use it in a short story or poem: as smart as a fox.
• Describe your best friend using as many metaphors as you can.
• Write a story using “a blanket of snow”.
• Describe your least favorite sound using the metaphor “was fingernails on a chalkboard”.
• Write a story using the metaphor “he/she moves mountains”.
• Describe someone you know using the metaphor, “a heart of gold”.
• Write a metaphorical poem about being embarrassed.
• Describe your favorite holiday using as many metaphors as you can.
• Write a short story using the metaphor, “he’s being a chicken”.
• List five metaphors and explain them.
• Write a metaphorical poem using the phrase “an early bird”.
• Change the following simile into a metaphor, and use it in a poem or short story: he swam as gracefully as a dolphin.
• Write a description of someone you know using the metaphor “a smart cookie”.
• Describe your favorite ice cream flavor using metaphors.
• What is the difference between hyperbole and a metaphor?
• Write a short story using the metaphor, “The classroom was a zoo.”
• Describe someone you know using the metaphor, “he/she/they is/are a night owl”.
• Write a poem using an overused metaphor.
• Write a story using the metaphor, “the wind howled”.
• Write a story using the metaphor, “Laughter is the best medicine”.
• Describe someone you know using the metaphor, “fit as a fiddle”.
• What is the difference between a metaphor and an analogy?
• What does it mean to be the black sheep of the family? Use examples.
• Write a story using the metaphor, “a fish out of water”.
• Write a poem about the weather using the metaphor, “it’s raining cats and dogs”.
• Choose 2-3 metaphors used in pop culture and explain what they mean.
• How do metaphors make writing more interesting?
• Albert Einstein once said, “All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree.” Explain what you think this means.
• Write a short story using the metaphor, “a couch potato”.
• Why do you think Shakespeare used so many metaphors?
• Write a story using the metaphor, “the house was a circus while mom was away”.
• Why is New York City known as a “concrete jungle”?
• Write a story using the metaphor, “he is a chicken”.
• Describe the scenery outside your window using as many metaphors as you can.
• Write a story about two friends who are “two peas in a pod”.
• Describe someone you know using the metaphor, “he marches to the beat of his own drum”.
• What does it mean to have a heart of gold?

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• 9 Imagery Examples: Bring Your Writing to Life with Imagery

Erin Duchesne

9 imagery examples for writers

Paint a vivid scene, play to the senses, visual imagery (sight), auditory imagery (sound), olfactory imagery (smell), tactile imagery (touch), gustatory imagery (taste), metaphors and similes, metaphor examples, simile examples, evoke emotions, atmosphere, mood, and tone, use personification, create memorable characters, inner thoughts, personality traits.

Imagery is figurative language that activates the reader’s imagination to create a clear mental picture, convey tone, and elicit emotion. You can find imagery examples everywhere. From centuries-old Charles Dickens novels and Shakespearian plays to modern-day blogs and advertisements, imagery remains one of the most commonly used writing techniques. 

In this article, we will explore examples of imagery in film and literature, practical tips, and techniques to help you bring your writing to life. 

For any writer, imagery is an important tool to pull out of your box of tricks to elevate your work. Here are nine imagery examples to get you started.

Creating scenery in the readers’ mind is an essential aspect of writing. When readers can clearly picture the scene in their mind, they are much more likely to remember the story and take away the message whether that be a theme or a call to action. 

To boost your scene descriptions, try incorporating more adjectives, or as I like to call them “juicy words.”

Instead of saying, “The sun was setting” you might say, “The coral sky was ablaze as the golden sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, smokey shadows of jagged mountains across the tranquil valley.”

Another way to get your words to jump off the page is to engage the five senses. Using sensory language such as visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory imagery adds new layers that together helps to create an immersive experience for the reader. 

Her long golden hair was draped over her shoulder and tied with a black velvet ribbon. 

The light spring rain fell in a melodic rhythm on the flimsy tin roof of the dilapidated chicken coop.

Entering the bakery, my senses are bombarded with swirling scents of freshly baked bread, vanilla icing, and fruity pastries. 

I felt alive, squishing soft warm sand between my wet toes as I ran up the beach.

Bitter dark chocolate with bursts of crunchy sea salt and silky caramel. 

Metaphors and similes can be used to make both literal and figurative comparisons memorabe. A simile makes a comparison using “like” or “as,” whereas a metaphor makes a direct comparison between unrelated things without “like” or “as.”

• Her presence is a ray of sunshine
• He has a heart of gold
• His anger is a raging fire
• I have found her, she’s an angel
• Her room was so messy it smelled like something had died in there
• He ran as fast as a cheetah
• My heart beat like a drum
• The dancer leapt like a gazelle, as light as a feather

A good analogy can help a reader visualize and understand an abstract idea. Similar to metaphors and similes, analogies allow us to explain a difficult concept by comparing it to something familiar and simpler. 

For example,

• The famous Forrest Gump quote “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get” is a commentary on the unpredictability of life (this is also an example of simile)
• In The Wizard of Oz , Dorothy’s journey to the Emerald City is an analogy for self-discovery 
• The Phantom’s mask in The Phantom of the Opera is an analogous symbol for the metaphorical masks that people wear to hide their true selves 
• The chaos of a sinking ship in The Titanic is an analogy to society’s class system, demonstrating how everyone is equal in the face of disaster 

Symbolism or symbolic imagery can communicate powerful messages and themes in subtle but impactful ways.

Often what hallmarks a piece as a classic is its deep and complex symbolism. There are many common symbols you can use as recurring motifs to enrich your writing, such as owls (intellect/wisdom), doves (peace), roses or hearts (love/romance), and sunflowers (happiness). 

Here are a few more examples.

• The raven in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven represents many things including loss, bad omen, prophecy, and insight 
• The green light in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald symbolizes Gatsby’s unwavering love for Daisy
• The Ferris wheel in Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt represents the passage of time happening around the Tucks while they remain stagnant at the center

Good examples of imagery both bring out the emotions of the characters and of the reader. Organic imagery is when a writer describes a character’s mental or emotional state.

For example, “her heart fluttered as her cheeks blushed a vibrant shade of pink” or, “he fell to his knees from the overwhelming pang of grief realizing he would never see her again.”

An in-depth description of an emotional event or character’s mindset can help the reader relate to those feelings and put themselves in the story, eliciting an emotional reaction. 

Imagery plays a pivotal role in setting the atmosphere, mood, and tone of a piece of writing.

An author can emphasize friendship by using imagery of togetherness to evoke feelings of joy and belonging, bringing a light, happy tone to the story.

A piece can take on a negative tone of pain and sadness with imagery of isolation and despair to emphasize loss. 

Examples of stories with a dark tone:

• Dracula by Bram Stoker
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

Examples of stories with a feel-good, light tone:

• Anne of Green Gables by L.M Montgomery
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Personification is a great example of how imagery can breathe life into your writing. Giving human characteristics to an object, animal, or even phenomena helps authors add personality and depth to their descriptions.

Personification is a technique that helps readers connect with a piece where it makes the author’s words more engaging, relatable, and memorable. 

For example:

• Opportunity came knocking on his door
• The wind whispered its secrets across the valley
• The blooming flowers woke up to say good morning
• The car gave a protesting groan asking to be taken back to the garage
• If these walls could talk they would have a lot to say

Authors who use imagery well have the remarkable ability to bring their characters to life. With vivid descriptions of their character’s appearance, mannerisms, inner thoughts, and personality traits, writers can make readers see themselves or people they know in the characters. 

Instead of “He’s a nice-looking man,” try, “His piercing blue eyes sparkled like sapphires against the backdrop of his flawless olive skin.”

Instead of “She was nervous,” try, “She compulsively tapped her fingers on the desk, bit her lip, and darted her eyes back and forth.”

Instead of “He was sad,” try, “A dark cloud hung over his head and he felt an immovable weight settle on his chest.”

Instead of “She was kind,” try, “Her warm smile and laughter always felt like the clouds had parted to let the sun shine through.”

Writers are artists who paint mental images in the minds of readers using their words. Choosing those words wisely makes all the difference in making characters, settings, and ideas memorable and relatable to audiences.

From metaphors to personification to setting the mood, imagery examples can be found woven throughout all types of writing. So whether you are a copywriter, creative writer, or blogger looking for ways to elevate your craft, play around with imagery and see your words come alive.

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50 euphemism examples + why you should use it in your writing, powerful onomatopoeia examples in 7 different types of writing, related posts.

If you are trying to find a new way to make your words pop off the page, try incorporating more onomatopoeia examples into your work.

In this article, we will be exploring various ways to use euphemisms in your writing and give some euphemism examples.

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Metaphor vs. Simile: What’s the Difference? (+ Examples)

Table of contents

Zeniya Cooley

Metaphors and similes are figures of speech that compare two unlike things. You’ve probably encountered countless examples across film, literature, advertising, and even everyday conversation.

But just like two different shades of the same color, the difference between a metaphor and simile is subtle. You might not be able to tell them apart at first.

Luckily, as a journalist and professional writer with a knack for grammar, I know all the best tricks for doing just that.

In this article, I’ll define and provide examples of both and show you how you can start using metaphors and similes to make your writing stronger and more engaging.

What’s a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.”  

On a sentence level, metaphors help readers understand complex ideas by equating them with something familiar — like equating the hurtful effect of words to a knife in the metaphor, “Her insult was a dagger to my heart.”

Metaphors can also be used more broadly as a symbol . For example, many artistic works serve as metaphors for a larger societal issue, like racism in the psychological horror film Get Out.   

Examples of metaphors

Check out the following examples to see metaphors in action:  

“Baby, you're a firework / Come on, let your colors burst.” — “Firework” by Katy Perry

Explanation : By directly comparing the listener to a firework, Perry conveys that they display the same dazzling brilliance and awe-inspiring beauty. 

“A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” — Titanic  

Explanation : This quote uses emotional language to show that a woman’s feelings are oceanic: vast, mysterious, and containing more than what the surface suggests. 

What’s a simile?

A simile is a figure of speech that indirectly compares two unlike things using “like” or “as.” It’s also a type of metaphor. (However, although all similes are metaphors, not all metaphors are similes.)  

Additionally, similes can emphasize qualities by likening one thing to a common object that shares and embodies a specific characteristic. 

For instance, saying that “news of her marriage spread like wildfire” likens the quickness of traveling news to the swiftness of spreading fire. 

You can use similes to add color and texture to your descriptions of people or characters, places, and things. For example, you might say a hot-tempered individual is “as explosive as a firecracker” or that a city’s skyscrapers “towered over residents like glass giants.” 

Examples of similes

Here are a couple more examples of similes:

In fiction:

‍ “His smile was as stiff as a frozen fish.” — Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep

Explanation : Comparing the character’s smile to a frozen fish lets readers know that the character’s expression is rigid.

In advertising :

“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.” — State Farm commercial 

Explanation : This simile invites the audience to trust and depend on State Farm, an insurance company, like they do their neighbors. 

What’s the difference between a metaphor and simile? 

The main difference is that similes use “like” or “as” and metaphors don’t. 

However, not all sentences that use “like” or “as” are similes . You have to compare two things first. 

For example:

❌ “She ran for cover as the rain fell”

This doesn’t qualify as a simile because the sentence doesn’t use “as” to make a comparison. The use of “as” here indicates that two things happened simultaneously: the person ran, and the rain fell. 

✅ “She ran like the wind as the rain fell”

This sentence does make a comparison. It uses “like” to compare the person’s running to the wind — both being speedy.

Metaphors and similes also differ in function. 

People commonly use metaphors to make an abstract idea more concrete . Consider the phrase, “Your body is a temple.” It makes the idea that people should properly care for their bodies more understandable by comparing it to something people consider sacred.

Meanwhile, similes are more decorative . When used sparingly, they can elevate your descriptions and make your writing more engaging by drawing unique comparisons. For example, saying a ballerina “flitted across the stage like a fairy” enchants the reader more than simply saying the ballerina “danced across the stage.” 

Though they have differences, both metaphors and similes can enrich your writing and help you develop a distinct writing style . 

How to tell the difference between a metaphor and simile 

Read our tips below to help you distinguish between metaphors and similes.

Tip #1 - Study the structure 

Metaphors employ an “X is Y” structure, while similes follow an “X is like Y” or “X is as [adjective] as Y” pattern. 

In other words, metaphors say that one thing is something else, and similes say that one thing is like something else. 

To illustrate: 

Metaphor : Time is a thief. 

‍ Simile : Time is like a thief.

Tip #2 - Check for substitution 

Metaphors often substitute, or replace, one thing for another to show that those things are equivalent. Similes, however, use connecting words to suggest a similarity between two things. 

For example: 

Metaphor : The new grad’s life was a blank canvas . (Substitution)

In this example, the metaphor substitutes “the new grad’s life” for a “blank canvas” to show that they’re similar.

Now, let’s look at the same sentence rewritten as a simile: 

Simile : The new grad’s life was like a blank canvas. (No substitution) 

Without substitution, the simile indicates that the two objects are like each other, but they’re not an exact replacement for each other. 

Tip #3 - Look for explicit vs. implicit comparisons 

Similes draw a weaker connection between two different objects than metaphors, but their comparisons are often more explicit or obvious. Consider the following example: 

‍ Simile : Like a snake, the con artist slithered toward the unsuspecting tourist.

In this example, the simile explicitly likens the con artist to a snake. 

Metaphors, on the other hand, can be more implied. This means that metaphors sometimes make a comparison without directly stating it. That’s the case here:

Metaphor : The con artist slithered toward the unsuspecting tourist.

The metaphor doesn’t directly say the con artist is a snake. Instead, the metaphor suggests this through “slithered,” making readers think of snakes. 

When to use a metaphor vs. simile

Now that you know the differences between metaphors and similes, let’s discuss when to use them in your writing. 

You’ll want to use a metaphor if you’re aiming for either of three qualities:

• Strength . Metaphors make a stronger comparison because they equate one object with another. This allows you to compare things confidently instead of just noting their likeness. For example: “Grief is a thunderstorm — a rumble of anger mixed with a downpour of tears.”
• Scope . Metaphors can span many sentences or run the length of a book, film, or other work. You can use them as a unifying motif that connects various elements of your story or argument. For example, in a short story, you might use a building’s structure as a metaphor for a family’s dynamic: the foundation is their history, the floors are the different family members and roles, and the roof represents their shared values.
• Subtlety . Metaphors can also be more subtle and nuanced than similes because they hint at deeper ideas without stating them directly. Think about one of William Shakespeare’s famous lines: “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Comparing the world to a stage encourages the reader to see people as actors performing the roles they hold in their lives. 

Conversely, you should use a simile if you want to achieve either of two goals: 

• Efficiency. Similes occur at the sentence level, meaning they don’t go beyond a single sentence. This means you can get your point across quickly. For instance, say you want to make a quick, uncomplicated comparison between a baby and a blowfish. Similes would be great for this. You might write, “The baby’s cheeks were as big as a blowfish’s.” 
• Clarity. Because similes are straightforward, readers can more easily understand the comparison being made. For example, the simile “her eyes were as bright as stars” clearly outlines what’s being compared (her eyes and the stars) and the specific point of comparison (their shared brightness). 

When to avoid metaphors and similes

As a rule of thumb, avoid using metaphors and similes when they create confusion .

Let’s say you’re describing a character’s pounding heart, but you compare the sound to skittering insects — e.g., “The beating of his heart sounded like scurrying cockroaches.” This puzzles the reader because they expect a pounding heart to be compared to something else that beats loudly, like the sound of a drum.

Additionally, avoid metaphors and similes if they’re clichéd . For instance, saying that a nice person is “as sweet as a peach” doesn’t captivate the reader because the simile lacks originality.

Instead, practice creating original expressions by doing writing exercises such as crafting metaphor lists and responding to writing prompts.

AI tip : Wordtune’s Editor can help you rewrite your metaphors and similes to convey ideas more effectively.

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

Distinguishing between metaphors and similes can be challenging, but with this guide, you can spot the differences many people miss. 

Remember that metaphors directly compare two things, while similes use connecting words to indirectly compare two things. 

You can use a metaphor to clarify a complex idea or add subtlety to your comparison. Conversely, a simile is handy when you want to enhance your descriptions. Both can help readers better understand the idea you’re trying to convey, so try them out in your writing!

For more writing tips, check out our articles on the best writing books and how to master grammar and punctuation . 

What are similes and metaphors called?

Similes and metaphors are types of figurative language. They use words in creative, nonliteral ways to convey a meaning or message — specifically to compare two unlike things.

What’s the difference between a simile and an analogy?

A simile compares two things using “like" or “as”' to evoke an image or highlight a shared quality — e.g., “The teacher watched the students like a hawk.”  

Meanwhile, an analogy likens one thing to another to make a broader point. For example: “Life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what you’re gonna get.”

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Writers' Workshop

Jayne anne phillips wins 2024 pulitzer prize for fiction.

Written by Sara Epstein Moninger

University of Iowa alumna Jayne Anne Phillips has won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and three other Iowa Writers' Workshop graduates were named finalists for Pulitzer literary awards, which were announced May 6.

Phillips, who earned an MFA in 1978, was recognized for her novel Night Watch . The Pulitzer judges described the book as “a beautifully rendered novel set in West Virginia’s Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in the aftermath of the Civil War where a severely wounded Union veteran, a 12-year-old girl, and her mother, long abused by a Confederate soldier, struggle to heal.”

Yiyun Li, who graduated with a Master of Science in 2000 and two MFAs (fiction and nonfiction) in 2005, was a finalist in fiction for her book of short stories Wednesday’s Child . Li’s short stories and novels have won numerous awards, including the PEN/Hemingway Award for A Thousand Years of Good Prayers and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for The Book of Goose . She currently serves as director of Princeton University’s creative writing program.

Additionally, two alumnae were recognized as finalists for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry:

Jorie Graham, who graduated with an MFA in 1978 and won a Pulitzer in 1996 for The Dream of the Unified Field , was named a finalist for To 2040 . Graham, one of the most celebrated poets of her generation, is a former longtime faculty member in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Among her poetry collections are The End of Beauty , Place , and Sea Change . She currently is the Boylston Professor of Oratory and Rhetoric at Harvard University.

Robyn Schiff, who graduated with an MFA in 1999, was named a finalist for Information Desk: An Epic , a book-length poem in three parts set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Schiff, who has been a visiting faculty member in the UI Department of English, also is the author of Worth , Revolver , and A Woman of Property , which was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She teaches at the University of Chicago and co-edits Canarium Books.

Pulitzer Prizes are awarded annually to honor achievements in journalism, literature, and music. See the full list of 2024 Pulitzer winners .