Last Updated on September 29, 2021
Like Simile, most of us have used Metaphor in our everyday conversations. Consciously or not, it is one of the most commonly used figures of speech that is now entering our everyday vocabulary. Knowing the various Metaphors can be helpful, especially for aspirants of competitive examinations like IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, etc.
To help you understand what this literary device is and how it is used, this article provides detailed guidance on definitions and examples of Metaphor, and how it can be used in a sentence.
Table of Contents
Meaning of Metaphor
A metaphor is a word or phrase that is used to make a comparison between two things. They come under the branch of figures of speech in literature and poetry. Metaphors create a beautiful blend between concepts, to form comparisons between a particular behaviour, concept or a feeling with something impractical or unrelated to it.
100 Examples of Metaphor
Examples of Metaphors for Love
- Love is a nutrient
- Love is a journey
- Love is a fluid in a container
- Love is fire
- Love is an economic exchange
- Love is a natural force
- Love is a physical force
- Love is a captive animal
- Love is war
- Love is a social superior
- Love is rapture
- Love is a thrill ride
- Love is a fine wine
- Love is a garden
- Love is a battlefield
- Love is an experiment
- Love is a fragile flower opening to the warmth of spring
- Love is a lemon – either bitter or sweet
Examples of Metaphor from Famous People
- “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
- “Conscience is a man’s compass.” – Vincent Van Gogh
- “Chaos is a friend of mine.” – Bob Dylan
- “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” – Albert Einstein
Metaphor Examples for Kids
In the initial years of our lives, our brain grasps concepts much faster than adults. teaching metaphors through creative examples can help children develop unique perspectives and understanding about concepts, ideas, and materials. If you want to teach the concept of metaphors to kids, you can use various creative metaphors that children can easily remember. Here are the best metaphor examples for kids.
- Heart of stone: Cruel or stern nature
My teacher has a heart of stone. - The Zoo metaphor: Crowded and noisy
The classroom turns into a zoo during recess. - A might lion: Huge, powerful
The thunder at night was a mighty lion. - Apple of my eye: Someone you are fond of or cherish above others
You are the apple of my eye. - Sunshine metaphor: Happy, warm people or something radiating happiness or warmth
His smile is my sunshine. - White blanket: Snow compared to a blanket as it covers everything
The snow is a white blanket. - Melting pot: Different cultures coming together
Canada is a melting pot of cultures. - Music of my ears: Exactly what you want to hear
His voice is music to my ears. - Hard work is the key to success: Hardwork is what you need to achieve success
You must always remember that hard work is the key to success. - Walking Encyclopedia: Very knowledgeable about everything
Joey is a walking encyclopedia. - Time is money: The value of time is as important as money itself.
Time is money, my friend! - Tall tree: Taller in height like a giant
He is a tall tree. - A computer brain: Very good at calculations
Karen’s brain is a computer. - Laughter is the best medicine.: Laughing keeps you healthy
Every doctor must know that laughter is the best medicine. - Mirror: Reflective and clear like glass
The serene lake was a mirror. - Stars as little pearls: White pearls are like a metaphor for stars
The stars are twinkling little pearls. - Life is a dance: Dance as a metaphor for life
Life is a dance, so let your feet up! - An angel: Someone nice and kind
She helped me with my homework, she is an angel! - Disaster: A mess
My sister’s room is a disaster! - Clouded: Confused, not clear about something
My memory is a little clouded about yesterday.
Common Metaphors of Life
We often say many metaphors in our everyday life and routine without even realising that we are using them. Here are the most common metaphors used in everyday life:
- Life is a raceand we never realise that we are running towards nothing!
- He is the light of my life.
- For this whole year, this room has become my prison.
- Love is a fine wine!
- My heart’s a stereoand it beats for you!
- She is happy as a clam.
- My mind becomes an ocean with calm waveswhen I meditate.
- Yesterday was a roller-coaster!
- She was fit as a fiddle!
- Doesn’t matter, he is an old flame!
Metaphors Examples in Poems
Many famous poets have used metaphors in their poems as it enhances the meaning of the poem. Here are some of the best poems that used metaphors:
- “All the world is a stage
All men and women merely players”- As you Like It by William Shakespeare - “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,”
“And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler”
“I took the one less traveled by”- Road Not Taken by Robert Frost - “’Hope’ is the thing with feathers”
“. . . That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words,”- Hope by Emily Dickinson
Common Metaphors Examples in Literature
Metaphors are used by authors, writers, speakers, and poets as interesting devices. They used such metaphors to emphasize an event, situation, or a sensitive matter by using a much stronger concept fit for comparison.
Here are the most common metaphors in Literature:
- “Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice.” – Robert Frost
- “Hold fast to dreams, For when dreams go
- Life is a barren field, Frozen with snow.” – Langston Hughes
- “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day.” William Shakespeare
- “Hope is the thing with feathers.” – Emily Dickinson
- “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
- “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
- “Love is a battlefield.” – Pat Benatar
- “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – William Shakespeare
- “Each friend represents a world in us.”– Anais Nin
- “If wits were pins, the man would be a veritable hedgehog.” ―Fly by Night, Frances Hardinge
Common Metaphors Examples with Meanings
- The wind screamed in his face while he was riding the bike.
Meaning: The wind is compared with a scream to emphasize on how furiously it blew. - Go for a walk or you’ll become a couch potato.
Meaning: Here, the person is told that he/she will turn fat and bulgy like a potato if they avoid exercising. - Her heart of stone was the result of the previous unfortunate events in her life.
Meaning: In this sentence, the heart is symbolised by a stone, emphasizing on the lack of empathy she developed. - Her mom warned her about the monsters in the world.
Meaning: The denotation of the bad, wicked people is made by monsters. - He was a diamond among the sea of glass.
Meaning: The man (diamond) is said to be unique like a diamond among other ordinary men (sea of glass). - You’re sitting on a winning lottery.
Meaning: The term winning lottery is used to emphasize on a golden opportunity. - She started with a new chapter by choosing him.
Meaning: A major new phase in the girl’s life is denoted by a new chapter which is void of the unnecessary past associations. - He was a cheetah in the race.
Meaning: The runner’s speed is being attributed to the speed of a cheetah. - You’ll be left in the dust.
Meaning: Here leaving one in the dust, implies being left far behind. - The professor was a guiding light for him.
Meaning: The professor is compared with light, so as to help him pave his way easily. - The curtains of life fell.
Meaning: The phrase ‘curtains of life’ are compared to that of a show which has fallen denoting that the person’s life is over. - Life is a maze.
Meaning: Life is being said to have its own navigation as you move ahead with surprises at every turn. - There’s a rat among us.
Meaning: Rats are said to be sneaky animals and are associated with betrayal. - Her heart sank on hearing the terrible news.
Meaning: The sinking of the heart is termed to emphasise on deep sorrow. - Laughter is the best medicine.
Meaning: Laughter is compared with medicine so as to help you heal or recover from an event. - India’s culture is a salad bowl.
Meaning: Salad bowl is a common cultural idea to reflect India’s multiple cultures, yet having their own individual identities. - His heart was made of gold.
Meaning: Here, gold is used to indicate abundance and generosity. - She was drowning in grief.
Meaning: Drowning is used to emphasize the amount of sorrow or problems in a person’s life. - The mind is an ocean.
Meaning: The mind is attributed to its endless capacity and also to characterize calmness. - Her heart melts when she sees him.
Meaning: The melting of the heart means to be sympathetic and compassionate. - Your words cut deeper than a knife.
Meaning: The phrase is used to emphasize the intensity of a certain hurtful speech - You’re a firework.
Meaning: The word firework is used to characterize ample potential and to make the best out of your talents. - She’s a walking dictionary.
Meaning: Walking dictionary implies knowledge or facts known to the person. - She’s the man of the house.
Meaning: The word ‘man’ is used to draw a parallel with being the responsible person or the bread earner of the house. - His fear became his prison.
Meaning: Prison here is used to denote the walls created by the person due to their fears. - The news of the accident was a dagger in her heart.
Meaning: The word dagger is used to emphasise the depth of the agony suffered. - The world is your oyster.
Meaning: The world is said to hold endless opportunities for you to explore and find your pearl. - She was an angel in disguise.
Meaning: The word angel is used to draw a parallel with the altruistic nature of the person. - He has got the eye of the tiger.
Meaning: The eye of the tiger reflects the intensity of focus and strength of a person. - She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Meaning: The term silver spoon is used to highlight privilege. - His anger was a wildfire waiting to ignite.
Meaning: The wildfire is used to denote the characteristic of extreme enrage. - He’s the diamond in the rough.
Meaning: The above sentence shows that the boy is unpolished but has potential and talent. - The stormy ocean was a raging bull.
Meaning: The ocean is being compared to a raging bull which highlights the danger. - Teachers mold their students for their future.
Meaning: The word Mould is used to draw a parallel with the development and growth of the student
Difference Between Simile and Metaphor
Inarguably, the most common comparisons and mistakes people tend to make are between similes and metaphors. Similes are explicit comparisons, e.g. He ran like a cheetah. A metaphorical sentence for the same would be: He was a cheetah in the race. Similes are cognitively more complicated because it includes the addition of cognizing the two objects. Similes include the words ‘as’ and ‘like’ to draw a comparison between two terms. Metaphors instantly help the reader/listener to apply all attributes of the particular concept to another one.
Hope you found this information interesting and helpful. Please feel free to share this with your friends and colleagues.
You can do that by using the social media sharing buttons below. Please don’t fail to let us know how you feel about this guide using the comment box below.