Identify similes and metaphors

key notes :

Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that compare two things that are not actually alike.

A simile compares two things by saying that one is like the other. Similes often use the words like and as.

• My sister runs like a cheetah.
• The sister’s running and a cheetah’s running are compared using the word like.
• A cheetah is known for running fast, so the simile means that the sister also runs fast.

• The cat’s fur was as dark as the night.
• The cat’s fur and the night are compared using the word as.
• The night is dark, so the simile means that the cat’s fur is also dark.

A metaphor compares two things by saying that one of them is the other. Unlike similes, metaphors don’t use the word like or as.

• The snow formed a blanket over the town.
• The snow and a blanket are compared without the word like or as.
• A blanket is a large piece of cloth that completely covers a bed. The metaphor makes the reader imagine that the snow becomes a blanket, covering the town completely.

Using similes and metaphors in your writing can help you create an interesting picture for the reader.

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