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Guide

Metaphor examples: 30 easy ones explained

What a metaphor is, how it differs from a simile, and 30 metaphor examples from everyday life, school and video games, each with its meaning.

By Polarzinho ·

Polarzinho in front of a magic mirror where he appears as a strong, smiling bull

My stomach is a bottomless pit. Not literally, of course. But you understood right away that I eat a lot. That is a metaphor.

A metaphor describes something as if it were something else, without using "like" or "as". Here are 30 examples with their meanings.

Play Letter River Play Stop!

Everyday metaphors

  1. He is a bull (very strong)
  2. My room is a pigsty (very messy)
  3. Life is a roller coaster (full of ups and downs)
  4. Her eyes are stars (they shine)
  5. She has a heart of gold (very kind)
  6. The city is a jungle (busy and wild)
  7. Time is money (do not waste time)
  8. He is the black sheep of the family (different from the rest)
  9. It was a storm of ideas (many ideas at once)
  10. The sun is a ball of fire (very hot)
  11. My stomach is a bottomless pit (I eat a lot)
  12. He is a pain in the neck (very annoying)

At school and at home

  1. The teacher is a walking encyclopedia (knows a lot)
  2. The classroom was a zoo (very noisy)
  3. That test was a nightmare (very hard)
  4. Mom is my rock (she keeps me steady)
  5. My brother is a dictionary (knows every word)
  6. Homework is a mountain (there is so much)
  7. Recess is an oasis (a break)
  8. Grandma is an angel (very kind)
  9. School is our second home (we spend a lot of time there)

Metaphors in gaming

  1. That boss is a wall (very hard to beat)
  2. My team is a machine (plays perfectly)
  3. The map is a maze (confusing)
  4. My internet is a snail (slow)
  5. He is a beast at this game (plays very well)
  6. The lobby is a circus (chaotic)
  7. That level is a nightmare (very hard)
  8. My character is a tank (takes lots of damage)
  9. The match was a war (very close and intense)

Metaphor or simile?

  • Simile: uses "like" or "as". "Strong as a bull."
  • Metaphor: no "like" or "as". "He is a bull."

The blog also has a full post on figurative language, with similes, hyperbole, euphemism and more.

Practice by playing

In Stop!, the quick category game, every round is a race against the clock. (That is a metaphor too.)

Stop! home screen with the options to play with the crowd or create a room with friends

PolarzinhoIn Stop! I am lightning. Sometimes lightning that forgets the letter, but lightning.

Stop!: play with the crowd or create a room with friends.

And in Letter River, the clues play with the meaning of words.

Letter River letter board next to the list of clues, with a river and mountains behind

PolarzinhoThe otter in Letter River is a well of calm. Metaphor. Also true.

Letter River: the letter board and the clues beside it.

FAQ

What is a metaphor?

A figure of speech that describes something as if it were something else, without "like" or "as": "he is a bull".

What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?

A simile uses "like" or "as" (strong as a bull). A metaphor does not (he is a bull).

Is "time is money" a metaphor?

Yes. Time is not literally money, but the phrase says it is valuable.

Your turn

Write three metaphors about your school, your family and your favorite game.

Play Letter River Play Stop!