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Before we get to the big list of metaphor examples, it’s useful to know there are different ways of writing metaphors. Metaphor VS. Simile. Metaphor is the big idea behind the comparison between two different objects. However, in English, we use two different words to describe different instances of the rhetorical device known as a metaphor.
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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 te...
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 ideaor 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...
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...
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 i...
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. Fil...
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...
- The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword. Meaning: This metaphor suggests that the power of words and ideas is stronger and more influential than physical force or violence.
- A Blank Canvas. Meaning: This metaphor likens a blank piece of paper or a blank screen to a blank canvas, suggesting that the writer has the opportunity to create something new and original.
- A Tapestry of Words. Meaning: This metaphor compares writing to the creation of a tapestry, with words and ideas being woven together to create a cohesive and intricate whole.
- A Symphony of Language. Meaning: This metaphor compares writing to the creation of music, with words and ideas coming together to form a harmonious and pleasing composition.
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.
- “The world is a stage.” This metaphor suggests that life is a performance and we are all actors on the stage of the world.
- “Time is money.” This metaphor equates the value of time with the value of money, implying that time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted.
- “He is a snake in the grass.” This metaphor describes someone who is sneaky and untrustworthy, likening them to a snake hiding in the grass.
- “She has a heart of gold.” This metaphor describes someone who is kind and generous, likening their heart to the precious metal gold.
Oct 4, 2024 · Don’t overuse metaphors. Opt for simple metaphors (or sprinkle a few well-placed metaphors for the sake of clarity or persuasion). Too many will weigh your post down and start to sound messy. Don’t force metaphors into your writing. It’s like overusing adjectives or flowery words. Readers will spot them a mile away.
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While metaphors are commonly used and studied in poetry, such as the works of the greats like Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson, you can also find examples of metaphors in prose writing, songs, and movies. Here are some classic metaphor examples to get you thinking about how to use this figure of speech in your writing.
