What is a metaphor?
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Start free in the Edit studio- A metaphor states one thing is another.
- It creates meaning through implied comparison.
- It differs from a simile, which uses "like" or "as".
- Fresh metaphors illuminate; dead ones become clichés.
- Extended metaphors develop a comparison over a passage.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another, creating meaning through implied (not literal) comparison — "time is a thief," "the world is a stage." Unlike a simile, it does not use "like" or "as"; it asserts the equivalence directly. Metaphors illuminate by mapping the qualities of one thing onto another, and can be extended across a passage. Fresh metaphors deepen meaning; overused ones become dead metaphors or clichés.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Metaphor is one of the most powerful tools in writing, compressing meaning and creating vivid, resonant images. Understanding it — and the difference from simile — helps writers use figurative language deliberately and recognize when a metaphor is fresh versus clichéd. Strong, original metaphors are a hallmark of memorable prose, while tired ones flatten it, making metaphor a core skill in developing a distinctive, evocative style.
Chapter ii·What to include
- One thing described as another.
- Implied comparison without "like" or "as".
- The contrast with simile.
- Fresh metaphors that illuminate.
- Dead metaphors and clichés to avoid.
- Extended metaphors over a passage.
Chapter iii·Example
A writer describes grief as "a country with no maps" — a metaphor that asserts the equivalence directly and illuminates how disorienting loss feels. It does more than a plain statement could, mapping the qualities of an uncharted land onto the experience of grief. Fresh and specific, it deepens the prose.
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Chapter iv·Related questions