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Similes and Metaphors

In one line: A simile compares two different things using 'like' or 'as' (she ran like the wind), while a metaphor says one thing IS another (she was a rocket).

Why it works

Similes and metaphors are types of figurative language, which means words used to create a picture in the reader's mind rather than to be taken literally (exactly as written). Spotting them helps you understand what writers really mean in stories and poems. Using them makes your own writing more vivid, because 'the dog was huge' tells us less than 'the dog was as big as a sofa'.

Think of it like: A simile is like holding two photos side by side and saying, 'Look how alike these are!' You can still see they are two separate pictures. A metaphor is like sticking one photo right on top of the other, so the first thing becomes the second. 'The moon is like a silver coin' keeps them side by side; 'The moon is a silver coin' blends them together. (Where this breaks: The photo idea only works when the two things are truly different kinds of things. 'Tom is as tall as his dad' puts two people side by side, but it is a plain, literal fact, not a simile, because people are being compared with people. Also, not every 'like' is a comparison at all: 'I like apples' just means you enjoy them.)

Worked example

Decide whether each sentence is a simile or a metaphor, and explain what it means: (a) 'The classroom was as noisy as a zoo.' (b) 'The classroom was a zoo.'

  1. Find the two things being compared in each sentence: the classroom and a zoo.
  2. Check they are different kinds of things: a classroom is not really a zoo, so this is figurative, not literal.
  3. Look for 'like' or 'as' in sentence (a): it says 'as noisy as', so (a) is a simile.
  4. Sentence (b) has no 'like' or 'as' and says the classroom WAS a zoo, so (b) is a metaphor.
  5. Work out the meaning: zoos are loud and wild, so both sentences mean the classroom was very noisy and out of control.

Answer: (a) is a simile and (b) is a metaphor; both mean the classroom was loud and chaotic, like a zoo full of animals.

Common mistakes

  • Calling every sentence with 'like' a simile, such as 'I like pizza'; fix it by checking that two different things are actually being compared.
  • Thinking 'as tall as his brother' is a simile; fix it by remembering that comparing two things of the same kind is a literal comparison, not a simile.
  • Believing a metaphor is a lie or a mistake because it is not literally true; fix it by asking what picture or feeling the writer wants you to get.
  • Thinking a metaphor must use the word 'is'; fix it by remembering metaphors can hide in other words, like 'the wind howled its anger' or 'a sea of faces'.

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Which sentence is a simile?

Questions parents ask

What year do kids learn similes and metaphors?

Children usually meet similes first, around Year 3–4 in the UK and Australia (Grades 2–3 in the US). Metaphors are typically taught and used more confidently in Year 5–6 (Grades 4–5), and children keep building on both into secondary school.

How can I help my child with similes and metaphors at home?

Play a quick game: name an object and take turns finishing 'as ___ as a ___' or 'it was a ___'. When reading together, pause to spot comparisons and ask, 'What does the writer want us to picture?'

What is the easiest way to tell a simile from a metaphor?

Ask whether the sentence says one thing is LIKE or AS another (simile) or says it simply IS the other thing (metaphor). Then double-check that two different kinds of things are being compared, otherwise it may just be a literal statement.

Is personification the same as a metaphor?

Not quite. Personification gives human actions or feelings to something that is not human, such as 'the trees whispered'. It is closely related to metaphor, and some sentences can be both, but teachers usually expect children to name personification separately.