METAPHORS AND

SIMILES
W H AT S T H E D I F F E R E N C E ?
Metaphors and similes both help the reader understand a subject by comparing
it to something else. But, they are different...

METAPHOR SIMILE
A comparison between two
A comparison between two things that are not alike and
things that are not alike and replaces the word with
replaces the word with
DEFINITION another word
another word. AND
uses the word like or as

To paint a picture
To paint a picture for the
reader
PURPOSE AND
give an example

QUICK
The subject is said to be The subject is as or like
another MEMORY another
TIP

She cried like a baby.

The toast jumped out of the
Life is like a box of
toaster.
chocolates.
Im so hungry I could eat a
horse.
EXAMPLES He was as busy as a bee.
She was snug as a bug in
I told you a million times to
a rug.
clean your room.
He was blind as a bat.