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Metaphor Examples for Kids

4th grade5th grade6th grade7th grade8th gradeElementary SchoolMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolInfographics

A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike
but do have something in common. Unlike a simile, where two things are compared directly using like or
as, a metaphor's comparison is more indirect, usually made by stating something is something else. A
metaphor is very expressive; it is not meant to be taken literally. You may have to work a little to find the
meaning in a metaphor.

For example, a river and tears aren't very alike. One is a body of water in nature, while the other can be
produced by our eyes. They do have one thing in common, though: both are a type of water that flows. A
metaphor uses this similarity to help the writer make a point:

Her tears were a river flowing down her cheeks.

As a river is so much larger than a few tears, the metaphor is a creative way of saying that the person is
crying a lot. There are so many tears that they remind the writer of a river. Metaphors help writers and
poets make a point in a more interesting way. They also help the reader see something from a new
perspective. By describing tears as a river, for example, the writer found a creative way to describe how
great the girl's sadness was and helped the reader see a similarity between tears and a river that they
might not have noticed before. This makes reading more fun and interesting.

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The Difference Between Similes and Metaphors

Similes are another way to compare two different things, but a simile does so more directly, using the
words like or as. For example:

Her tears flowed like a river down her cheeks.

In this case, the simile tells the reader that the tears are similar to a river, but not the same. A metaphor,
on the other hand, says that something is something else; that is, the girl's tears are equal to a river. A
metaphor is not exactly true. It's meant to be understood as a figure of speech, not a factual statement.

Implied Metaphors

While simple metaphors make a direct comparison between two things, saying that one thing is the
other, not all metaphors are as easy to understand. Implied metaphors don't directly state one of the
objects being compared. Instead, they describe one item with the words you would typically use to
describe another. For example:

The girl stalked her brother before finally pouncing on her prey.

In this case, the girl is being described as something else, but what is it? The word stalked and the phrase
pouncing on her prey give a clue. These words are often used to describe predatory animals, such as a
tiger or lion. By describing the girl this way, the writer is making an implied comparison that the girl is
like a big cat, without actually coming out and saying it. Implied metaphors can be difficult to figure out
when you're first learning about them since they have to trust their imaginations to understand what the
comparison is about. This is a skill that can be learned over time, but it's best for most kids to start with
direct metaphors for practice.

Kid-Friendly Metaphors

Now that you understand how metaphors work, take a look at this list of simple metaphor examples for
kids, that are perfect for showing this type of figure of speech. Look for the comparison being made. And
watch the video below the list to learn more about metaphors.

Animal Metaphors

The classroom was a zoo.

The alligator's teeth are white daggers.

She is a peacock.

My teacher is a dragon.

Mary's eyes were fireflies.

The computers at school are old dinosaurs.

He is a night owl.

Maria is a chicken.

The wind was a howling wolf.

The ballerina was a swan, gliding across the stage.

Jamal was a pig at dinner.

The kids were monkeys on the jungle gym.

My dad is a road hog.

The stormy ocean was a raging bull.

The thunder was a mighty lion.

Nature Metaphors

The snow is a white blanket.

He is a shining star.

Her long hair was a flowing golden river.

Tom's eyes were ice as he stared at her.

The children were flowers grown in concrete gardens.

Kisses are the flowers of affection.

The falling snowflakes are dancers.

The calm lake was a mirror.

You are my sunshine.

The moon is a white balloon.

Her tears were a river flowing down her cheeks.

The road ahead was a ribbon stretching across the desert.

Donations to the charity were a tsunami.

The park was a lake after the rain.

The sun is a golden ball.

The clouds are balls of cotton.

The lightning was fireworks in the sky.

That lawn is a green carpet.

The stars are sparkling diamonds.

Ben's temper was a volcano, ready to explode.

Those best friends are two peas in a pod.

Everyday Metaphors

John's suggestion was just a Band-Aid for the problem.

The cast on his broken leg was a plaster shackle.

Laughter is the music of the soul.

America is a melting pot.

Her lovely voice was music to his ears.

The world is a stage.

My kid's room is a disaster area.

Life is a rollercoaster.

Their home was a prison.

His heart is a cold iron.

At five o'clock, the interstate is always a parking lot.

Books are the keys to your imagination.

Her angry words were bullets to him.

Your brain is a computer.

The car was a furnace in the sun.

Thank you so much, you are an angel.

My baseball coach is an ogre.

He is a walking dictionary.

My big brother is a couch potato.

The teenager's stomach was a bottomless pit.

I am so excited. My pulse is a race car.

Toddlers are rug rats.

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An Intriguing Comparison

These examples of direct metaphors will help children understand that metaphors make writing more
fun and interesting, and can bring a subject alive for a reader. Now that you know some good metaphor
examples for kids take a look at these other useful Metaphor Examples to see how metaphors can
become more complex. Don't forget to download our handy PDF explaining the differences between
metaphors and similes.

See similar articles

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp

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<a href="https://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples-for-kids.html">Metaphor Examples
for Kids</a>

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MLA Style"Metaphor Examples for Kids." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019.
<http://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples-for-kids.html>.APA StyleMetaphor Examples
for Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from http://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples-
for-kids.html

Do you have a good example to share? Add your example here.

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Metaphor Examples

5th grade7th grade8th grade9th grade10th grade11th grade12th gradeElementary SchoolMiddle

SchoolHigh SchoolCollegeInfographics

What is a metaphor? Simply put, a metaphor is a figure of speech containing an implied comparison.
With metaphors, words or phrases that are ordinarily applied to one thing are applied to something you
wouldn't necessarily pair it with. Here's a metaphor example: "The curtain of night fell upon us." In this
metaphor, the evening did not develop into a velvet curtain. Rather, simple words are being used to
paint a colorful picture. Now, we know it is nighttime, but it's been written in a manner that alludes to
how quickly night arrived with the kind of darkness that comes from closing a thick curtain.

Metaphors are members of the figurative language family, which also include elements like similes,
onomatopoeias, and personification. Let's take a closer look at this prominent branch of the figurative
language family tree.

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Types of Metaphors

Just as there are many ways to paint metaphorical pictures, there are many different types of metaphors.
Let's take a look at some of the most popular forms:

Absolute Metaphors - These metaphors compare two things that have no obvious connection, in order
to make a striking point. For example, "She is doing a tightrope walk with her grades this semester."

Dead Metaphors - Like clichés, these metaphors have lost their punch through over-usage. For example,
"You light up my life."

Extended Metaphors - These are exactly as they sound. They're lengthy metaphors that are intended to
create deep comparisons, as in this classic example from Romeo and Juliet: "But soft! What light through
yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who
is already sick and pale with grief."

Implied Metaphors - These metaphors compare two things without using specific terms. For example,
"Spending too much time with him is worse than swimming in a sea of sharks."

Mixed Metaphors - These metaphors jumble comparisons together, often without any logic. For
example, "In the heat of the moment, she turned to ice and danced to the beat of her own drum."

Root Metaphors - These metaphors are so rooted in everyday language and assumptions, we hardly even
recognize them as metaphors. You could liken them to dead metaphors or clichés, due to their over
usage. For example, "Life is a journey."

Illustrated Comparisons

Metaphors are illustrations that make a strong point by comparing two things you wouldn't necessarily
pair together. Remember our curtain of night? Didn't that give the impression of a very dark night? Isn't
that more exciting than, "It got dark outside." Ready to have some fun? Here are 20 metaphor examples:

"I'm drowning in a sea of grief."

Here grief is so overwhelming that the person feels helpless, like they're being pulled underwater.

"She was fishing for compliments."

The woman isn't literally casting a lure to hook compliments out of the ocean. Rather, it's a dead
metaphor used to signify a desire for accolades.

"Success is a sense of achievement; it is not an illegitimate child."

This saying reinforces the belief that everyone wants to take credit for success, but no one wants to take
responsibility for their failings.

"He broke my heart."

Your heart isn't literally broken; you're just feeling hurt and sad.

"You light up my life."

Of course, no one can provide physical light. This expression is simply saying that someone brings them
joy.

"It's raining men."

Hallelujah! No, men don't literally pour from the sky. This simply indicates that a lucky lady has a lot of
male suitors.

"Time is a thief."
Fortunately, time doesn't put on a ski mask and lurk around dark corners. This metaphor illustrates the
point that time seems to pass quickly and our lives flash by.

"He is the apple of my eye."

There is, of course, no apple in someone's eye. The apple is someone held dear.

"She has such a bubbly personality."

No one's personality can bubble up like a glass of champagne. This metaphor is used to signify someone
who's especially cheerful.

"I'm feeling blue."

Until we become like the little girl in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, none of us are likely to turn as
blue as a blueberry. This metaphor means someone is sad.

"I think he's about to fade off to sleep."

Fortunately, none of us fade into thin air when we fall asleep. This expression simply means that
someone has drifted into a state of slumber.

"He really flared up my temper."

When someone flares up your temper, flames don't spew out of your body, you're just deeply angry.

"He reeks of infidelity."

When this is said about a cheating partner, it doesn't mean there's an actual odor. This metaphor is
saying it's obvious the person is a liar and a cheat.

"She's going through a rollercoaster of emotions."

Our emotions can't take a ride on a rollercoaster. This metaphor simply means the person's going
through a lot of different moods.

"I feel the stench of failure coming on."

Failure isn't fun but it doesn't smell. So, when this metaphor is used, it means one of life's
disappointments is on the way.

"This is the icing on the cake."

While cake is always welcome, cake with icing is even better. This means something wonderful has
happened on the heels of a happy day.

"Hope is on the horizon."

Hope is an intangible thing that doesn't bob along the horizon. This metaphor indicates good things are
in one's future.

"Life contains nothing but clear skies up ahead."

This metaphor refers to a life devoid of disaster and heartache.

"His words cut deeper than a knife."

Words don't materialize into sharp objects. In this metaphor, someone has said something hurtful to
another.

"The moonlight sparkled brighter than a gypsy."

The moonlight didn't transform into a colorful gypsy. Rather, it lit up the night with sparkling radiance.

Purpose of Metaphors

Do you see how metaphors tend to pair the intangible with the literal? When used properly, metaphors
create strong images and leave lasting impressions: "He was sad" is so bland compared to "He was
drowning in a sea of grief." Likewise, metaphors allow us to have a greater impact on the readers. With
them, we can convey a thought more forcefully than with an ordinary statement. And, even though
metaphors are exaggerations, they're only exaggerated to paint a vivid picture or make a profound
statement.

Related articles on YourDictionary

Examples of Hyperbole

Examples of Similes

Examples of Figurative Language

More articles

Metaphors lend themselves particularly well to poetry because they have the ability to paint pictures in
the reader's mind. You can see this clearly in YouDictionary's Examples of Metaphors in Poems article. To
teach younger children the joys of writing, check out our Metaphor Examples for Kids. We hope they'll
go on to enjoy a happy friendship with these colorful facets of the English language.

See similar articles

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp

Link/Cite

Link to this page

<a href="https://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples.html">Metaphor Examples</a>

Cite this page

MLA Style"Metaphor Examples." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 July 2019.

<https://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples.html>.APA StyleMetaphor Examples. (n.d.).
Retrieved July 14th, 2019, from https://examples.yourdictionary.com/metaphor-examples.htmlDo you
have a good example to share? Add your example here.

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