Simile

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in an interesting way. The object of a simile is to spark an interesting connection in a reader's or listener's mind. A simile is one of the most common forms of figurative language. Similes can be found just about anywhere from poems to song lyrics and even in everyday conversations. Similes and metaphors are often confused with one another. The main difference between a simile and metaphor is that a simile uses the words "like" or "as" to draw a comparison and a metaphor simply states the comparison without using "like" or "as". An example of a simile is: She is as innocent as an angel. An example of a metaphor is: She is an angel. Similes in Everyday Language Similes are used in literature to make writing more vivid and powerful. In everyday speech they can be used to convey meaning quickly and effectively, as many commonly used expressions are similes. For example, when someone says "He is as busy as a bee," it means he is working hard, as bees are known to be extremely busy. If someone says "I am as snug as a bug in a rug," they mean that they feel very comfortable and cozy or are tucked up tight in bed. Some other well-known similes you will often hear are: As cute as a kitten As happy as a clam As light as a feather As blind as a bat As bold as brass As bright as a button As shiny as a new pin As cold as ice As common as dirt As cool as a cucumber As hard as nails As hot as hell As innocent as a lamb As tall as a giraffe As tough as nails As white as a ghost As sweet as sugar As black as coal As with a lot of figurative language, when talking to someone from another region or who's not speaking in their native language they might not get the meaning of many similes. View & Download PDF Similes Add Depth to Language Similes can make our language more descriptive and enjoyable. Writers, poets, and songwriters make use of similes often to add depth and emphasize what they are trying to convey to the reader or listener. Similes can be funny, serious, mean, or creative. Following are some more examples of similes regularly used in writing: You were as brave as a lion. They fought like cats and dogs. He is as funny as a barrel of monkeys. This house is as clean as a whistle. He is as strong as an ox. Your explanation is as clear as mud. Watching the show was like watching grass grow. That is as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. This contract is as solid as the ground we stand on. That guy is as nutty as a fruitcake. Don't just sit there like a bump on a log. Well, that went over like a lead balloon. They are as different as night and day. She is as thin as a rake. Last night, I slept like a log. This dress is perfect because it fits like a glove. They wore jeans, which made me stand out like a sore thumb. My love for you is as deep as the ocean. I am so thirsty that my throat is as dry as a bone. Examples of similes can be seen in classic literature, such as in the poem "A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns: "O my Luve is like a red, red rose That's newly sprung in June; O my Luve is like the melodyThat's sweetly played in tune." Another example of a simile can be found in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo talks to Mercutio before the Capulets' party, he makes the following comparison about love: "Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn." Similes can often be found in song lyrics, as they let you convey deeper meaning with fewer words. For example: My heart is like an open highway. - "It's My Life," Bon Jovi It's been a hard days night, and I've been working like a dog. - "A Hard Day's Night," The Beatles And it seems to me you lived your life, Like a candle in the wind. - "Candle in the Wind," Elton John You're as cold as ice. - "Cold As Ice," Foreigner Steady as a preacher, Free as a weed - "American Honey," Lady Antebellum You can even find similes in popular ads and company slogans such as: Chevrolet: Built Like A Rock Doritos: Tastes Like Awesome Feels State Farm: Like A Good Neighbor Almond Joy / Mounds: Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. Honda: The Honda's ride is as smooth as a gazelle in the Sahara. It's comfort is like a hug from Nana.