Being in the world of English dominance, you already know that similes and metaphor are the figures of speech and they are used to paint a particular picture in our mind.
You should not be surprised when you come across a fact that simile is actually a metaphor but a metaphor cannot be a simile.
What is the difference between Simile and Metaphors ?
Is it confusing? Are you confused between the two?
Well, then you must know that a simile is a type of metaphor, just like mango is a type of fruit. Both of these figures of speech are used to show a comparison of two items. The difference is in the wording that is used.
There is a simple trick to remember about simile is the work corresponds to ‘similar’ – ‘simile’. A simile used for the similar sounding words and when a comparison is made you use the word ‘as’ or ‘like’.
If you are talking about metaphor, then just like simile it is used to compare two things but the words ‘like’ and ‘as’ are not used. We bring you some simple explanation which will help you to understand both the concept.
In English grammar, a figure of speech is literary devices which fare those words or phrases which are not used in their basic senses. It is in order to make the writing more interesting, persuasive, vivid and rhetorical. If you consider the case of poetry then you might be aware that no poetry is ever complete without the use of a figure of speech.
A simile is a figure of speech that uses connecting words. In contrast, metaphor is a figure of speech where the words or phrases represent an object or idea that is used instead of showing the likeness between the two items. Simple said it will suggest the meaning by creating the image for the readers and simile will picture it by exemplifying it.
Simile : Meaning with Examples & Their Use in Sentences
In English, the figure of speech, simile refers to a group of words or a phrase that will describe something by making a comparison between the items which belong to different categories.It will be helpful in indicating the similarities between the two and also exaggerate the quality od something. Generally, as we stated above that simile is a type of metaphor which used to show the resemblance and compare things so that the readers do not have any difficulty in understanding.
- Maria danced like Michael Jackson, at the party.
- Her daughter is as beautiful as Angelina Jolie.
You must have observed that the simile is present only when there is a comparison between the objects that belong to a completely different class. However, when the objects are of the same class, then there is no simile, As you can see in the example below:
- Kashmir is like Switzerland.
- The pastry is like a small piece of cake.
Metaphor : Examples & Their Use in Sentences
If English Grammar, if you go by literary meaning then metaphor refers to the figure of speech that can be characterized to a person or object. This can be done by referring to someone or something possessing similar virtues with the person been described. A metaphor will help you to describe the person or object in such a manner that it will not exactly but will clarify the idea.
By using metaphor you are attempting to associate two objects by comparing or symbolizing them and not just because they are similar. These metaphors are figurative statements whose literal meaning cannot be expressed. But they can be used to indicate something distinct from their regular definition. For example, you can see that,
- Life is a battleground where you need to give your best.
- Tony is a mumma’s boy
- Mahana is a couch potato.
Conclusion:
So now you know the difference between the two. Make wise use of both simile and metaphor and avoid small English Mistakes.