There are lots of figures of speech in the English language to know about, not least of which are similes. There’s a good chance you’ve heard the word ‘metaphor’ before, but the word simile is less well known, despite conveying something very similar, and also something simpler.
A simile is much like a metaphor. Funnily enough, the phrase ‘a simile is much like a metaphor’ is itself a simile. Don’t worry if you’re confused by that – all will be explained shortly.
In this article you’ll learn all about similes and how they compare to metaphors. We also have a brief list of examples for you, and special sections on examples of similes in English literature, and examples of songs featuring similes in the lyrics.
We’ll also explore best practices in using similes in your writing, including using similes in exaggeration, before rounding up with a handy FAQ section at the end, by which point you can be sure to feel like an expert on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it.
What is a simile?
A simile is a figure of speech in the English language, where a) two things are being compared, and b) it features either the word ‘as’ or the word ‘like’.
Examples of similes include:
- As blue as the sky
- Slow like a sloth
(More examples of similes to follow shortly.)
Simile vs. metaphor
Similes are very similar to metaphors, because both similes and metaphors are figures of speech in the English language that compare two things.
That said however, similes are distinct from metaphors in that similes always feature either the word ‘as’ or the word ‘like’, whereas metaphors do not feature these words.
Similes are typically easy for anyone to understand, while metaphors tend to be seen as a more sophisticated figure of speech.
Let’s take a look at a quick example. ‘Her hair was as soft as a cloud’ is an example of a simile because it uses the word ‘as’. But you can also say the same thing as a metaphor if you change the words. The very similar phrase ‘her hair was soft and cloud-like’ says pretty much the same thing but this time round is a metaphor and not a simile.
10 examples of similes
Here follows one of the longest list of similes you’re likely to find:
- As busy as a bee
- As clean as a whistle
- As cheap as chips
- As old as the hills
- As proud as a peacock
- As dry as a bone
- Works like a charm
- Like two peas in a pod
- Like a moth to a flame
- As good as gold
7 examples of similes in classic English literature
- He had a broad face and a little round belly That shook, when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly
A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
- I wandered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high o’er vales and hills. That’s pretty lonely.
Daffodils by William Wordsworth
- The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key.
Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
- His virtues / Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against, The deep damnation of his taking-off
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
- Old Marley was as dead as a doornail
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
- Your profusion makes me save; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will be as light as a feather.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
7 examples of songs featuring similes in the lyrics
- “Like a Rolling Stone”
Writer: Bob Dylan
Simile: “How does it feel, to be on your own, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone?”
Release Date: 1965
- “Like a Prayer”
Writers: Madonna and Patrick Leonard
Simile: “When you call my name, it’s like a little prayer.”
Release Date: 1989
- “Shine Bright Like a Diamond”
Writers: Sia Furler, Benjamin Levin, and Mikkel S. Eriksen
Simile: “Shine bright like a diamond.”
Release Date: 2012
- “Love is Like Oxygen”
Writers: Andy Scott and Trevor Griffin
Simile: “Love is like oxygen. You get too much, you get too high. Not enough and you’re gonna die.”
Release Date: 1978
- “Sweet Like Chocolate”
Writers: Shanks & Bigfoot
Simile: “You’re sweet like chocolate, boy.”
Release Date: 1999
- “Like a Star”
Writer: Corinne Bailey Rae
Simile: “Just like a star across my sky.”
Release Date: 2005
- “I’m Like a Bird”
Writer: Nelly Furtado
Simile: “I’m like a bird, I’ll only fly away.”
Release Date: 2000
5 similes about similes
- A simile is like a bridge, connecting two worlds of thought.
- A simile is like a key, unlocking the door to deeper understanding
- A simile is like a mirror, reflecting an image in a new light.
- Using a simile is like painting with a vivid brushstroke, bringing the abstract to life.
- A simile is as sharp as a razor, cutting through confusion with clarity.
Best practices in using similes
Similes can be used anywhere and everywhere. In prose, in poetry, in stories, in song lyrics, and of course, in everyday conversation as well. Sometimes, you can even use similes in professional settings.
Similes can be used to turn run of the mill phrases into ones that feel alive with their vividness. For instance, consider the phrase ‘She walked across the room with purpose’ with the phrase ‘She walked across the room like a warship sailing into battle’. You can see which phrase makes the most riveting line, right?
Similies can paint a picture by directly comparing one thing with another, so the recipient can picture or imagine exactly what you mean with different features of the subject stressed for maximum effect.
Take the previous example for instance. The simile ‘like a warship sailing into battle’ brings to mind the image of a woman on the warpath, readying and steadying herself for battle, serious and determined, allowing nothing to stand in her way.
There are some who feel metaphors are a more sophisticated way of comparing two things, but similes have their own magic too, in their simplicity and their brevity. They make for great little clips of speech that are often a delight to read peppered into a lengthy monologue or passage of writing.
If you wanted to write about something using a simile or two, simply compare the subject with something else, drawing out what it is you want to highlight. This could be the colour, the texture, the shape, the smell, the tone of voice, and so on.
The key thing to remember when using your own similes, is that it should get your point across as clearly as possible. This means that it doesn’t have to be completely original, just appropriate. And remember, similes always feature the words ‘as’ or ‘like’. Any comparison that does not feature these words is more likely to be either a metaphor or an example of personification,
Similes and exaggeration
Sometimes, but not all the time, people often like to use smiles when they exaggerate. Exaggerated phrases are referred to as hyperboles, and are described as hyperbolic. Not all hyperboles are similes and not all similes are hyperboles, but there are times when a phrase is both a simile and a hyperbole, for example, when someone says something is ‘as hot as the sun’.
FAQ
What is the requirement for a simile?
For a figure of speech to be considered a simile, it has to a) compare two things with each other, AND b) feature either the word ‘as’ or the word ‘like’.
If you see a figure of speech that compares two things with each other, but does NOT use the words ‘as’ or ‘like’, then it is not a simile, and is more likely to be a metaphor or personification.
How are similes effective?
Similes, and other comparisons are handy in speech and writing because they often help to provide a better picture or image of something, highlighting certain aspects of it, to make the image more vivid.
What makes a strong simile?
A strong simile is able to draw out an emotion or experience for the audience, because it can provide a memorable comparison. For example, ‘smells like rotten eggs’, or ‘his temper was as explosive as a volcano’
Final word
So, to summarise, a simile is a figure of speech whereby two things are compared using either the word ‘as’ or the word ‘like’. Similes are distinct from metaphors because metaphors don’t use the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.
Similes are great for painting a more vivid picture of something, especially when they are also hyperboles. They can be used in all kinds of settings and situations, including articles, creative writing, speeches, everyday conversation, and more.
If any of the similes given in the examples have piqued your curiosity, you can go ahead and click on the links to find out about their meaning and origin. Moreover, we also have a much longer list of examples of similes for you to check out.