What Is a Simile? Definition & Examples Of This Writing Technique

A simile is simply a figurative figure of speech that directly compares two different things.

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different items. It can be used to compare the looks or qualities of these two things.

But it’s most often used to convey an emotion. You might have heard a professional football player say “We were playing like we had sand in our shoes.”

What Is A Simile?

A simile is a comparison that uses the words “like” or “as” to make one thing seem like another.

It is often used for comparisons of two things that are very different, such as comparing an apple to a mountain.

Similes are comparisons that include the words “like,” “as,” or “than.” They’re often used to make descriptions more vivid.

In this article, we’ll explore some examples of similes and show you how they can be used in your writing to add depth and clarity.

Examples Of Similes Using ‘Like’

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse?”

Or maybe it was “The weather is like hot soup on a cold day”?

In this article, we explore the meaning of similes and how they can help make your writing more descriptive.

Similes are one of the most commonly used literary devices in English. They can be confusing to some people because they have two meanings and often present an exaggerated comparison between two, unlike things.

   

For example, in his essay titled “A New England Winter,” Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, “The cold seems never so intolerable as when there is no wind.”

This sentence contains two similes: one comparing cold air with an absence of wind; the other describing winter as being more miserable than any other season.

The first simile effectively conveys that when it’s cold outside without any wind blowing around, you feel like your skin will freeze and crack.

Similes In Everyday Language

We use similes all the time in everyday language.

“You’re as pretty as a flower.” “That’s like comparing apples and oranges!”

We grow up hearing these comparisons often and they are ingrained into our vocabulary.

The use of similes is something that we have all come across before when reading a novel or even watching TV; these comparisons help us to better understand and envision the world around us.

People often use them on social media too, as it helps people visualize what’s happening in real life.

Similes Add Depth To Writing

Sometimes, people use similes to paint vivid pictures in their readers’ minds. Other times, they might be trying to make an analogy.

Are you looking to add some depth to your writing? If so, then try using similes, for example:

The sky looked like it was on fire. In this sentence, the speaker is comparing the sky’s appearance with what it looks like when something catches on fire.

The world is full of comparisons. From the way a piece of paper feels as it’s being folded to the shine on an apple, we compare everything.

In writing, similes are used to add depth and imagery to our stories by comparing two things that may not be similar at first glance.

Simile vs. Metaphor

Metaphors and similes are two literary devices used to describe a person, place, or thing. They both use comparisons. However, the difference is that metaphors compare with something else without mentioning what they’re comparing it with while similes compare one thing to another by using “like” or “as.”

It’s not often that you’ll see a person writing about the difference between a simile and metaphor, but nevertheless, I’m going to be one of those people.

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two objects.

Metaphors are more powerful than similes because they create imaginative images for readers.

A simile compares two things using the words like or as.

Now that you know how to identify them, let’s take a closer look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXGhtKJym1U

Examples Of Simile In A Sentence

An example of a simile is when you say “She has eyes like the stars.” This means that her eyes are shining and beautiful.

Our world is full of metaphors, similes, and analogies. They are not only found in literature, but also in everyday life. The use of these figures of speech helps writers and speakers to express their thoughts more clearly.

The simile in the sentence, “He was as mad as a hornet,” means he was very angry.

In The Lion King when Simba’s father says “You must be like me,” he is telling his son not to run from his responsibilities and face them head-on.

History And Etymology For Simile

The word simile is derived from the Latin “similis” which means similar, and can be traced back to the Ancient Greek “homoios”.

The word was originally used to describe likeness or similarity in form but has since broadened its meaning.

Many people use similes as a way of describing an unfamiliar experience with something more familiar; this helps readers understand what otherwise may not make sense.

The word simile is derived from a Latin phrase meaning “to compare like with like.”

The First Known Use Of Simile Was In The 15th Century

The first known use of simile was in the 15th century. It is not completely clear who coined the phrase, “Similes are to Rhetoric as Ornament is to Architecture.”

A simile compares two things that have similarities and shows how they are alike in some way. A simile can also be used for drama or humor.

There are many examples of a simile being used for dramatic purposes such as when Romeo says, “O gentle Juliet, If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep!”

The first known use of simile was in the 15th century, when Francesco Petrarch wrote a sonnet that compared his beloved Laura to the sun.

Similes In Classic Literature

What do the phrases “as white as snow”, “her hair was like a flock of sheep coming home” and “his voice sounded like a bugle in the distance” mean to you?

The words used in these similes are often describing something that is not always recognizable, or they’re exaggerating features.

The first phrase uses an adjective to describe something that’s pure and clean, while the second two use visual imagery to make their point.

In the most famous of his novels, William Shakespeare often uses similes to help illustrate a character’s thoughts.

In “The Merchant of Venice”, when Antonio is about to seal a debt-forgiveness deal with Shylock, he thinks:

“A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!” (Act 4 Scene 1)

The word “Daniel” is used as an analogy for someone who comes up against difficulties and emerges unscathed from them.

Similes In Slogans

Everyone loves a good catchy slogan. It’s the perfect marketing tool to captivate your customers or potential clients and get them to buy into what you’re selling.

But, have you ever noticed how many of these slogans contain similes?

The next time you see one of these ads on TV or hear it in an advertisement, take note of which words are being used as comparisons.

Similes are often used in slogans to make the reader think about what they’re saying and how it relates to other things.

The use of similes in slogans is a great way to make your product seem more appealing.

It can show that the company has put time and effort into making sure they create something that will appeal to their audience.

The use of similes is often seen as an effective way for companies to get their message across because it helps people better understand what you’re trying to say.

We often use these phrases without even realizing it, such as when we say something tastes like chicken or looks like rain.

What Is a Simile – Wrapping Up

What are some creative ways to describe things in a sentence?

Come on, get creative with your similes!

How about “a big as an elephant”?

Or how about “as slow as a turtle”? How about you try to come up with some of your own?

Similes are great for describing things that you may not have an apt description for and they’re also good at helping readers visualize what you’re trying to say.

What’s the best way to get creative with similes? You could try using them throughout your entire essay instead of just one or two sentences!

For example, the child ran across the lawn as if it were his own personal jungle gym; her eyes gleamed like stars on a clear night sky; he was as handsome as a movie star on the red carpet.