“My love is like a rose — that's a metaphor.”
Usage Entry 1406 / 1605 60-second read
Simile vs. Metaphor
An explicit comparison using "like" or "as" versus a direct identification.
The comparisoni
“My love is like a rose — that's a simile. SIMILES use "like" or "as." METAPHORS state X is Y directly.”
The ruleii
¶
SIMILE = like. METAPHOR = is.
SIMILE uses LIKE or AS to compare. METAPHOR drops the comparison word and equates directly. "He fights like a lion" (simile) vs "He is a lion in battle" (metaphor). Both compare; only one declares.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Simile uses "like."