What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses one thing to represent another. It can be used to make an idea more understandable or make a point more clearly. A metaphor is often used in literature to add depth and meaning to a work.
You can also download the following examples in PDF format 25 Metaphor example sentences with meaning
Example Sentences :
- She was drowning in a sea of paperwork.
She was overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork she had to deal with. - He was trying to find his way out of the maze.
This metaphor is often used to describe someone who is lost and doesn’t know where to turn. The maze represents the confusion and frustration that can come with feeling lost. This metaphor can also be applied to other situations in which someone is struggling to find a way forward. For example, you might say that someone is “trying to find their way out of the rat race” or “trying to find their way out of the cycle of poverty.” In each of these cases, the maze represents a situation that is difficult to escape from. - The project was a total train wreck.
This metaphor means that the project was a complete disaster. It’s often used to describe projects that are so badly organized or executed that they end up being complete failures. - I’m going to hit the hay.
This phrase is a metaphor for going to bed. When you hit the hay, you are literally hitting the bed, which is where you will be sleeping. This phrase is used to indicate that you are tired and ready to go to sleep. - I’m feeling under the weather today.
This metaphor means that you are feeling sick or not well. - He was a snake in the grass.
This metaphor means that he was a sneaky person who was hiding his true intentions. - The sky is a blanket of stars.
The sky is being used to represent a blanket of stars. This metaphor suggests that the sky is full of stars, just as a blanket would be full of fabric. The metaphor also suggests that the stars are spread out evenly across the sky, just as a blanket would be spread out evenly across a bed. - Her smile was a ray of sunshine.
This means that the smile is bright and makes the person feel happy, just like how a ray of sunshine would. - She was the apple of his eye.
This metaphor means that she was the most important thing to him, she was his favorite. - She’s such a Drama Queen!
This phrase is often used to describe someone who is overly dramatic and tends to overreact to things. It’s usually used in a negative way to describe someone who makes a big deal out of nothing. - She was a rose among thorns.
The rose is traditionally seen as a symbol of love, while thorns are generally seen as symbols of danger or protection. So, the phrase “She was a rose among thorns” could be interpreted to mean that she was a kind and loving person surrounded by people who were not as kind and loving. Alternatively, it could be interpreted to mean that she was a beautiful and special person surrounded by people who were not as beautiful or special. Either way, the phrase is generally seen as a compliment. - He was a rock in the storm.
This metaphor means that he was a strong and stable presence during a chaotic or difficult time. - The party was a zoo.
There were so many people and so much noise. It was hard to hear anything or talk to anyone. I felt like I was in a cage with all of the other animals. - The test was a breeze.
The “test” is being likened to a “breeze,” meaning it was easy or not very difficult. - The project was a nightmare.
The project was a complete disaster from start to finish. It was plagued with problems and nothing went right. It was a total nightmare. - She was a nightingale.
In this metaphor, the person is comparing the woman to a nightingale, which is a type of bird. Nightingales are known for their beautiful singing, so this is likely a compliment to the woman’s voice. - Time is money.
This metaphor means that time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted. Just as money can be used to purchase things, time can be used to do things. And just as money can be lost or stolen, time can be wasted. Therefore, we should use our time wisely and not take it for granted. - Love is blind.
This metaphor means that love can make people act differently than they normally would and can lead them to make poor decisions. - Life is a road that we travel on.
When life is compared to a road, it suggests that there is a journey involved with ups and downs, twists and turns. Just as a road can take us on different routes to our destination, so too can life take us down different paths. The metaphor also suggests that life is full of opportunities and adventures, waiting to be explored. - My parents are elephants, they never forget anything.
This metaphor means that my parents are very good at remembering things. They never forget anything that happens, no matter how small it may be. - The child is a chip off the old block.
This metaphor means that the child is very similar to their parent in terms of appearance or personality. - They paint the town red every weekend.
This means that they go out and party hard every weekend, usually returning home very late (or early) and sometimes not returning home at all. The phrase is often used to describe people who are wild and carefree. - She’s a diamond in the rough.
This metaphor means that the person is valuable, but they are not yet polished or refined. They have potential, but they are not yet shining as brightly as they could be. - That company is a well-oiled machine.
The phrase “well-oiled machine” is used to describe a company that runs smoothly and efficiently. The metaphor is based on the idea of a machine being well-maintained and running smoothly. - He’s a couch potato.
This metaphor means that the person is lazy and unproductive. They spend a lot of time sitting around doing nothing.