Metaphor 2 - Meanings of Metaphors

As we mentioned in the previous quiz, a metaphor is a figure of speech and it is one among the four most often used figures of speech, the others being simile, hyperbole and personification. Similes and metaphors are similar but the main difference is that in a simile we use the word ‘as’ or ‘like’ to compare whereas in metaphors we equate an action or subject directly. For instance:

‘She runs as fast as lightning.’ This is a simile because we use the word ’as’ to compare her running to lightning.
‘Her running was lightning fast.’ This is a metaphor as we directly use lightning to mean that she runs very fast.

The main function of metaphors is to use resemblance, comparison or association to another action or subject to drive home a particular point more effectively. In the ‘lightning’ example we know that lightning is something associated with very high speed and by comparing somebody’s running to lightning we imply that that person runs very fast.

Our daily lives are always full of figures of speech. You may recall times when your teacher has used them in class while reprimanding a student. Or perhaps your parents use them to drill some good habits into you at home. More importantly, metaphors add colour to our conversations and provide a novel way of understanding our ideas and viewpoints. The quiz that follows exposes you to figures of speech and helps you to identify metaphors.