Figurative Language

Examples of Figurative Language Similes Metaphors Personification Idioms

Similes A comparison of 2 things that have some quality in common Uses the words: like as than

Similes Example: “That night the moon was round and white as my Sunday hat.” What two things are being compared? Answer: Moon and Sunday Hat

Similes The coin is as bright as the sun. coin and sun My brother eats like a voracious pig. brother and pig Her eyes are like the midnight sky. eyes and sky The child is as sly as a fox. child and fox His temper is as explosive as a computer. temper and computer

More Fun with Similes “Dream Deferred” What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Examples of Similes: Dream deferred-raisin in the sun; a festering sore; rotten meat; a syrupy sweet; a heavy load

Similes Complete the following similes: Tom is very hungry. He is as hungry as a…. I love school. It is like… I hate school. It is like… Chocolate is so delicious. It is as good as… The plants smell horrible. They smell like… You saved my life. You are as brave as… I am as busy as a… Life is like a…

Metaphor A metaphor is a comparison of 2 things that have some quality in common Does not use the words: like as than

Metaphor Example: Chocolate is heaven in a wrapper. chocolate and heaven “The branches of the old tree were long fingers scratching at the window. branches and long fingers You have a heart of stone. heart and stone You are the sun in my life. sun and life “There is a fluttering forest of feathers.” forest and birds

More Fun with Metaphors At night my bedroom is a real icebox. bedroom and icebox She is a regular adding machine. she and adding machine Tom’s brain is an encyclopedia of knowledge. brain and encyclopedia

Metaphors Complete the following metaphors: Chocolate is… There is so much homework to complete. It is… School is a…. The lunchroom is a… Rewrite the following sentence using a metaphor: It is cold outside.

Idioms A way of speaking beyond the dictionary definition of a word Example: It is raining cats and dogs outside. Dictionary Definition (DD): Cats and dogs are falling from the sky. Figurative Language Definition (FLD): It is raining hard outside.

Idioms Lunch is on the house. DD: My plate of a cheeseburger and fries are resting on the top of my home. FD: Lunch is free…Yeah!!! My mom has a green thumb. DD: My mother’s thumb is the color of green. FD: My mom is good with planting. My dad has lost his marbles. DD: My dad cannot find his marbles. FD: My dad has gone crazy.

More Fun with Idioms I am going to hit the books tonight. DD: I will pound my fist into my math, science, and social studies books. FD: I am going to study very hard tonight.