Metaphors
"The world is a stage". What does this compare? What does it mean?
This compares life to a play. This means that when people are born, they are "actors entering a stage".
"As brave as a lion". What does this compare?
This compares someone's bravery to that of a lion.
"Take it with a grain of salt". What does this really mean?
This means to not take whatever is being said too seriously.
"The wind tickled my neck". How does this use personification to express something?
"The wind tickled my neck" means that the wind is probably a light breeze, grazing someone's neck. Since the wind is not alive, it can't really tickle anything.
"This sand is melting my feet off!" what would this mean?
This means that the sand is so hot that the person feels that it is melting their feet off.
"Life is a roller coaster". What does this compare? What does it mean?
This compares life to a roller coaster, meaning it has ups and downs, twists and turns.
"As difficult to grasp as a shadow". What does this compare?
This compares a topic's difficulty to understand to the difficulty of grasping a shadow.
"Don't beat around the bush". What does this really mean?
This means Don't avoid the main topic.
"The city never sleeps". What does this express?
This expresses the fact that the city is always "active" or "never sleeping" Of course the city is not human and cannot sleep.
"I can't live without you". Why is this hyperbole?
This is hyperbole because the speaker can obviously live without the person being addressed.
"A wolf in sheep's clothing". What does this compare? What does this mean?
This compares someone to a wolf wearing sheep's wool, or "clothing". This means that someone pretends to be good and kind but in reality they're vile and rude.
"My mom's heart is as pure as gold". What does this compare? What does this comparison mean?
This compares someone's mom's heart to gold. This is used to say that the mom's heart is pure, and precious like gold.
"Knock yourself out". What does this mean?
This means to do a great effort in something.
"The flames danced eagerly". What does this express?
This expresses that the flames moved around a lot. The flames aren't human and can't dance or be eager.
"I cried a river". Why is this hyperbole?
This is hyperbole because the person didn't cry an entire river they just cried quite a bit.
"Hope is on the horizon". What does this mean?
This means that hope is "on the horizon" or very close since normally if you can see a horizon you are close to your destination.
"A blind rage like a fire swept over him". What does this compare?
This compares someone's rage to the way a fire blazes and rages around wildly.
"Under the weather". What does this mean?
This means that someone is feeling ill or sick.
"The trees whispered secrets to the wind". What does this express?
"His brain is the size of a peanut". Why is this hyperbole?
This is hyperbole because the brain of the person being addressed isn't actually the size of a peanut it's just expressing that he's foolish or dumb.
"The past is a shadow". What does this mean?
This means that the past is behind you since you shadows are always behind you.
"Like a moth to a flame". What does this compare?
This compares the way someone gravitates toward something to the way a moth would normally gravitate towards a flame.
"Through thick and thin". What does this mean?
This means at all times, or through good and bad.
"Time tiptoed away quietly". What does this express?
This means that someone's time slipped away without warning. Time of course not being alive, cannot tiptoe.
"He's as skinny as a toothpick". Why is this hyperbole?
This is hyperbole because the person being addressed isn't really as skinny as a toothpick since there would be many problems with that. It's just expressing that the person is skinny or very skinny.