Figurative language
"His smile is sunshine."
Metaphor
Comparing: His smile to sunshine.
Meaning: His smile is bright, warm, and uplifting, just like sunshine on a beautiful day.
"She swims like a fish."
Simile
Comparing: Her swimming to a fish.
Meaning: She is an excellent and graceful swimmer, much like a fish in water.
"That test was a breeze."
Metaphor
Comparing: The test to a breeze.
Meaning: The test was easy to handle and required little effort, like the lightness of a gentle wind.
"The room was as cold as ice."
Simile
Comparing: The room to ice.
Meaning: The room was extremely cold, much like the freezing temperature of ice.
"I’m starving to death."
Meaning: An exaggerated way of saying that someone is very hungry.
"That joke was so funny, I almost died laughing."
Hypebole
Meaning: An exaggeration to show how funny something was.
“I’m so tired, I could sleep for a century."
Meaning: An exaggerated way of expressing extreme tiredness.
"The book weighs a ton."
Meaning: An exaggeration to suggest the book is very heavy.
"The classroom was a zoo."
Metaphor
Comparing: The classroom to a zoo.
Meaning: The classroom was noisy, chaotic, and full of unruly energy, similar to the lively and wild atmosphere of a zoo.
"The baby was as light as a feather."
Simile
Comparing: The baby’s weight to a feather.
Meaning: The baby was very light to hold, almost weightless like a feather.
"The storm in his mind raged on."
Comparing: His mental turmoil to a storm.
Meaning: He was experiencing intense inner conflict, confusion, or emotional distress, much like the chaos of a raging storm.
"I have a mountain of laundry to fold."
Meaning: An exaggeration to express a large amount of laundry.
"He has a heart of stone."
Metaphor
Comparing: His heart to stone.
Meaning: He is emotionally cold, unfeeling, or unsympathetic, like the hardness and unyielding nature of stone.
"His temper is like a volcano."
Simile
Comparing: His temper to a volcano.
Meaning: His anger can erupt suddenly and intensely, similar to a volcanic explosion.
"He is a shining star."
Metaphor
Comparing: Him to a shining star.
Meaning: He is exceptional, talented, or outstanding, standing out like a bright star in the sky.
"It’s so hot, I’m going to melt."
Hyperbole
Meaning: An exaggerated way of saying it’s extremely hot.
"She’s an early bird."
Metaphor
Comparing: Her to an early bird.
Meaning: She wakes up early or starts her day with energy and productivity, like a bird active at dawn.
"He is the anchor in my life."
Metaphor
Comparing: Him to an anchor.
Meaning: He provides stability, support, and security, much like an anchor keeps a ship steady.
"She’s as brave as a lion."
Simile
Comparing: Her bravery to a lion.
Meaning: She is very courageous and fearless, like the strength and boldness of a lion.
"His face turned as red as a tomato."
Simile
Comparing: His face to a tomato.
Meaning: His face flushed or blushed deeply, turning a bright red color like a ripe tomato.
"She’s as busy as a bee."
Simile
Comparing: Her busyness to a bee.
Meaning: She is constantly working hard and staying active, just like a bee buzzing around collecting nectar.
"Her laugh is like a melody."
Simile
Comparing: Her laugh to a melody.
Meaning: Her laugh is pleasant, harmonious, and brings joy, much like a beautiful tune.
"The house was as silent as a grave."
Simile
Comparing: The house to a grave.
Meaning: The house was extremely quiet, as silent and still as a graveyard.
“The news spread like wildfire."
Simile
Comparing: The spread of the news to wildfire.
Meaning: The news spread very quickly and widely, just like how a wildfire rapidly expands.
"She has a voice that could shatter glass."
Meaning: An exaggeration to describe someone’s voice as being very loud or piercing.