Figurative Language Concepts and Examples

To provide factual information

To create special effects and connections

To simplify complex ideas

To confuse the reader

It makes the text more literal

It adds depth and layers of meaning

It simplifies the text

It removes emotion from the text

Time is money

She sings like a nightingale

He is a lion in battle

The world is a stage

It gives human traits to objects

It exaggerates for effect

It describes sounds

It uses 'like' or 'as' for comparison

A metaphor describes sounds

A metaphor equates two things directly

A metaphor is a type of exaggeration

A metaphor uses 'like' or 'as'

It compares using 'like' or 'as'

It equates one thing to another

It describes sensory experiences

It mimics sounds

To mimic sounds

To provide a literal description

To exaggerate for emphasis

To create a sense of realism

The sun smiled down

The wind howled

I could sleep for a year

The stars danced in the sky

The sun smiled down

The clock ticked loudly

Raining cats and dogs

As brave as a lion

To make a mistake

To end a relationship

To start a conversation

To literally break ice