100+ Examples list of Metaphor With Meanings & Pictures

Metaphor is a powerful literary device that allow us to understand complex ideas by comparing them to something more tangible or familiar. They go beyond simple analogies, creating strong mental images and deeper connections between seemingly unrelated concepts.

I share metaphor examples with deep meanings, from those found in literature, poetry, and everyday speech, to visual metaphors words and metaphors for kids. By understanding the meaning and context behind metaphors, we can unlock a richer, more nuanced understanding of language and the human experience.

What Are The Examples Of Metaphor In Sentences With Meanings?

Metaphors can be found in all forms of communication, from casual conversations to formal writing. Here are five examples of metaphors used in sentences, along with their meanings:

1. “Time is money.” – This metaphor suggests that time is a valuable, finite resource that should be used wisely, just as money is.
2. “Her heart is a drum, beating to its own rhythm.” – This metaphor compares the woman’s heart to a drum, implying that she marches to the beat of her own drum, or is independent and follows her own path.
3. “The world is a stage, and we are merely players.” – This famous metaphor from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” suggests that life is like a theatrical performance, with everyone playing a role.
4. “My job is a prison.” – This metaphor expresses the idea that the speaker’s job is restrictive and confining, like being in a prison.
5. “Laughter is the best medicine.” – This metaphor suggests that laughter has the power to heal and improve one’s well-being, just as medicine does.

What Are The Examples Of Metaphor In English Literature With Meanings?

Metaphors have long been a staple of great literature, used by authors to convey complex ideas and evoke powerful emotions. Here are five examples of metaphors found in classic English literature.

1. “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – This metaphor from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” compares the world to a stage, with people playing different roles in the “play” of life.
2. “The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill of the world.” – This metaphor from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” vividly describes the setting sun as a drop of gold, evoking a sense of beauty and finality.
3. “My heart is like a singing bird.” – This metaphor from Christina Rossetti’s poem “A Birthday” compares the speaker’s heart to a singing bird, suggesting a sense of joy and freedom.
4. “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.” – This metaphor from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” likens life to a fleeting shadow or a performance on a stage, emphasizing the transient nature of human existence.
5. “All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.” – This metaphor from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” suggests that appearances can be deceiving, and that those who seem lost may actually be on a meaningful journey.

What Are Metaphor Examples In Common Poems?

Metaphors are a common and powerful tool in poetry, also called poetic metaphors used to create vivid imagery and convey deeper meanings. Here are five examples of metaphors found in well-known poems:

1. From William Shakespeare’s “All the World’s a Stage” (As You Like It):”All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players;“Meaning: Life is likened to a stage and people to actors, emphasizing the transient and performative nature of existence.
2. From Sylvia Plath’s “Metaphors”:”I’m a riddle in nine syllables, An elephant, a ponderous house, “Meaning: The poet uses various metaphors to describe the complex feelings associated with pregnancy.
3. From Pablo Neruda’s “I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You”:”I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. “Meaning: Love is depicted as something beyond comprehension, not limited by logic or reason.
4. From Edgar Allan Poe’s “A Dream Within a Dream”:”All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. “Meaning: Life and reality are compared to a dream, suggesting their fleeting and illusory nature.
5. From T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”:”I should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas. “Meaning: The poet uses the metaphor of “ragged claws” to depict the feeling of inadequacy and lack of confidence.

What Are Metaphor Examples In Famous Poetry With Meanings?

1. The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” – This metaphor from William Wordsworth’s “The World Is Too Much With Us” suggests that the modern world and its material concerns have caused us to neglect our deeper, more spiritual selves.
2. “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” – This metaphor from Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” personifies hope as a bird that resides within the human spirit.
3. “Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.” – This metaphor, also found in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” compares life to a fleeting performance on a stage.
4. “The fog comes on little cat feet.” – This metaphor from Carl Sandburg’s “Fog” vividly describes the fog as moving quietly and stealthily, like a cat.

What Are The Metaphor Examples From Wise Sayings With Meanings?

1. “A watched pot never boils.”Meaning: Just as when we stare at a pot waiting for it to boil, it seems to take longer, so too do things seem to take longer when we are eagerly waiting for them to happen. It illustrates the idea that time feels longer when we’re eagerly waiting for something to happen.
2. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”Meaning: Just as it’s unwise to count on eggs hatching before they actually do, it’s unwise to make plans based on something that hasn’t happened yet. It advises against making plans based on something that has yet to come to fruition.
3. “Actions speak louder than words.”Meaning: Just as a person’s actions have a greater impact than their words, what a person does carries more weight and truth than what they say.
4. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”Meaning: Just as it’s risky to carry all your eggs in one basket, it’s risky to put all your resources or hopes into one thing. It implies that you risk losing everything if that one thing fails.
5. “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”Meaning: Just as a stone that is constantly moving does not accumulate moss, an active, dynamic person doesn’t accumulate negative traits or problems. It suggests that being active and dynamic prevents stagnation and accumulation of negative influences.

What Are The Metaphor Examples In Speaking?

1. “Time is money.”Meaning: Time is likened to money, emphasizing the value of time and the need to use it wisely.
2. “He has a heart of stone.”Meaning: His emotional state is compared to a heart made of stone, indicating a lack of compassion or empathy.
3. “The world is your oyster.”Meaning: You have the ability and opportunity to achieve anything you desire.
4. “She’s a shining star.”Meaning: She stands out and excels in her field or in her social circle, just like a bright star in the night sky.
5. “She’s walking on thin ice.”Meaning: She is in a risky or precarious situation, just like walking on thin ice which could crack at any moment.

What Are The Examples Of Metaphor For Kids?

Here are the five examples of metaphor for kids:

1. Busy as a Bee: This metaphor, comparing someone’s level of activity to that of a bee, is perfect for kids. Just like bees, they can grasp the idea of being industrious and active.
2. Feeling Blue: Children can easily relate to this metaphor that describes a feeling of sadness or melancholy using the color blue.
3. The World is Your Oyster: This metaphor teaches kids that they have endless opportunities and potential, just like the vastness of an ocean.
4. Time is a Thief: Kids can understand how quickly time passes by when it’s compared to a thief stealing moments away.
5. A Rollercoaster of Emotions: Children can relate to this metaphor, which describes the ups and downs of emotions, just like a rollercoaster ride.

What Are The Metaphor Examples For Ks2?

Metaphors can be a powerful tool for helping children in Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) understand abstract concepts and develop their language skills. Here are five examples of metaphors that may be appropriate for this age group:

1. Drowning in Homework: This metaphor helps kids understand the feeling of being overwhelmed with homework, likening it to drowning in water.
2. A Rainbow of Flavors: This metaphor compares a variety of flavors to the colors of a rainbow, making it easier for kids to understand the concept of diversity.
3. Books are Friends: Comparing books to friends helps children see the value and companionship found in reading.
4. Words are Magic: Kids can relate to this metaphor, which compares words to magic, emphasizing their power and ability to create wonder.
5. Dreams are Seeds: This metaphor teaches children that dreams, like seeds, need care and nurturing to grow and flourish.

What Are The Metaphor Examples For Ks3?

The metaphors Five examples for ks3 are following:

1. Life is a Journey: Comparing life to a journey helps older kids understand that life has its ups and downs, twists, and turns.
2. The Classroom is a Stage: This metaphor helps kids understand that the classroom, like a stage, is a place where they perform, learn, and grow.
3. Knowledge is a Key: This metaphor emphasizes the idea that knowledge unlocks doors, making it easier for kids to understand the importance of learning.
4. Chasing Pavements: Similar to the Adele song, this metaphor describes the futility of trying to accomplish something without any real direction.
5. War of Words: This metaphor helps kids understand the intensity and impact of verbal disputes, equating them to a battle.

What Are The Examples For Everyday Life Metaphors?

Metaphors are not just found in literature and poetry; they are also deeply woven into our everyday language and experiences. Here are five examples of metaphors that we commonly encounter in our daily lives:

1. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: This metaphor emphasizes the importance of addressing problems early to avoid larger ones later, much like a stitch in clothing preventing a hole from getting bigger.
2. Climbing the Ladder of Success: Similar to the concept of advancement in a career, this metaphor illustrates the idea of progressing step by step towards a goal.
3. Weathering the Storm: This metaphor is commonly used to describe enduring a difficult situation, as one would wait out a storm until it passes.
4. Bite the Bullet: This metaphor means facing a difficult situation with courage, similar to biting a bullet during surgery before the days of anesthesia.
5. Hitting the Nail on the Head: Like accurately hitting a nail with a hammer, this metaphor refers to doing or saying something exactly right.

What Are The Common Metaphor Examples?

The famous five metaphors phrases examples list are following:

1. “Time is money.”Meaning: Time is likened to money, emphasizing the value of time and the need to use it wisely.“He has a heart of stone.”Meaning: His emotional state is compared to a heart made of stone, indicating a lack of compassion or empathy.“The world is your oyster.”Meaning: You have the ability and opportunity to achieve anything you desire.“She’s a shining star.”Meaning: She stands out and excels in her field or in her social circle, just like a bright star in the night sky.“She’s walking on thin ice.”Meaning: She is in a risky or precarious situation, just like walking on thin ice which could crack at any moment.

What Are The Uncommon Metaphor Examples?

1. “Silence was a thunderous sound.”Meaning: The absence of noise was so profound that it felt as impactful as the sound of thunder.
2. “Her laughter was a symphony of joy.”Meaning: Her laughter brought so much joy and happiness that it resembled the harmonious arrangement of a symphony.
3. “The sunset was a painting in the sky.”Meaning: The beauty and colors of the sunset resembled a piece of artwork created in the sky.
4. “Her smile was a light in the darkness.”Meaning: Her smile brought warmth and brightness into the gloomiest of situations, much like a light shining in the darkness.
5. “The forest was a blanket of whispers.”Meaning: The soft rustling of the leaves and the gentle sounds of nature in the forest created a soothing atmosphere, akin to a comforting whisper.

How Do Pictures Provide Examples Of Metaphor?

Visual metaphors is powerful way to convey complex ideas and evoke emotional responses. Here are five examples of how pictures can provide metaphorical representations:

By exploring these diverse examples of metaphors, we can gain a deeper understanding of the power of language and the human experience. Metaphors allow us to bridge the gap between the abstract and the concrete, creating vivid mental images and revealing hidden connections that enrich our understanding of the world around us.