Similes, Metaphors and Proverbs

Examples and Activities for these Common Figures of Speech

Mar 10, 2008 Susan Whelan

Understanding similes, metaphors and common sayings can help students develop their creative writing skills.

As students develop their writing skills, a good understanding of similes and metaphors can help them to add more evocative descriptions to their writing tasks.

Similes

A simile is a figure of speech that directly points out the similarity or connection between two things, usually by using the words as or like.

Animal Simile Examples

• as smart as a fox
• as strong as an ox
• as busy as a bee
• as blind as a bat
• as wise as an owl
• as slippery as an eel
• as quiet as a mouse
• as gentle as a lamb
• swims like a fish
• walks like a duck
• fly like a bird

Metaphors

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used to describe an object or action with which it does not normally have an association in order to imply a connection.

Metaphor Examples

• the apple of my eye
• a heart of stone
• the heart of a lion
• time is money
• a blanket of snow

Metaphor and Simile Activities

Ask students to write their own similes using both of the common formats: “verb + like + noun” and “as + adjective + as + noun”.

Ask students to create similes for colours, for example “as red as .....” or “as yellow as...”

Provide students with the first part of a simile and ask them to complete it in either common format. Adjective suggestions: tall, round, spiky, hard, soft, loud, crazy, happy. Verb suggestions: jump, run, laugh, sing, think, shiver, grow.

Ask students to provide a suitable adjective for a simile phrase. Noun suggestions: car, child, stairs, cloud, book, trumpet, bus, rainbow, fountain, rain, flower. (For example: as ...... as a rainbow).

Create a crossword using words from common simile or metaphor phrases. Use the simile/metaphor as the clue, with the appropriate word removed (For example: As ...... as a feather. Crossword clue answer: light).

Sayings and Proverbs

Sayings and proverbs are phrases that embody some advice or commonly believed fact. Some are based in historical social practices and behaviours long since lost. Others are more in line with old wives tales, phrases imbued with an inaccurate sense of authority because they sound like wise advice from a voice of experience. They can also be referred to as axioms, truisms, clichés and adages.

Examples of Common Sayings and Proverbs

• It’s always darkest before the dawn.
• It’s raining cats and dogs.
• Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.
• Birds of a feather flock together.
• Can’t see the forest for the trees.
• Goodnight. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
• Early to bed, early to rise, makes one healthy, wealthy and wise.
• You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
• A stitch in time saves nine.
• Honesty is the best policy.
• Slow and steady wins the race.

Saying and Proverb Activities

Ask students to research the origins (etymology) of a particular saying.

Provide students with the first half of a common proverb and ask them to complete it. (For example: It’s always darkest before....)

Ask students to provide a definition for common sayings.

Ask students to write their own sayings. They can be completely original, or can be rewordings of common sayings and proverbs.

Related Articles: Antonym, Synonym, Homonym, Acronym ; Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs

References: Reader’s Digest Reverse Dictionary (2004)

Collins’ Australian Internet-linked Dictionary (2004)

The copyright of the article Similes, Metaphors and Proverbs in Primary School is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Similes, Metaphors and Proverbs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

As Wise As An ...?

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34 Comments

Comments

May 2, 2008 12:27 PM

Guest :

Spill the beans

May 6, 2008 11:03 AM

Guest :

as sexy as an elephant (that is sayin he/she is not sexy at all.)

Oct 14, 2008 11:32 AM

Guest :

sexy like a cow means very sexy

Oct 16, 2008 12:05 PM

Guest :

000oooo think your cool

Nov 20, 2008 1:28 PM

Guest :

As quick as the wind
As thin as a pencil
As light as a feather
As tired as a dog
As tall as a tree
As short as a stump?
???
I dont know anymore:(

Nov 30, 2008 8:25 AM

Guest :

it is very a cute picture of an owl i really understand what metamorphs and similes and proverbs thankyou.

Dec 1, 2008 12:48 PM

Guest :

As wise as an OWL!

Dec 3, 2008 5:05 PM

Guest :

lol

Dec 4, 2008 1:41 AM

Guest :

answer to pic of owl is OWL

Dec 9, 2008 12:38 PM

Guest :

some of these proverbs are idioms like it is raining cats and dogs

Jan 7, 2009 10:22 PM

Guest :

why dont you put the meaning of idiom+proverb+simile+metaphore..
it will help studnt a lot..thank you..: )

Feb 2, 2009 3:28 AM

Guest :

i need examples of both, like example,
SIMILE-his room is like a pig stye METAPHOR-his room is a pig stye.
examples like that, some people aren't that smartt.

Feb 15, 2009 5:05 PM

Guest :

as white as snow
as flat as pancake
as cunning as a fox
as bright as the sun
as big as an elephant
as brave as a lion
as clear as crystal
as cold as ice
as cool as a cucumber
as easy as A.B.C
as free as a bird
as fresh as daisy
as fat as a pig
as slow as a snail

u guys need to write some more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Feb 24, 2009 11:34 PM

Guest :

could you make an sentence out of day and month in metaphor???

Feb 26, 2009 12:22 PM

Guest :

as wise as an owl

Mar 3, 2009 4:57 AM

Guest :

Cool sexy like a cow does mean very sexy??

Apr 13, 2009 2:00 PM

Guest :

hehehe, as quite as a mouse..heheheheh <2+1!! <3 tehehe

Apr 16, 2009 5:05 PM

Guest :

This is Edward Lam From Toronto , Ontario

Simile

Cold as a ice cream
As hard as a rock
Hotter than hot sause
The old man was slow as a turtle
Sweet as A Chocolate
Walk like a duck



Metaphor

A lifetime is a day
I'm so hot for her and she's so cold
The sweet smell of success
Time is Money


Thanks, and please dont copy mine .

May 5, 2009 2:29 PM

Guest :

i have 1 "cute as a button"

May 17, 2009 7:49 AM

Guest :

big spainel eyes
a graveyard silence
the fog was a blanket
the sun similed its welcome
darkness ready to pounce

May 19, 2009 9:39 PM

Guest :

as wise as an OWL!!!!!!!!

May 24, 2009 2:34 PM

Guest :

As wise as a monkey . . .

what! ! They can be wise too. . .

Boahahahaha! ! !

May 25, 2009 1:08 AM

Guest :

I need a simile that starts off as: shivering like...
I don't know what word to put after like.
Please help me!!

May 30, 2009 6:32 PM

Guest :

i thing these similes are cool and hilarious. and so are your proverbs " make hay will the sun shines"
"as sexy as the coco cola bottle"
"as fast as usain bolt"
"as wide as the ocean and deep as the sea"

Jun 1, 2009 9:25 PM

Guest :

Can anyone please give me 2 to 3 examples of Onomatopoeia, Assonance , Consonance, Imagery , Paradox , Allusion , Couplet , Repetition

Jun 25, 2009 3:31 AM

Guest :

as wise an owl similes!
as busy as a bee
as plump as a partridge
as quick as lightning
as harmless as a baby
as sour as a lemon
as beautiful as the rainbow
as strong as an ox
as free as a bird
as stiff as a board
as clean as a whistle
as light as a feather
as white as snow
as fat as a pig
as cunning as a fox
as flat as a pancake
as slow as a snail
as cold as ice
as clear as crystal
as bright as the sun

BEAT THAT LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

Jun 28, 2009 4:52 AM

Guest :

does anybody out there know what is for an ant

Jul 27, 2009 12:04 AM

Guest :

Okay, if this is of any help. I remember the difference between a simile and metaphor by thinking of simile as SIMILAR.
Because a simile is what something is similar to.
Similes use 'like' and 'as'.
However metaphors use "is".
Like, metaphor:
He IS a lion waiting to pounce.
Simile:
He is LIKE a lion waiting to pounce.
or-
He was AS white AS a ghost.

Personification is giving an inanimate object a human characteristic like 'crawling' 'gasping for air'
So for instance, 'The waves crawled along the foreshore"
Is giving the waves a human quality.

Sep 8, 2009 12:33 PM

Guest :

As agile as a monkey
As alike as two peas in a pod
As annoying as nails scratching against a chalkboard.
As bald as a baby's backside
As bald as a badger
As bald as a coot
As beautiful as nature
As big as a boat
As big as a bus
As big as an elephant
As black as a sweep
As black as coal
As black as one is painted
As black as pitch
As blind as a bat
As blind as a mole
As bold as brass
As brave as a lion
As bright as a button
As bright as a new pin
As bright as day
As bright as the sun
As busy as a beaver
As busy as a bee
As busy as a cat on a hot tin roof
As calm as a millpond
As clear as a bell
As clean as a hound's tooth
As clean as a whistle
As clear as crystal
As clear as mud
As cold as ice
As common as dirt
As cool as a cucumber
As crazy as a loon
As cunning as a fox
As cute as a baby
As cute as a button
As cute as a cup cake
As damp as the salty blue ocean
As dead as a doornail
As dead as the dodo
As deaf as a post
As delicate as a flower
As dense as a brick
As different as chalk from cheese
As drunk as a lord
As dry as a bone
As dry as dust
As dull as dishwater
As easy as A.B.C.
As easy as pie
As fast as a racecar
As fat as a hippo
As fat as a pig
As fit as a fiddle
As flat as a pancake
As free as a bird
As fresh as a daisy
As funny as a balloon
As gentle as a lamb
As good as gold
As hairy as an ape
As happy as a clown
As happy as a lark
As happy as Larry
As happy as a rat with a gold tooth
As hard as nails
As hard as rock
As high as a kite
As hoarse as a crow
As hot as a fire cracker
As hot as hell
As hungry as a bear
As hungry as a wolf
As innocent as a lamb
As keen as mustard
As large as life
As light as a feather
As light as air
As likely as not
As loud as a lion
As lowly as a worm
As mad as a hatter
As mad as a hornet
As mad as the march hare
As merry as a cricket
As modest as a maiden
As much use as a yard of pump water
As naked as a baby
As neat as a pin
As nutty as a fruitcake
As obstinate as a mule
As old as dirt
As old as the hills
As pale as death
As pale as a ghost
As patient as Job
As plain as day
As pleased as Punch
As poor as a church mouse
As poor as dirt
As pretty as a picture
As proud as a peacock
As pure as snow
As pure as the driven snow
As quick as a wink
As quick as lightning
As quick as silver
As quiet as a mouse
As rich as gold
As right as rain
As round as a barrel
As round as a circle
As round as a sphere
I WIN

Sep 21, 2009 7:53 PM

Guest :

i walk as slow as a snail :]

Oct 7, 2009 3:18 AM

Guest :

As agile as a monkey
As alike as two peas in a pod
As annoying as nails scratching against a chalkboard.
As bald as a baby's backside
As bald as a badger
As bald as a coot
As beautiful as nature
As big as a boat
As big as a bus
As big as an elephant
As black as a sweep
As black as coal
As black as one is painted
As black as pitch
As blind as a bat
As blind as a mole
As bold as brass
As brave as a lion
As bright as a button
As bright as a new pin
As bright as day
As bright as the sun
As busy as a beaver
As busy as a bee
As busy as a cat on a hot tin roof
As calm as a millpond
As clear as a bell
As clean as a hound's tooth
As clean as a whistle
As clear as crystal
As clear as mud
As cold as ice
As common as dirt
As cool as a cucumber
As crazy as a loon
As cunning as a fox
As cute as a baby
As cute as a button
As cute as a cup cake
As damp as the salty blue ocean
As dead as a doornail
As dead as the dodo
As deaf as a post
As delicate as a flower
As dense as a brick
As different as chalk from cheese
As drunk as a lord
As dry as a bone
As dry as dust
As dull as dishwater
As easy as A.B.C.
As easy as pie
As fast as a racecar
As fat as a hippo
As fat as a pig
As fit as a fiddle
As flat as a pancake
As free as a bird
As fresh as a daisy
As funny as a balloon
As gentle as a lamb As good as gold
As hairy as an ape
As happy as a clown
As happy as a lark
As happy as Larry
As happy as a rat with a gold tooth
As hard as nails
As hard as rock
As high as a kite
As hoarse as a crow
As hot as a fire cracker
As hot as hell
As hungry as a bear
As hungry as a wolf
As innocent as a lamb
As keen as mustard
As large as life
As light as a feather
As light as air
As likely as not
As loud as a lion
As lowly as a worm
As mad as a hatter
As mad as a hornet
As mad as the march hare
As merry as a cricket
As modest as a maiden
As much use as a yard of pump water
As naked as a baby
As neat as a pin
As nutty as a fruitcake
As obstinate as a mule
As old as dirt
As old as the hills
As pale as death
As pale as a ghost
As patient as Job
As plain as day
As pleased as Punch
As poor as a church mouse
As poor as dirt
As pretty as a picture
As proud as a peacock
As pure as snow
As pure as the driven snow
As quick as a wink
As quick as lightning
As quick as silver
As quiet as a mouse
As rich as gold
As right as rain
As round as a barrel
As round as a circle
As round as a sphere
As safe as houses
As scarce as hen's teeth
As sensitive as a flower
As sharp as a needle
As sharp as a razor
bla bla.....

Oct 10, 2009 6:57 PM

Guest :

As Fast As An Eagle
As Strong As Hearcules
As Quick As Light
As Quick As Lighting

Oct 18, 2009 11:00 AM

Guest :

i need a the blank: as ______ as a bunny. every website there is nothing!
help me please.

Oct 29, 2009 5:05 AM

Guest :

as smooth as silk

34 Comments