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)