simile
B2-C1Literary, Academic, Formal
Definition
Meaning
A figure of speech that explicitly compares two unlike things, usually using 'like' or 'as'.
Any explicit comparison intended to illuminate or intensify a description; a rhetorical device fundamental to poetry and descriptive prose.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Distinguished from a metaphor, which implies a comparison without using 'like' or 'as'. A simile is an explicit, stated comparison.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in literary and academic contexts.
Connotations
Evokes creativity, vivid description, and literary craft. Can sound slightly formal or technical in everyday conversation.
Frequency
Equally common in UK and US academic/literary writing. Rare in casual spoken language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + uses a simile + to compare [X] to [Y].The simile + of + [noun phrase] + is effective.A simile + comparing + [X] + with/to + [Y].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As blind as a bat”
- “As cold as ice”
- “Fight like cats and dogs”
- “Sleep like a log”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in creative marketing or branding discussions to describe evocative comparisons.
Academic
Common in literary analysis, linguistics, rhetoric, and creative writing courses.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used when discussing literature, poetry, or making a point about descriptive language.
Technical
Core term in literary theory, stylistics, and rhetoric.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The poet's simile of the mind as an attic was particularly memorable.
- He concluded his argument with a rather strained simile.
American English
- Her writing is full of clever similes comparing city life to a machine.
- The teacher asked us to identify the simile in the third stanza.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'As brave as a lion' is a simile.
- Shakespeare often uses similes, like comparing a lover to a summer's day.
- Can you think of a simile to describe this storm?
- The author's extended simile, comparing the journey of life to a river's course, developed over several paragraphs.
- While a metaphor states that one thing *is* another, a simile states it is *like* another.
- Critics have noted that the proliferation of Homeric similes in the epic serves to elevate the mundane to the monumental.
- The poet's reliance on hackneyed similes undermined the intended emotional impact of the verse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SIMILE' uses 'LI' or 'AS' to make a comparison. SIMILE = SI (see) + MILE (a distance) = 'See the comparison from a mile away because it's so obvious (using 'like'/'as').'
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (A simile helps you 'see' one thing in terms of another).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'similar' ('похожий'). 'Simile' is a rhetorical term, not an adjective.
- The Russian term is 'сравнение', but this is a broader term that can also mean 'metaphor'. In English, 'simile' is specific to comparisons with 'like' or 'as'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an adjective (e.g., 'That's very simile' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'smile' in spelling.
- Using it interchangeably with 'metaphor' without noting the structural difference (like/as).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key structural element that defines a simile?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A simile explicitly compares two things using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'time is like a river'). A metaphor states or implies that one thing *is* another (e.g., 'time is a river').
Typically, no. Comparisons using 'than' are usually for degrees (comparatives) and are not classified as similes. A simile standardly uses 'like', 'as', or sometimes 'as if'/'as though'.
It is a simile because it uses 'as...as' to make an explicit comparison. The metaphorical version would be 'her heart was ice'.
No, it is a specialist term from literary and rhetorical analysis. Most people understand examples of similes but may not know or frequently use the word 'simile' itself in daily conversation.
Collections
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Rhetoric and Argumentation
C2 · 49 words · Advanced tools of persuasion and argumentation.