What is the key difference between a simile and a metaphor?

What is the key difference between a simile and a metaphor?

• A. A simile uses like or as to compare; a metaphor makes a direct comparison without like or as.
• B. A simile uses like or as to compare two things.
• C. A metaphor uses like or as to compare two things.
• D. A simile is a type of metaphor that uses numbers.

Answer: (A)

The difference is shown in how the comparison is presented. A simile uses the words like or as to compare two things, signaling that the comparison is figurative but explicit. A metaphor makes a direct claim that one thing is another, without using like or as. Examples help: saying someone is as brave as a lion is a simile because it uses like or as to draw the comparison. Saying someone is a lion in battle is a metaphor because it directly states they are a lion, making the comparison without like or as. So the best description is that a simile uses like or as to compare, while a metaphor makes a direct comparison without like or as. The other phrasing can misstate how metaphors or similes work, or add irrelevant details.

The difference is shown in how the comparison is presented. A simile uses the words like or as to compare two things, signaling that the comparison is figurative but explicit. A metaphor makes a direct claim that one thing is another, without using like or as.

Examples help: saying someone is as brave as a lion is a simile because it uses like or as to draw the comparison. Saying someone is a lion in battle is a metaphor because it directly states they are a lion, making the comparison without like or as.

So the best description is that a simile uses like or as to compare, while a metaphor makes a direct comparison without like or as. The other phrasing can misstate how metaphors or similes work, or add irrelevant details.