Q. What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech comparing two different subjects to emphasize a trait they have in common. These subjects can be objects, people, animals, colors, concepts, phenomena, etc. Some examples of metaphors are

• "the lake was glass,"
• "her words dripped with honey,"
• "a fish scaled in gems," and
• "the river of life."

Be careful that you don't confuse metaphor with simile, for though they are similar, a metaphor does NOT use the words like or as.

Also, avoid combining unrelated metaphors, which creates a confusing expression known as a mixed metaphor. An example of a mixed metaphor is something like, "An ace in the hole shouldn't be put on the back burner." This is a problem because the author tries to combine metaphors of poker and cooking, which invokes imagery that is too incongruent.

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