Definition: A metaphor is a comparison of two things that does not use "like" or "as." Like similes, metaphors are a type of figurative language. Used well, metaphors are an efficient way of conveying an image or idea to your reader. Used poorly, however, they confuse or distract your reader.
Examples:
For examples of metaphor, we can turn to a master, picking up Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye. On the first page, we find: "...his hair was bone white."In this case, the color of the hair is being compared to the color of bone. Because neither "like" nor "as" is used, it's a metaphor rather than a simile. Continue to more examples of metaphor, practice creating your own metaphors, or test your knowledge with a figurative language quiz.
