Which term describes a direct comparison where one thing is another?

Which term describes a direct comparison where one thing is another?

• A. Simile
• B. Metaphor
• C. Idioms
• D. Adages

Answer: (B)

Metaphor is a direct comparison in which one thing is described as being another. It creates a vivid image by equating two different things without using like or as. For example, “Time is a thief” treats time as if it were a thief, highlighting how moments slip away. That direct substitution is what sets a metaphor apart from a simile, which would say something is “like” or “as” another thing. Idioms and adages are figurative phrases with meanings that aren’t tied to a simple one-to-one comparison, so they don’t fit the idea of describing one thing as being another.

Metaphor is a direct comparison in which one thing is described as being another. It creates a vivid image by equating two different things without using like or as. For example, “Time is a thief” treats time as if it were a thief, highlighting how moments slip away. That direct substitution is what sets a metaphor apart from a simile, which would say something is “like” or “as” another thing. Idioms and adages are figurative phrases with meanings that aren’t tied to a simple one-to-one comparison, so they don’t fit the idea of describing one thing as being another.