What is a metaphor?

• A. A direct comparison without using like or as.
• B. A comparison using like or as.
• C. A humorous or facetious expression.
• D. The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Answer: (A)

A metaphor is a direct statement that one thing is another, creating a vivid image by equating two things without using like or as. For example, saying “the classroom was a zoo” treats the room as if it were a zoo, conveying busyness and noisiness without saying it’s like a zoo. That direct identity is what sets a metaphor apart from other figures of speech.

A simile, by contrast, would compare using like or as, such as “the classroom was like a zoo,” which keeps the two things separate and makes the comparison explicit rather than stating they are the same.

The other options describe different ideas: a humorous or facetious expression is about tone or playfulness rather than a figure of speech; the use of symbols to represent ideas is symbolism, which uses signs to stand for something else rather than declaring a direct equivalence.