30 Examples of Metaphors with Meanings

Metaphors compare one thing to another to explain ideas clearly. This list of metaphors with meanings includes common general metaphors used in daily life. These examples of metaphors make language simple and effective. These figures of speech help in conversations, writing, and expressing thoughts creatively.

Read Examples of Metaphors in Poetry

Examples of Metaphors with Meanings

• Time is a thief. – (Time takes away moments from life, just like a thief steals possessions.)
• Life is a journey. – (Life has ups and downs, just like a trip with paths, obstacles, and destinations.)
• She has a heart of stone. – (She is emotionally cold and unfeeling.)
• His words were a double-edged sword. – (His words had both positive and negative effects.)
• The classroom was a zoo. – (The classroom was noisy and chaotic, like animals in a zoo.)
• He is a night owl. – (He stays up late and is more active at night.)
• Her voice is music to my ears. – (Her voice is pleasant and soothing to hear.)
• The world is a stage. – (Life is like a play, where people have roles to act out.)
• His temper is a volcano. – (He has an explosive and unpredictable temper.)
• The city is a jungle. – (The city is wild, competitive, and full of challenges.)
• Her smile is sunshine. – (Her smile brings warmth, happiness, and positivity.)
• The stars were diamonds in the sky. – (The stars were shining brightly like precious stones.)
• He is a rock in tough times. – (He is strong, reliable, and supportive in difficult situations.)
• The internet is a highway of information. – (Information travels fast online, just like cars on a highway.)
• His mind is a computer. – (He processes and stores information quickly and efficiently.)
• Fear is a shadow. – (Fear follows you everywhere and lingers like a shadow.)
• Love is a battlefield. – (Love involves struggles, challenges, and emotional conflicts.)
• Her tears were a river. – (She was crying heavily and continuously.)
• The wind was a howling wolf. – (The wind was strong and loud, like a wolf howling.)
• Their friendship is a sturdy bridge. – (Their friendship is strong and unbreakable, like a well-built bridge.)
• Jealousy is a green-eyed monster. – (Jealousy is powerful, consuming, and destructive.)
• Laughter is the best medicine. – (Laughter helps heal emotional pain and improves mood.)
• His apology was a bandage on a wound. – (His apology tried to fix the hurt, but it didn’t fully heal it.)
• Dreams are blueprints of the future. – (Dreams shape and guide what will happen in the future.)
• Her mind is a library of knowledge. – (She knows a lot and remembers many things, like a library holds books.)
• The truth was a bitter pill. – (The truth was hard to accept, just like medicine that tastes bad but helps.)
• His past is a locked vault. – (His past is secretive and hidden from others.)
• Regret is a heavy chain. – (Regret is a burden that weighs a person down emotionally.)
• Opportunity knocked on his door. – (A chance came into his life, like someone knocking at the door.)
• Hope is a light in the darkness. – (Hope gives guidance and positivity in difficult times.)