Figures of Speech

Simile

Compare with ‘like’, ‘as’ or ‘as if’ to make an idea easy to picture.

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What & why

What it is
A simile makes a figurative comparison, usually between unlike things, using ‘like’, ‘as’ (‘as dry as sawdust’, ‘light as a feather’), ‘as if’ or ‘as though’. It borrows a familiar image to make a feeling, sound, or idea easier to picture. Those signal words alone are not enough: ‘this cable is as long as that one’ may be a literal measurement, and ‘it looks as if it will rain’ is a prediction, not a simile. The comparison needs to carry an image or meaning beyond the literal facts.
Why it works

Similes make an explicit comparison that invites listeners to map an unfamiliar idea onto a familiar one. The explicit ‘like’ or ‘as’ tells listeners a comparison is coming, so a new or surprising image can be easier to follow as a simile than as a metaphor, especially when you explain the likeness next. For a familiar image, a metaphor is shorter and just as clear.

Before & after

These are fictional teaching examples, not accounts of real events.

Before

“The server is slow.”

After

“The server crawls like rush-hour traffic on the highway.”

See it in action

An original teaching example. The situations and results are fictional.

Featured example

The instructions were like a jigsaw with half the pieces missing.

  • Comparison: like a jigsaw with half the pieces missing

Someone trying to assemble furniture from incomplete instructions.

Look inside the comparison

What we are talking about
the incomplete instructions
The image
a jigsaw with missing pieces
The connection
necessary parts missing from a whole

In plain words: The instructions left out information needed to complete the task.

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When you’ll use it

Making technical concepts accessible to diverse audiences

Adding personality and relatability to data presentations

Creating vivid descriptions in storytelling

Helping stakeholders visualize scale or impact

Building empathy by comparing user experiences

Making abstract metrics tangible and meaningful

Pro tip

Use a comparison your audience knows well.

Questions & answers

When should I use simile instead of metaphor?

Use similes when you want to maintain distance between the two things being compared or when the comparison might be unexpected. A simile offers the image as a comparison rather than a verdict: ‘Our process is like a maze’ is softer than ‘Our process is a maze.’ For a familiar image, a metaphor is shorter and just as clear.

How do I avoid cliché similes?

Create fresh similes by being specific. Instead of ‘busy as a bee,’ try ‘busy as a barista during the morning rush.’ Draw from your specific industry or shared experiences with your audience.

Are similes too informal for executive presentations?

Not when used strategically. One well-chosen simile can make complex data easier to picture. Keep them professional, specific, and relevant to business outcomes. Avoid cute or humorous similes in formal contexts.

Learn more

Silva Rhetoricae (BYU)
Academy of American Poets (Poets.org)
Wikipedia - Simile

Put it into practice

Practice Simile

Work through examples, then test your understanding in a short quiz. Your progress is saved as you practice.

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