You probably use metaphors in your daily speech and you don’t even realize it. Think about it; Have you ever said to a friend or your spouse: “Today I have been worked to the bone” or “I am dead tired”? These are examples of metaphors that we use regularly in conversations. These forms of metaphors are also cliches used in everyday language.

We usually use metaphors to describe something. We can use a metaphor to tell us how things feel, how we feel, or to convey a similarity between two things that couldn’t be more different from each other. For example, saying that “the rain fell in buckets” is a descriptive way of telling how the rain fell. It did not fall from the sky in actual buckets, but the rain fell in great quantities; presumably enough to fill buckets.

For most, the metaphors are simple. We use throwing a metaphor into speech and conversation without thinking about it. Examples of metaphors can range from simple to more complex. Complex metaphors are what we often read in our favorite books and novels. The writer uses them to attract us and deepen our senses to demonstrate a point or make us feel for the characters.

Some, but not all, metaphors contain verbs to show the similarity between the two ideas you are trying to convey. Although the word “fog” is not a verb, when used to describe a person’s mental state, thought, or thought process, the word takes on a combination of description and action.

In short, a metaphor can show a comparison. You can also imply an idea without directly revealing the main idea or topic of a sentence or paragraph. If you listen to the radio, you sing hundreds of metaphors a day. Some of the most popular uses of metaphors are found in songs. Singers and bands use metaphors in almost all of their lyrics. Examples of metaphors can be found in almost any song you sing, book and magazine you read, or in your daily conversations. You only need to hear the words to find them.