A simile (/ˈsɪməli/) is a figure of speech that directly compares two things.[1][2] Similes differ from metaphors by highlighting the similarities between two things using comparison words such as "like", "as", "so", or "than",[3] while metaphors create an implicit comparison (i.e. saying something "is" something else).[1][4] This distinction is evident in the etymology of the words: simile derives from the Latin word similis ("similar, like"), while metaphor derives from the Greek word metapherein ("to transfer").[5] As in the case of metaphors, the thing that is being compared is called the tenor, and the thing it is being compared to is called the vehicle.[6] Author and lexicographer Frank J. Wilstach compiled a dictionary of similes in 1916, with a second edition in 1924.
As when a prowling Wolf, Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, Watching where Shepherds pen their Flocks at eve In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure, Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the Fold: . . . . . . . So clomb this first grand Thief into God's Fold[9]
Stopping her from going was like trying to catch a bullet with a pair of tweasers, impossible.[10]
Learning to drive was like a deer learning how to walk for the first time. Stumbling until you get it right.[10]
In comedyedit
Similes are used extensively in British comedy, notably in the slapstick era of the 1960s and 1970s. In comedy, the simile is often used in negative style: "he was as daft as a brush." They are also used in comedic context where a sensitive subject is broached, and the comedian will test the audience with response to subtle implicit simile before going deeper.[11] The sitcom Blackadder featured the use of extended similes, normally said by the title character. For example:
Baldrick: I have a plan, sir.
Blackadder: Really, Baldrick? A cunning and subtle one?
Baldrick: Yes, sir.
Blackadder: As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University?[12]
In languages other than Englishedit
Given that similes emphasize affinities between different objects, they occur in many cultures and languages.
Arabicedit
Sayf al-Din al-Amidi discussed Arabic similes in 1805: "On Substantiation Through Transitive Relations".
Vietnameseedit
Thuy Nga Nguyen and Ghil'ad Zuckermann (2012) classify Vietnamese similes into two types: Meaning Similes and Rhyming Similes.
The following is an example:
Nghèo
/ŋɛu
như
ɲɯ
con
kɔn
mèo
mɛu/
Nghèo như con mèo
/ŋɛu ɲɯ kɔn mɛu/
"Poor as a cat"
Whereas the above Vietnamese example is of a rhyming simile, the English simile "(as) poor as a church mouse" is only a semantic simile.[13]
In Telugu, simile is known as upamaalankaaramu (ఉపమాలంకారము). Based on the components of the sentence in which the comparison is made, they are classified into complete (పూర్ణోపమాలంకారము- puurnopamaalankaaramu) and incomplete (లుప్తోపమాలంకారము- lupthopamaalankaaramu) similes. The classic example of a complete simile is: ఆమె ముఖము చంద్రబింబము వలెనున్నది (Her face looks like a moon).
See alsoedit
For a list of words relating to similes, see the English similes category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
^"Oxford Reference: metaphor and simile". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
^"Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
^"What Is A Simile?". English Like A Native. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
^Burns, Robert. "A Red Red Rose". Glen Collection of Printed Music, Vol. 5. National Library of Scotland. p. 415. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
^Murfin, Ross; Ray, Supryia M. (2003). The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms (2nd ed.). Bedford/St. Martins. pp. 135. ISBN978-0312259105.
^Milton, John (1852). Henry John Todd (ed.). The Poetical Works of John Milton: With Notes of Various Authors; and with Some Account of the Life and Writings of Milton, Derived Principally from Original Documents in Her Majesty's State-paper Office. Rivingtons, Longman and Company. p. 62.
^ abcWilliam Hall, ed. (1850). Encyclopædia of English Grammar: Designed for the Use of Schools, Academies, and Private Learners. Scott and Bascom. p. 352.
^"What Is A Simile?". Funny Similes!. Retrieved 2016-04-06.[permanent dead link]
^Edmund_Blackadder (2016-05-02). "Blackadder Series 4 Episode 6 Goodbyeee Full Script". Blackadder Quotes. from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^See p. 98 in Thuy Nga Nguyen and Ghil'ad Zuckermann (2012), "Stupid as a Coin: Meaning and Rhyming Similes in Vietnamese", International Journal of Language Studies 6 (4), pp. 97-118.
Further readingedit
Beck, Deborah (2023). The stories of similes in Greek and Roman epic. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN9781108481793.
External linksedit
Examples of Simile in Literature
February 16, 2024
simile, confused, with, smile, simile, figure, speech, that, directly, compares, things, differ, from, metaphors, highlighting, similarities, between, things, using, comparison, words, such, like, than, while, metaphors, create, implicit, comparison, saying, s. Not to be confused with Smile A simile ˈ s ɪ m el i is a figure of speech that directly compares two things 1 2 Similes differ from metaphors by highlighting the similarities between two things using comparison words such as like as so or than 3 while metaphors create an implicit comparison i e saying something is something else 1 4 This distinction is evident in the etymology of the words simile derives from the Latin word similis similar like while metaphor derives from the Greek word metapherein to transfer 5 As in the case of metaphors the thing that is being compared is called the tenor and the thing it is being compared to is called the vehicle 6 Author and lexicographer Frank J Wilstach compiled a dictionary of similes in 1916 with a second edition in 1924 Contents 1 Uses 1 1 In literature 1 2 In comedy 2 In languages other than English 2 1 Arabic 2 2 Vietnamese 2 3 Telugu 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksUses editIn literature edit O My Luve s like a red red rose A Red Red Rose by Robert Burns 1 7 John Milton Paradise Lost a Homeric simile 8 As when a prowling Wolf Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey Watching where Shepherds pen their Flocks at eve In hurdl d Cotes amid the field secure Leaps o er the fence with ease into the Fold So clomb this first grand Thief into God s Fold 9 William Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice How far that little candle throws his beams So shines a good deed in a naughty world 10 dd Stopping her from going was like trying to catch a bullet with a pair of tweasers impossible 10 dd Learning to drive was like a deer learning how to walk for the first time Stumbling until you get it right 10 dd In comedy edit Similes are used extensively in British comedy notably in the slapstick era of the 1960s and 1970s In comedy the simile is often used in negative style he was as daft as a brush They are also used in comedic context where a sensitive subject is broached and the comedian will test the audience with response to subtle implicit simile before going deeper 11 The sitcom Blackadder featured the use of extended similes normally said by the title character For example Baldrick I have a plan sir Blackadder Really Baldrick A cunning and subtle one Baldrick Yes sir Blackadder As cunning as a fox who s just been appointed Professor of Cunning at Oxford University 12 dd In languages other than English editGiven that similes emphasize affinities between different objects they occur in many cultures and languages Arabic edit Sayf al Din al Amidi discussed Arabic similes in 1805 On Substantiation Through Transitive Relations Vietnamese edit Thuy Nga Nguyen and Ghil ad Zuckermann 2012 classify Vietnamese similes into two types Meaning Similes and Rhyming Similes The following is an example Ngheo ŋɛunhưɲɯconkɔnmeomɛu Ngheo như con meo ŋɛu ɲɯ kɔn mɛu Poor as a cat Whereas the above Vietnamese example is of a rhyming simile the English simile as poor as a church mouse is only a semantic simile 13 Telugu edit In Telugu simile is known as upamaalankaaramu ఉపమ ల క రమ Based on the components of the sentence in which the comparison is made they are classified into complete ప ర ణ పమ ల క రమ puurnopamaalankaaramu and incomplete ల ప త పమ ల క రమ lupthopamaalankaaramu similes The classic example of a complete simile is ఆమ మ ఖమ చ ద రబ బమ వల న న నద Her face looks like a moon See also edit nbsp For a list of words relating to similes see the English similes category of words in Wiktionary the free dictionary Alliteration Analogy Description Figure of speech Homeric simile Hyperbole Hypocatastasis Like as a preposition used in comparisons Metaphor Metonymy Personification Phono semantic matching Tautology language Simile ariaReferences edit a b c The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms 2nd ed Bedford St Martins 2003 pp 447 448 ISBN 978 0312259105 Simile Literary Terms 22 June 2015 Retrieved 6 April 2016 LitCharts Oxford Reference metaphor and simile Oxford Reference Retrieved 4 July 2019 Merriam Webster Online Dictionary Merriam Webster Retrieved 4 July 2019 What Is A Simile English Like A Native Retrieved 2021 02 21 Burns Robert A Red Red Rose Glen Collection of Printed Music Vol 5 National Library of Scotland p 415 Retrieved 2016 04 06 Murfin Ross Ray Supryia M 2003 The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms 2nd ed Bedford St Martins pp 135 ISBN 978 0312259105 Milton John 1852 Henry John Todd ed The Poetical Works of John Milton With Notes of Various Authors and with Some Account of the Life and Writings of Milton Derived Principally from Original Documents in Her Majesty s State paper Office Rivingtons Longman and Company p 62 a b c William Hall ed 1850 Encyclopaedia of English Grammar Designed for the Use of Schools Academies and Private Learners Scott and Bascom p 352 What Is A Simile Funny Similes Retrieved 2016 04 06 permanent dead link Edmund Blackadder 2016 05 02 Blackadder Series 4 Episode 6 Goodbyeee Full Script Blackadder Quotes Archived from the original on 8 January 2024 Retrieved 2024 01 21 See p 98 in Thuy Nga Nguyen and Ghil ad Zuckermann 2012 Stupid as a Coin Meaning and Rhyming Similes in Vietnamese International Journal of Language Studies 6 4 pp 97 118 Further reading editBeck Deborah 2023 The stories of similes in Greek and Roman epic Cambridge New York Cambridge University Press ISBN 9781108481793 External links editExamples of Simile in Literature Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Simile amp oldid 1198939389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
