Let's Master English Idioms, Metaphors and Similes

1. Introduction: English idioms, metaphors and similes, idioms, metaphors and similes are what is referred to in British English as figures of speech. Whilst all having separate meanings and uses within the English language, it can often be very difficult to work out the difference between all three. We're going to explore all three terms in this course, looking at lots of examples. You can include in your own everyday conversations to enrich your language and make you sound more native se. Let's begin with idioms. 2. Idioms Part 1: idioms. What is an idiom? An idiom is a common word or phrase that is understood culturally. The term is never meant to be taken literally, as what is said always differs from what is being implied. Idioms are incredibly common in the British language, with many deriving from many years ago. Idioms can be a fairly confusing thing to grasp for anyone learning English as a second language. So we're going to focus on some of the most common idioms in British English toe. Help you improve your conversational skills. Number one a penny For your thoughts. You can use the phrase penny feel thoughts when you see somebody who is in deep thought and you want to know what they're thinking about in the literal sense. This idiom translate says, I will pay. You will pay you a penny if you tell me what you are thinking. The earliest recorded usage of this idiot is back in 15 35 so it's a very old phrase in the English language. Nowadays, this idiom is used more by older generations rather than by younger people, but it is generally understood by all native English speakers. This is a good phrase for learners of English to use because you don't have to do anything to it. What I mean is that you can use it as a phrase in itself. All you have to do is find somebody who looks like they're thinking about something. And if you want to know what they're thinking about you, you just say a penny for your thoughts. If somebody say, Is this idiom to you, you can answer it by saying something along the lines off I was just thinking about, uh, I was just wondering about and then say what it was that you were thinking about. Simple. A penny for your thoughts. Oh, I was just thinking about what Michael said to me yesterday. Number two, tongue in cheek, referring to something as tongue in cheek means you mean for it to be taken as a joke or a spastic statement. Despite it, perhaps coming across is more serious, more often used in written English rather than spoken. You'll see this idiom used in phrases such as she made a tongue in cheek remark about him having had enough to drink already. This this idiomatic freeze dates back to the early 18 hundreds, and it refers to the way that you can put your tongue into your cheek when you say something in a joking manner. It can also be used as a phrase all objective, which means you can use it to describe now, when it is used manner, you should hyphenate it. You can put tongue in cheek in front of now owns like remark or joke, or even things like documentary. Basically, you can put it in front of anything that isn't meant to be taken too seriously. For example, a tongue in cheek joke, a tongue in cheek remark. It was a tongue in cheek documentary about he hates cheese. So we bought him a cheese board as a tongue in cheek Christmas present. She spoke with a tongue and cheek tone. You can also use him as a synonym off the adverbs, sarcastically or ironically, if you use it as an adverb, you don't need to use hyphens. For example, I wasn't serious. I just said it tongue in cheek. You're in trouble now, she said, tongue in cheek 3. Idioms Part 2: number three a Normandy leg. This phrase is used to over exaggerate How expensive you thought something Waas. It's very common to hear this phrase used in British English language, for example, to say this point cost me an arm and a leg under leg. Meaning the drink they have just purchased was so expensive that it was comparable with selling your own body parts. Of course, we use this phrase tongue in cheek. The phrase it costs an arm and a leg actually comes from America and was coined mid 20th century. It tends to be used with verb cost and you can use it in any tense. I bet that cost you an arm and a leg. I bet that was expensive. This holiday is going to cost me an arm and a leg. This holiday is going to be expensive. You can use the cost with any object pro. Now it cost me. It's going to cost you. It would have cost him etcetera, but you don't have to. You can just say it cost of Boston arm and a leg without using any object pronoun a tool. Here's some examples. A car like that would cost an arm and a leg. We didn't buy anything. Everything in that shop cost an arm and a leg. There is a similar phrase to this one, which is used in a slightly different way. Give my right arm. You can use this to show that you really want something. For example, I would give my right arm to go to Australia, Chris said. He said he would have given his right arm for a car like that. Number four, the ball is in your court. If you say the ball is in your court, you are telling someone that it is their turn to move. Turn to make the next decision. The idiom stems from sports games, where the ball is physically in someone else's court of play and used very often in spoken English to advise someone that it is their turn to make the next move. This phrase is used very frequently in British English, so it's a great 1 to 1 to remember. You can change the word your in this idiom to use any possessive objective. Molly, you're hiss, huh? Our there. Oh, even a name, for example. The ball is in my court. I It's miter. The ball is in his court. Uh, the ball is in Peter's court. This phrase is usually used in a way that makes it clear that you have done everything you can to make a decision or fix something, and now it's up to somebody. Do the rest. Here are some examples I've done everything I can, so the ball is in his court now. Murray told Steve that she's not happy, so the ball is in his court now. Company X made a bid, so the ball is in company wise court Now. We sent them a solicitor's letter, so the ball is in their court now. 4. Idioms Part 3: number five biting off more than you can chew. This is another very common phrase. To bite off more than you can chew means either to have taken on too much work or to be trying to accomplish something, which is too difficult. It's very often used if someone has agreed to do too much in one go, for example, in that job, and its literal translation means to have bitten off a piece of food too big for your mouth . The earliest usage of this phrase was in the 18 hundreds in America, but these days it's used all over the English speaking world. You can play around with this phrase and use it in various tenses and also change the subject. For example, I'm biting off more than I can chew. I bit off more than I could chew. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. He's biting off more than he can chew. We bit off more than we could chew. Sophie and Dave are going to bite off more than they can chew. You can even use the phrase as a warning to somebody not take on too much work. More than you can chew. Here is some example sentences using this idiot Michael has been working too hard recently . I think is bitten off more than he can chew. They've got five weddings to organize, and they've only got a month. We got a month to do it. They've definitely bitten off more than they can chew. We should stop taking on new clients, or we're going to end up biting off more than we can chew. Number six. Best thing since sliced bread. The best thing since sliced bread is a classically British idiom. We use this to exclaim our delight in something being very good, such as ideas, innovations or even just in experience. Another teat remark. To say something is the best thing since sliced bread. We're exaggerating that the things we find to be good is the first great thing toe happen since we had pre sliced bread. You can use this idiom as it is. It's an alternative for the words fantastic or excellent, but you tend to use it to describe an invention of some sort that you find amazing rather than anything else. For example, the iPad is such a great invention. It's the best thing since sliced bread. Liam really believes he is the best thing since sliced bread. Betty is obsessed with her new phone. She thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread. 5. Idioms Part 4: So we've looked at a couple of examples of classic British idioms just for a bit of fun. I'm going to read out some idioms for you to try. See if you can think of the definitions for each one. Number 11 Don't count your chickens before your eggs have hatched. Let's say if you guessed correctly, this idiom simply means not to be over eager for plans which might not happen. Don't count your profits before the deal is done. This is very often shortened to simply don't count your chickens, for example. Look at the school. There is no way they can beat us now. Don't count your chickens just yet. Anything could happen. Number two. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Let's see if you guessed correctly to say, Don't put all your eggs in one basket means honor advice. Someone that they should not put all their hopes on. One outcome. When there are other possible outcomes to a situation, you may also hear the idiom. Don't put it all on black, which has similar connotations. Don't bet all your money on one thing. For example, I've sent my CV off to company X. I hope they get back to me soon. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You should send your CV Tim. Some more companies to number three. Kill two birds with one stone. Let's see if you guess this one right in this idiom. We're saying you can achieve two separate chores by doing one thing. For example, if by going for a walk we could get exercise files and take the dog out, we would refer to. This is killing two birds with the same stone, for example. I'm going to take the dog for a walk. You might as well post this letter on your way around to and kill two birds with one stone number four method to my madness. Despite something you are doing seeming obscure or absurd, there is, in fact, a reason behind doing say, for example, I don't understand how what you're doing will help. Don't panic. There's method to my madness. Number five taste of your own medicine. To give someone a taste of their own medicine would mean you treat them how they have been treating others, including you say, for example, if someone was rooty so you were rude back to them. We would say this is giving them a taste of their own medicine. For example, she gave him a taste of his own medicine. He is being a brat. Someone needs to give him a taste of his own medicine. 6. Idioms Part 5: Now that we've looked at a few of our most common English idioms, let's explore some more complex idioms in the British language. The's idioms can be a little trickier to get your head around, but are still commonplace, so they're definitely worth learning. Number one look after your pennies and the pounds will look after themselves as a penny is the smallest British currency you can have. We're essentially saying, if you look after the smaller things in life, the big things in this case, the pound coins will handle themselves. This could be quite a tricky idiom to grasp, as the pound in British currency used to be the biggest coin and value. But that since changed with the introduction of a £2 coin. As with a lot of things in the British language, though, we like to stick with tradition, so this idiom has never bean changed. For example, I'm going to start saving money in my money box if I look after the pennies than the pounds will look after themselves. This can also be shortened to look after your pennies, which gives the same effect. Don't worry about the change. Thank you. Remember you should look after your pennies. Number two, hit the sack. Suck in this idiom means bed, so this idiom translates to I'm going to go to bed. We also very regularly used the phrases hit the hay or hit the sheets, and they all mean the same thing. The verb hit. It's the post idiom that you can change, just like with most idioms. You can use it in any tense and with any person. I am really tired today. I think I will hit the sack and get an early night. He had worn himself out at the playground and hit the hay as soon as we got Hey, as soon as we got home, I think we're going to hit the hay when we get back. Number three Curiosity killed the cat. This idiom means being to inquisitive or curious will lead to an unpleasant situation. The idiom itself is certainly a lot more dramatic than the definition. A similar turn of phrase used quite commonly is don't go looking for trouble translating us . Do not look or read something which will cause conflict for yourself. Number four beat around the bush. This is typically used to say that someone is avoiding a specific subject or not speaking directly about an issue. The verb beat can be used in the present or past tense. Here, you can use it when you want somebody to get to the point, especially when they're spending too much time talking about something else. Let's look at these examples. Don't beat around the bush. Tell me what they said. We didn't find out. The answer in the end, as he beat around the bush was everyone got bored. Tell Pat to stop beating around the bush. Number five. Elvis has left the building. This was originally an American idiom that has found its way into the British English language. It means that the show has come to an end, or something has ended. It was originally used in order to disperse audiences of Elvis Presley concerts and has since become somewhat of a catchphrase 7. Idioms Part 6: to complete our idiom section. Here are some more common idioms to explore before I explain their meetings. Let's see if you can have a guess to be on the This is used to describe someone as being alert and competent or prepared for any eventuality. For example, she's done a great job. She is really on the ball. You can you You can use the idiom on the ball with the verb to bay so you can use it to describe any person in any tense. Did you sleep well last night? You don't really seem to be on the bull today. I wasn't on the bull yesterday. I had a lot on my mind, But today, Sally said, she'll be more on the ball tomorrow. I would be more on the ball if I hadn't got to listen to Joe moaning all day to pull yourself together of together. We use this idiom to express that someone should calm themselves down and maintain composure. He has been through a lot, but he managed to pull himself together the pronoun with any pro. Now, myself, yourself, himself, herself, oneself ourselves, yourselves themselves to talk about other people. This idiom can be used, doesn't it can be used as an imperative by itself. Pull yourself together, Jackie, or you can use it in a sentence. I think he really needs to pull himself together and get on with it. The idiomatic phrase get on with it means to continue making progress with something something. I was a bit upset yesterday, but Marie told me to pull myself together. And so I did. Let's stop bickering. We need to pull ourselves together and get back to work. Kyle was getting a bit overwhelmed with all his home. Pull himself together and he's OK today. Pulling your leg. Pulling someone's leg indicates that you are joking, winding them up or teasing them and oppa teasing them in a playful manner. He was only pulling your leg when he said that you had failed. Just like with pull yourself together. We can change the pronoun in pulling your leg to use any other pronouns when talking about other people. My, your his, her, our there, stop pulling his leg. I think he's had enough of your teasing for one day. She said that Michael was coming to our house at 7 p.m. but he hasn't turned up. Do you think she was just pulling our leg? Joan kept making jokes at Ling jokes at Liam's expense, but she was only pulling his leg. Bee's knees. The bees knees is a colloquial term used to refer to something or someone or off the highest quality. The bees knees actually originates from a different phrase, the Bill and Kendall meeting the most important thing. This phrase was commonly shortened to the bees and ease, which was simply misinterpreted as the bee's knees and is now used quite widely across much of the UK That meal was the bees knees. Jess went all out to impress. At the dinner party, she looked the bee's knees in British slang. We've also We've also acquired a few other nonsense phrases deriving from the bee's knees, the cat's whiskers, the snakes, hips and the dog's bollocks. Bob's your uncle. This is a very funny turn of phrase used in the UK, which loosely translates us, And there you have it. It's used when a successful result has been obtained. There's a similar that you'll have probably already heard, eh? Wala? No one's really certain of this idioms. Origins and there were many different opinions on the matter, ranging from song lyrics right through to Victorian aristocrats. Take a left, a left turn right down the avenue and Bob's your uncle. She bribed him with £200 Bob's your uncle. All the charges were dropped. Put it on a high heat for 20 minutes. Leave to cool for another 10 on Bob's your uncle. The cake is done box Standard Box Standard is the same as saying something is over basic standard or is very ordinary and un remarkable. An adjective just like Bob's Your Uncle. It's difficult to find an origin for this idiom. Although the earliest recorded use of this phrase comes from a 19 sixties magazine publication, that car is the box standard model. They booked out a book Standard Room in the hotel for a cheap overnight stay. I don't just want to box standard dress for my wedding. I want something with the wow factor 8. Idioms Part 7: books, job botch job, a botched job or a budge job is when somebody has done something clumsily without any scale . Use this phrase to describe something, or you can use it with the verb to do. You can also use the words botch or bajaj as verbs. To botch or to botch something is to complete a task clumsily, carelessly or without skill. These these verbs are also used with the proposition up, for example, to box it up. I'm trying not to make a budget job of it, but I am in a hurry that plastering work was a real box shop. There are crap. I don't know who did it, but they did a really botched job. The lady was really upset that her new kitchen looked like a botched job. So she complained to the suppliers. I'm so sorry. I really budged everything up. Chuffed Tibet's chuffed is an idiomatic word, taking the same meaning as to be happy, elated or pleased With the result of something commonly used off to bits, you'll find it used an informal conversation across parts of the UK You'll also find this phrase shortened too chuffed, and it's used quite often on its own to express joy. I'm chuffed with that you can use Children can use chuffed or chuffed to bits as simple adjectival phrases. I'm chuffed to bits with the football results. I bet you're chuffed. It's Friday. She was chuffed to bits that she'd want some money on the lottery. Cost a bomb. This is similar to the idiom we explored earlier. An arm and a leg. To say something cost a bomb again means that the price of price of something was extortionate. There are a couple of other idioms that have similar meanings. Cost a small fortune again, meaning that something with expensive and rob dogs used as a derogatory comment about a place or someone you purchase an item or service expensive that you feel you have been roped. I'm not going to the party. The drinks will cost a bomb, and I'm budgeting this month. It didn't cost a bomb, but it was an expense we could have done without. Everyone enjoyed their meal, but it costs a small. It cost a small fortune. Her car broke down and the rob dogs at the car carriage charged her a small fortune to fix it full of beans. The phrase full of beans is used to describe someone or something as being lively and excitable. The term seems to derive from the mid 18 hundreds and is attributed to the practice of feeding beans to horses as fodder. Supposedly, horses that were fed beans were more energetic. She's full of beans today. The Children were full of beans as they were going on a school trip. You seem full of beans this morning. You must have had a good night. So good night's sleep. I don't know what's wrong with him today. He was full of beans yesterday. Gobsmacked. This idiomatic word is used to describe yourself or someone else as shocked or surprised to be totally astonished at something. It's derived from the woods. Gulp as in mouth and smack as in hit, meaning to be meaning to be hit in the mouth. The action we perform when we are shocked, for example, is to put our hands to our mouth. There's also a much less commonly used phrase in English, with the same meaning gob stroke, whose use was gradually superseded by gobsmacked. He turned up unannounced and left everybody gobsmacked. Everyone was gobsmacked when the jury found her guilty. I am gobsmacked. I didn't expect to win this award. I wasn't just shocked by the result. The result? I was absolutely gobsmacked. 9. Idioms Part 8: gallivanting Gallivanting is an informal way of describing someone as traveling or roaming about places for pleasure. He quit his job and went Gallivan. She is always off gallivanting about places she never sits down. It comes from the verb to gala event, and you should think about it is a more informal way of saying to travel about. It tends to be used. They used in the present participle with the verb to go so you can congregate to go gather venting into any tense. They went gallivanting around Europe last year. If Sophie didn't spend all her time gallivanting around town, she would have more time to work. You'll also see the verb gala vant spelled relevant, gutted. This word is used to express extreme upset disappointment about a result or experience. Jamie ended their relationship, but he was absolutely good. It I am absolutely gutted about the game being cancelled. She was gutted to leave her job, but the traveling was too much. Too much to be quits in this means to be in receipt of money. Also, a term used to mean someone is property. Quit is a slanguage for a pound coin. The person who is quits in is the one who has made the money. Arthur was quits in from the Betty, made at the horse races last week. Chris made a lot of good investments many years ago, and now he has quits in. If this deal goes ahead, will be quits. In Skydive, Scaife is a verb used to describe avoiding going to work or fulfilling a duty that is required of you, typically by feigning an illness, we can use Scaife as the past participle, skydived or present. Skiving, too. Julie Skydived work because she was too tired to go in today. Mark told his school that he was sick so that he could sky. I've the day off. I am Skiving off college today because I didn't finish the project that is Julian to throw a spanner in the works. This is a turn of phrase used to indicate that a problem or difficulty has arisen in current plants. If you throw a spanner in the works, you cause of the slows or stops the current plans from going to flourish in. Ben threw a spanner in the works by pulling out of the football game last minute. The result of the game is sure to throw a spanner in the works. The lack of resources really puts a spanner in the works, as it will mean we won't meet the deadline. 10. Idioms Part 9: spend a penny. This is a colloquial euphemism that means to use the toilet. Interestingly, this idiom derived from the use of public laboratories, where traditionally it would cost a penny to use the toilet in the early 19 forties whilst such toilets a long since gone or are more expensive to use. These days, the spend a penny phrase has never quite changed to meet with the rise of inflation. And though it's a very dated phrase now, it's still it's still quite commonplace in British language. I'm just going to spend a penny. I'll be back in a moment. The public toilets before from clean, but she was desperate to spend a penny. He had to pay 20 pence to spend a penny splash out. This is an informal term that is used to describe someone spending a lot of money on something or being very extravagant. The idiom splashed. The cash also has the same meaning, and it's used Justus commonly another phrase similar to splash out. It's full count. Whilst it also means to spend a lot of money on something, it has more negative connotations actions than splash out, often used to insinuate that a purchase wasn't intended. Julie splashed out on a top of the range sports girl I could afford to splash out. I've just had a pay rise. We're going out on a new kitchen next year. My tire had a puncher, so I had to fork out for a brand new one. Take the Mickey to take the Mickey means to t. Someone will make a joke it someone's expense, usually in a friendly manner. There are various forms of this idiom to take the Mick. Take them, Michael. But take the Mickey is most widely used, though they're all dro. They're all derivatives of the same name. Michael, don't take the Michael. It's not fair on him. They were only taking the Mickey out of her, but she took it quite seriously. He took the Mickey out of her for wearing a scarf in summer, a blessing in disguise to refer to something as a blessing in disguise. It means that a situation may have gone unfavorably, yet eventually has positive, has positive results. For example, you were supposed to go on holiday to Spain, but it was canceled last minute. Yet you find out it has been raining every day in Spain. This would be referred to as a blessing in disguise. The phrase actually originates from his 100. It's where it was used in a religious hymn, and it's still in use regularly. Now. The phrase count your blessings have similar connotations, meaning to be grateful for the good things which have happened to you and not to dwell on the bat. The house sale fell through, but it was a blessing in disguise. Since he lost his job a week later, Jill was off work sick, which was perhaps a blessing in disguise as it was incredibly busy. It may well turn out to be a blessing in disguise, in disguise if it starts to rain. Better late than never. This is a common phrase that essentially means it's better that you're late but still came than to not have come at all, it's often said with a hint of sarcasm, pointing out someone's late nous despite coming across as positive. We were stuck in traffic, but better late than never. Better late than never, the teacher remarked. As to students, doctors to students hurried into the classroom. Julie's train was delayed by half a Nower, but it was better late than never, she thought. Bite the bullet to bite the bullet. You decide to do something that you have been putting off because it seems difficult or unpleasant. It's often thought that this phrase originates from medieval medical procedures, where a patient would bite down on a bullet as a way to cope with extreme pain and discomfort during surgical procedures. Fortunately, the use of anesthetics has come a long way since then. He really didn't want to admit it, but he decided to bite the bullet and tell the truth. I hate going to the I hate going to the dentist, but I just have to bite the bullet. James had been putting off breaking up with Julia a week, but he decided to find the bullet today whilst they were on their own. 11. Idioms Part 10: call it a day to call it a day. It means to put an end to something you are doing, I a task or a habit. It's also common to use the phrase right, which takes on the same meaning but used in the evening. Instead, after spending the afternoon painting, she decided to call it a day. We will get this wrapped up and then we can call it today. It will be busy tomorrow, so call it a night in night and get some sleep. Cut somebody some slack. This means to be less critical of the person or be less expectant of someone than usual because of their current circumstances. This the idiom alludes to the slackening of tautness in a rope or sale. Those being more flexible and not as tight. We can use this idiom with different pronounce, too. For example, cut him some slack, couldn't them some slap could awesome slack cut you some slack? He wasn't feeling very well, so I could him some slack and told him to go home. James had made a few mistakes. I decided to cut him some slack because it was his first day on the job I don't know why you keep cutting her some slack. She is constantly making errors, cutting corners. If you are quitting corners, you are rushing a task or a job by missing out some steps in the process in order to get the task done quicker. The painters had been cutting corners as their workmanship was very poor. I I could some corners and managed to finish an hour early. If you could corners and rush, the results won't be as good. Easy does it. This is often used to tell someone to do something carefully and slowly. But this idiom is also used to advise someone to calm down. Easy does it. It's not the receptionist fault. You can put the box down in the corner, but easy does it. As it's it's a fine piece of art, so easy does it get out of hand. This refers to a situation that has only well escalate and become chaotic or unmanageable. Don't let the party get out of hand, otherwise the police will be called. You need to calm down as you're getting out of hand. The argument got out of hand, given got out of hand, and Julia left the room crying. Go back to the drawing board to go back to the drawing board. You refer back to the original specifications. All plan, usually because the further first plan has failed. The first attempted organizing a party was a disaster, so we decided to go back to the drawing board. If at first you don't succeed, go back to the drawing board and try again. Andrew was not happy that the House sale had fallen through, and they were back to the drawing board again. It's not rocket science. This is often used to stay state that you do not believe a task is difficult to accomplish . All understand the table tennis rules aren't exactly rocket science. I don't know why you're struggling. It's hardly rocket science. Learning. Learning how to drive a car isn't rocket science, but it can be quite daunting. Speak of the devil. We use this idiom when someone appears whom you have just been discussing. The term is a should a shortened version of phrase speak of the devil, and he will appear. For example, John hasn't paid me for the drink I bought in last week. Speak of the devil. He's here now 12. Idioms Part 11: time flies when you're having fun. This is a very common tern of phrase used in British English. It means that time has passed quicker than you expected it to be because you have enjoyed what you were doing. I can't believe it's 10 PM already. Time flies when you're having fun under the weather. To be under the weather means to be feeling sick or in low spirits. She didn't turn up for football training as she was feeling under the weather. I've been little under the weather, so I've barely done any work. Jenny had Bean under the weather for a while now, but she refused to go to the doctors. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. This is a term used when you do not intend Tinto worry or concern yourself with a problem now, but we'll deal with it as situation of rises. We're close to running out of supplies, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I suppose we will cross that bridge. When we come to that, you can say that again. You can say that again is used when you're in agreement with something. A person has said to express emphasis. For example, this restaurant is expensive. You can say that again. And finally your guess is as good as mine. This phrases coined to explain that you do not know the answer to a question. For example, would it be in again today? Your guess is as good as mine. 13. Metaphors and Similes Part 1: say that's idioms covered. Let's focus our attention now on similes and metaphors. Similes and metaphors are both very similar. Andi, as mentioned at the start, it cannot to decipher which is which festival. How do they differ to idioms? An idiom is a phrase that is regularly used by anyone speaking the English language, something that is common and well known. Metaphors and similes don't have sent have standard or well known phrases and could be made upon the spot. A metaphor is used to describe something or someone in direct comparison with something else. For example, love is a battlefield. A, similarly, on the other hand, is to refer to something as or like something else. Whilst both similes and metaphors are both used to share a comparison or exaggeration somewhat similar to an idiom there, the key difference can be found in the words like and as let's explore those differences by looking at some similes and metaphors, her heart is like gold. This statement is a simile, as we use the word like to say that a person's harder to gold here were alluding gold as a thing of value for its good qualities. So we're effectively saying here her heart has good qualities, much like those found in gold. She has a heart of gold. This statement is a metaphor. It's similar to the simile we've just looked at. But instead of describing the person's heart as like gold, we're simply saying here that it is so we're directly comparing gold to a person's heart. Let's explains two sentences. He eats like a pig. He is a pig, just like before we can, against the the subtle difference between the simile and metaphor by changing the words like and is he eats like a pig is a simile. We're if we're referring to this person is eating like a pig eats. However he is a pig is the metaphor as we're simply stating that this person takes on the characteristics of a pig. Similes and metaphors are so commonplace in the British English language that more often than not you will you will find we used them without even noticing a great way to see similes and metaphors. Being used is to look at British poetry. Poetry is filled with many similes and metaphors. They can be found in traditional classic poems all the way through to 21st century Poetry classic I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud even has a simile for the title. Another well known poem is titled Twinkle, Twinkle and has been used as a child's nursery rhyme for many years. Let's take a quick look at the first stanza. Twinkle, twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are up above the world so high like a diamond in the sky. Did you spot the simile in the last two lines up above the world, so high like a diamond in the sky? 14. Metaphors and Similes Part 2: next I'm going to give you some phrases on the screen. Then I'll give you a few seconds to determine if these are metaphors or similes. Before revealing the correct answer, she sang like an angel. He is an angel. The first phrase she sang like an angel is a simile. The second she is an angel is a metaphor. The boy was like a giant. The boy was a giant. The boy was like a giant is a simile. The boy was a giant is a metaphor. He was a loud as a lion. He had the voice of a lion. He was a sloughed as a lion is a simile He had the voice of a civil lion is a metaphor. It was a ghost town. It was like a ghost town. It was a ghost. Town is a metaphor. It was like a ghost. Town is a simile. Life is like a box of chocolates. Life is a roller coaster Like a box of chocolates is a simile. Life is a roller coaster is a metaphor. He is like a fountain of knowledge. He is a walking encyclopedia. He is like a fountain of knowledge is a simile Here's a walking encyclopedia is a metaphor . Anger bottled up inside of her. She was as angry as a bull. Anger. Bottled up inside of her is a metaphor. She was angry as a bull is a simile. Cry me a river Her tears were like a wall cry me. A river is a metaphor. Her tears were like a waterfall is a simile. The atmosphere was heavy. The tech attention was a shop has a knife. The atmosphere was heavy is a metaphor. The tension was as sharp as a knife is A Similarly she was. She was a sweetest candy. She was a saint. She was a sweetest. Cundy is a simile. She was a saint is a metaphor. 15. Idioms, Metaphors and Similes Recap: So that's idioms, metaphors and similes covered. Let's have a quick recap of what the differences are. Number one An idiom is a common tern of phrase that is an exaggeration of the true meaning . Number two. A metaphor is a direct comparison between one thing and another. Number three. A simile is used to describe something like or as something else finish off. I'm going to read out some sentences, including ones we've covered earlier in this course. Using these rules. Try to work out whether this phrase is an idiom, a metaphor or a simile. Although she was very shy, she sang like an angel. This is a simile founded. She sang like an angel. If you continue to ignore me, then I will give you a taste of your own medicine. This is an idiom found in a taste of your own medicine, anger bottled up inside of her as she continued to read the letter. There is a metaphor at the very start of this sentence. Anger, bottled up inside of her life, is a roller coaster. It's full of highs and lows, but you'll definitely have fun again. The metaphor can be found at the start of this sentence. Life is a roller coaster. Are you sure you aren't biting off more than you can chew? This contains an idiom within the biting off More than you can chew. Despite it costing an arm and a leg, they decided it was worth it for the holiday of a lifetime. This sentence contains the idiom costing an arm and a leg. At the start, they couldn't find any clothes to fit because the boy was like a giant. There is a simile at the end of that the end of this sentence. The boy was like a giant. Very soon you will see that there is method to my madness. There is an idiom at the end of this sentence here. Method to my madness. Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know which one you will get. This sentence has a similar at the start. Life could box of chocolates. She knew it was going to rain because the atmosphere was heavy. In this sentence you'll find the metaphor At the very end. The atmosphere was heavy