Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?

• A. Simile
• B. Metaphor
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Personification

Answer: (B)

Metaphor is a figure of speech that directly identifies one thing as another to reveal a shared quality or create a vivid image. It makes an implicit comparison by saying something is something else, without using like or as. That’s why a phrase such as “Time is a thief” works as a metaphor—the idea is that time steals moments, even though time isn’t literally a thief.

In contrast, a simile would compare using like or as, such as “time is like a thief,” which is a different device. Hyperbole relies on exaggeration, not an actual equivalence. Personification gives human traits to nonhuman things, which is another figure of speech. The essence is the direct, implicit link of two unlike things to express a deeper meaning or image.