Which term describes a direct comparison between two unlike things without using like or as?

• A. Simile
• B. Pun
• C. Alliteration
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (D)

Direct comparison without using like or as is a metaphor. It asserts that one thing is another, making a strong image by equating two unlike things for emphasis. That shift from describing to asserting creates a vivid, concise image—like saying “Time is a thief” or “Her voice was a velvet rope,” where the thing spoken of is treated as if it truly is the other thing.

In contrast, a simile explicitly uses like or as to show the comparison, as in “time is like a thief.” Alliteration involves repeating initial consonant sounds, not comparing ideas. A pun plays on words and multiple meanings rather than making a direct equivalence. So the direct, no-like-or-as link is what defines a metaphor.