Which option best describes how a metaphor differs from a simile?

• A. A simile directly compares two things using like or as.
• B. A metaphor directly compares two things without using like or as.
• C. Metaphor can include like or as in its comparison.
• D. Metaphor describes color and sound rather than comparison.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how metaphors and similes show connections between things. A simile makes a direct comparison using like or as. A metaphor makes a direct claim that one thing is another, without using like or as. That direct identity is what sets a metaphor apart from a simile. For example, “Time is a thief” is a metaphor, while “Time is like a thief” is a simile. The other statements miss the difference: using like or as signals a simile, metaphors aren’t about color or sound alone, and saying metaphors can include like or as conflicts with the usual, direct comparison a metaphor uses.