20 Commonly Used Metaphors

20 Commonly Used Metaphors

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we will look at 20 commonly used metaphors by English speakers you should know.

A metaphor is a figure of speech which describes one thing, comparing it to another. Unlike similes, which compare two things using “like and “as” (as busy as a bee, drink like a fish), metaphors make a more direct comparison by equating things (time is a thief, walking on thin ice).

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1. Apple of my eye
2. Black sheep
3. Blanket of fog
4. Bright future
5. Broken heart
6. Burn the midnight oil
7. Elephant in the room
8. Feel blue
9. Fish out of water
10. Food for thought
11. Heart of gold
12. Life is a journey
13. Rollercoaster ride
14. Sea of faces
15. Shining star
16. Storm in a teacup
17. Taste of your own medicine
18. Time is a thief
19. Walk on thin ice
20. World is your oyster

Apple of my eye

Meaning: refers to someone who is cherished above others; a person who is beloved and valued highly. It gives away a deep affection, particularly from a parent to a child or close loved ones. 

• As a proud grandfather, he often said that his granddaughter was the apple of his eye. Commonly used metaphors
• After all these years, she still feels that her dog is the apple of her eye, always bringing comfort and happiness to her days. 

Black sheep

Meaning: someone who is different from the rest of the group.

• In every family, there’s often a black sheep, and in ours, it’s my brother who chose to pursue a career in art instead of joining the family business.
• Growing up, I felt like the black sheep among my peers, as I preferred reading books over playing sports.

Blanket of fog

Meaning: refers to a dense layer of fog that covers an area, often obscuring visibility and creating a thick, atmospheric effect.

• As we drove through the countryside, we found ourselves caught in a blanket of fog that made it difficult to see even a few feet ahead.
• Just before sunset, a blanket of fog rolled in from the ocean, transforming the beach into a ghostly scene. Commonly used metaphors

Bright future

Meaning: refers to the potential for success, happiness, and positive outcomes in someone’s life or career.

• After receiving her scholarship to a prestigious university, Maria felt confident that she had a bright future ahead of her.
• With his innovative ideas and hard work, Gary is poised to create a bright future for himself in the tech industry.

Broken heart

Meaning: it typically refers to the emotional pain and distress that someone experiences as a result of lost love or a relationship ending. It can evoke deep feelings of sadness, longing and heartache. Commonly used metaphors

• Listening to sad songs only deepened the pain of her broken heart, reminding her of the love she lost.
• He spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, grappling with the ache of a broken heart and the memories of happier times. 

Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: working or studying late into the night.

• With the deadline approaching, Fiona found herself burning the midnight oil to finish her report.
• Peter often burns the midnight oil during exam season to ensure he understands all the material.

Elephant in the room

Meaning: an obvious problem nobody wants to talk about. Commonly used metaphors

• At the family gathering, nobody wanted to talk about the elephant in the room – the fact that two relatives hadn’t spoken to each other for years.
• During the team meeting, everyone avoided discussing the elephant in the room—the lack of progress on the project.

Feel blue

Meaning: an idiomatic expression meaning to feel sad or depressed.

• After hearing the news about her friend’s departure, Sarah was feeling blue for the rest of the day.
• I always feel a bit blue during the winter months when the days are shorter and colder.

Fish out of water

Meaning:  describes a person who feels uncomfortable or out of place in a particular situation. 

• When Jane attended the corporate dinner, she felt like a fish out of water among so many formal executives. 
•  After moving to the bustling city from her small town, Lisa quickly realized she was a fish out of water in the fast-paced lifestyle.

Food for thought

Meaning: an idiomatic expression that refers to something that warrants consideration or reflection. It often implies that the idea being presented is thought-provoking and may lead to deeper thinking or discussion. Commonly used metaphors

• After reading the article on climate change, I had a lot of food for thought about our impact on the environment.
• Watching the documentary on poverty gave me plenty of food for thought regarding social responsibility and activism.

Heart of gold

Meaning: refers to someone who is very kind, generous and caring. It suggests that despite any flaws or rough appearances someone may have, their true nature is warm and benevolent.

• Even though he can be grumpy at times, he has a heart of gold and would help anyone in need.
• Elsa volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend; she truly has a heart of gold.

Life is a journey

Meaning: suggests that life is an ongoing process of growth and exploration, filled with experiences, challenges and personal development.

• Mary often reminds her children that life is a journey, encouraging them to embrace each moment and learn from every experience.
• During our hike, I told my friends that life is a journey, and it’s the friendships and memories we create that truly matter in the end.

Rollercoaster ride

Meaning: describes a situation or experience in life that has many highs and lows, emotional fluctuations or unexpected changes.

• The past year has been a rollercoaster ride for Karen; she faced job loss and health issues but also welcomed a new baby.
• Planning the wedding was a real rollercoaster ride; one minute everything was going smoothly, and the next, we were scrambling to find a new venue.

Sea of faces

Meaning:  a large crowd of people, highlighting the multitude and often the anonymity of individuals within it. It evokes an image of a vast number of people gathered together, making it difficult to distinguish one person from another. Commonly used metaphors

• In the crowded marketplace, I felt lost in a sea of faces, each person busy with their own tasks.
• Walking into the concert, I was met with a sea of faces eagerly waiting for the band to perform.

Shining star

Meaning: refers to someone who is exceptionally talented or outstanding.

• The young musician quickly became a shining star in the local music scene.
• Coaches are always looking for that shining star who can lead the team to victory.

Storm in a teacup

Meaning: refers to an exaggerated reaction to a trivial matter or a situation that is being blown out of proportion. 

• When the office discussion escalated over the choice of a coffee brand, I realized it was just a storm in a teacup.
• The media coverage of the celebrity’s minor mishap was nothing more than a storm in a teacup.

Taste of your own medicine

Meaning: Experiencing the same negative treatment that one has given others. Commonly used metaphors

• After months of being rude to his coworkers, Mark finally got a taste of his own medicine when they started ignoring him during meetings
• The bully got a taste of his own medicine when the new kid stood up to him, showing everyone that intimidation doesn’t work forever.

Time is a thief

Meaning: time steals moments and opportunities from our life, often without us realizing it.

• As I look back on my childhood, I realize how quickly I grew up. It’s true what they say: time is a thief, and we need to cherish every moment.
• Don’t let time be a thief of your dreams.

Walk on thin ice

Meaning: to be in a risky or dangerous situation.

• By not studying for the exam, Jake is really walking on thin ice. Commonly used metaphors
• The company is walking on thin ice with its financial practices; one scandal could lead to disaster.

World is your oyster

Meaning: it means that you have all the opportunities available to you, and you can achieve whatever you want in life.

• After graduating from university, Anna felt like the world was her oyster and started applying for jobs around the globe.
• When Mark received a scholarship to study abroad, he realized that the world was his oyster.

Commonly used metaphors

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