20 Commonly Used Metaphors in English

Metaphors are everywhere in English. Native speakers use them constantly — often without even noticing. They help us express emotions, describe situations, and make ideas more vivid.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were another. Unlike similes, which use like or as (as busy as a bee, drink like a fish), metaphors are direct comparisons:

Time is a thief.
She’s walking on thin ice.

In this lesson, you’ll learn 20 commonly used metaphors that English speakers use in everyday conversation, writing, and exams.

Apple of my eye

Meaning: someone who is loved and valued more than anyone else.

His granddaughter is the apple of his eye.
Even after all these years, her dog remains the apple of her eye.

Black sheep

Meaning: a person who is different from the rest of a group, often in an unwelcome way.

In every family, there’s usually a black sheep.
He always felt like the black sheep for choosing a different career.

Blanket of fog

Meaning: a thick layer of fog covering an area.

A blanket of fog covered the countryside that morning.
The beach disappeared under a blanket of fog.

Bright future

Meaning: strong potential for success or happiness.

She clearly has a bright future ahead of her.
His talent and determination point to a bright future.

Broken heart

Meaning: deep emotional pain caused by lost love.

She struggled to recover from her broken heart.
Songs about love only reminded him of his broken heart.

Burn the midnight oil

Meaning: to work or study late into the night.

She’s been burning the midnight oil to finish her thesis.
He burned the midnight oil during exam season.

Elephant in the room

Meaning: an obvious problem that everyone avoids talking about.

Nobody mentioned the elephant in the room during the meeting.
The lack of funding was the elephant in the room.

Feel blue

Meaning: to feel sad or depressed.

I always feel a bit blue in winter.
She felt blue after hearing the news.

Fish out of water

Meaning: someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place.

He felt like a fish out of water at the formal dinner.
Moving abroad made her feel like a fish out of water at first.

Food for thought

Meaning: something that makes you think seriously.

The article gave me a lot of food for thought.
His comments were real food for thought.

Heart of gold

Meaning: a very kind and generous personality.

He may seem strict, but he has a heart of gold.
Anyone who volunteers like that has a heart of gold.

Life is a journey

Meaning: life is a process of growth, experience, and learning.

She believes that life is a journey, not a destination.
Every challenge reminds him that life is a journey.

Rollercoaster ride

Meaning: a situation full of ups and downs.

The past year has been a real rollercoaster ride.
Planning the event was a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

Sea of faces

Meaning: a large crowd where individuals blur together.

He looked out at a sea of faces in the audience.
Walking into the hall, I saw a sea of faces staring back at me.

Shining star

Meaning: someone who stands out because of talent or success.

She quickly became the shining star of the team.
Every school looks for a shining star.

Storm in a teacup

Meaning: a big reaction to a small problem.

The argument turned out to be a storm in a teacup.
The media made a storm in a teacup out of nothing.

Taste of your own medicine

Meaning: experiencing the same bad treatment you gave others.

He finally got a taste of his own medicine.
The bully got a taste of his own medicine.

Time is a thief

Meaning: time passes quickly and steals moments from us.

Time is a thief — suddenly, childhood is gone.
Don’t let time be a thief of your dreams.

Walk on thin ice

Meaning: to be in a risky or dangerous situation.

He’s walking on thin ice by ignoring the rules.
The company is walking on thin ice financially.

The world is your oyster

Meaning: you have many opportunities and choices.

After graduation, the world was her oyster.
With that qualification, the world is your oyster.

Exam & Usage Tip (B2–C1)

Metaphors add naturalness to writing and speaking, they are common in essays, articles, and speaking tests and should be used carefully, not excessively.

One well-chosen metaphor is far more effective than many forced ones.

Final thought

Metaphors help English sound richer, more expressive, and more human. Learn them in context, and they’ll come naturally when you need them.

20 Commonly Used Metaphors in English

Published by My Lingua Academy on 8 Feb 20258 Feb 2025