What Is an Analogy? (with Examples)

An analogy is the comparison of two similar ideas in order to explain one.

Examples of Analogies

Here are some examples of analogies:

This is not considered a good course of action; it would be like throwing the pilot out to make the plane lighter.

Selling lucky heather in these hills is like trying to sell sand to the Arabs.

Similes and Metaphors

The most common form for an analogy is a simile or a metaphor.

Simile. A simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is likened to another. For example:

• She is as solid as a rock.
• She sings like an angel.
• Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

Read more about similes.

Metaphor.A metaphor is a figure of speech which asserts that one thing is something that it literally is not. For example:

• She is a rock.
• As a singer, she's a crow.
• Her vocabulary is worse than mine. Hers is...whatever.

Read more about metaphors.