RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY.
Idioms: an idiom is an expression that has a
different meaning from the usual meanings of the
individual words within it.
 Example: John is undecided about going with us
to Magic Mountain, so our plans are still up in
the air.
 The phrase up in the air does not literally mean
that the plans were floating above their heads.
The idiom up in the air means that the people
were undecided about what they were going to
do.

RWA1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY.
Example: If she gets a puppy, she’ll be walking
on air.
 The phrase walking on air does not literally
mean that she will be walking several feet above
the ground. The idiom walking on air means
that she will be happy if she gets a puppy.
 Example from poetry:
I want to win the contest
No matter what the cost.
Wish me all the best of luck
And keep your fingers crossed.

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY.
The idiom keep your fingers crossed does not
mean that the author of the poem wants people
to physically cross their fingers. She wants
people to hope for her success in the contest.
 Example: Melanie was in hot water because she
did not do her homework.
 The phrase in hot water does not mean that
Melanie was placed in a large vat of hot water.
 What does the idiom mean?

RWA1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: Bob and Tom put their heads
together to solve the problem.
 The idiom put their heads together does not
mean that Bob and Tom tied their heads together
to solve the problem.
 What does the idiom mean?
 Example: The prom dress cost an arm and a
leg.
 The expression an arm and a leg does not mean
the buyer of the prom dress had to give up one of
her arms and one of her legs to purchase the
prom dress.
 What does the idiomatic expression mean?

RWA1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Analogy: an analogy is a comparison between
things which are basically not alike but which
share some kind of similarity.
 Example: Skeleton is to Body as Framework is to
House.
 The analogy states that both the body and the
house have an internal structure giving them
form. The internal structure for the body is the
skeleton, and the internal structure for the house
is its framework.

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: Her hair glistened in the rain like a
nose hair after a sneeze.
 The analogy maintains that both the hair on her
head and a nose hair have a similar quality after
they get wet. That quality is the glistening of the
hair on her head and the nose hair after they
become moist.
 Example: Tara is about like her sister as winter
is like summer.
 The analogy states that Tara and her sister are
as dissimilar as winter is to summer, so Tara and
her sister are opposites.

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: Flower is to stem as tree is to trunk.
 The analogy states that the flower and the tree
have a similar quality.
 What is the similarity in this analogy?
 Example: Our minds are like a baby bird. When
we put our minds to a task, we can fly.
 The analogy maintains that there is a similarity
between our minds and a baby bird.
 What is the similarity in this analogy?

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: Life is like an ever-moving Superball.
No matter what it hits or rolls up against, it has
the power to bounce back.
 The analogy asserts that there is a similarity
between life and a Superball.
 What is the similarity?
 Metaphor: a metaphor is a figure of speech that
makes a comparison without using like or as.
 Example: Billboards are warts on the landscape.
 The metaphor compares billboards to warts. This
metaphor states that billboards are an ugly mark
on the landscape.

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: The science project was a bear.
 The metaphor in this sentence is comparing the
science project to a bear. The meaning of this
metaphor is that the science project was very
difficult.
 Example:
 Coffee is the thief of sleep.
He’s stolen all my rest away.
Tonight I’ll drink a glass of milk
And face my bed without dismay.

RC 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
The metaphor is comparing coffee to a thief. This
comparison is stating that the effect of the
caffeine in coffee is to make it difficult for
someone to fall asleep.
 Example: Bob made a pig of himself at the picnic.
 The metaphor is comparing Bob’s eating style to
that of a pig.
 What is the metaphor suggesting about Bob’s
eating behavior at the picnic?
 Example: Michelle and Presley are peas in a pod.
 What is the comparison saying about Michelle
and Presley?

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example:
Your friendship is a sturdy boat
On life’s dark and angry sea.
The waves are often wild and dark
But you take care of me.
 The metaphor is this poem is comparing
friendship to a sturdy boat in times of trouble.
 What is the meaning the author is trying to
convey through this metaphor?

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Simile: a simile is a comparison of several
dissimilar objects using like or as.
 Example: She walked into her new school like a
timid mouse.
 In this simile the girl is being compared to a
timid mouse. This simile suggests that the girl
was very nervous as she entered her new school.
 Example: The subway car was as crowded as
olives in a jar.
 The author is comparing the crowding in a
subway car to a full jar of olives. The simile is
stating that the people in the subway car were
tightly packed together.

RWA 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: Painting the kitchen was as easy as
collecting feathers in a hurricane.
 This simile compares painting a kitchen to
collecting feathers in a hurricane. The author is
showing how difficult it was to paint the kitchen.
 Example: The directions for the project were as
clear as mud.
 In this simile the project directions are being
compared to mud.
 What does the simile mean?

RC 1.1
RECOGNIZE IDIOMS, ANALOGIES, METAPHORS,
AND SIMILES IN PROSE AND POETRY
Example: The mountain top was as flat as a
pancake.
 A mountain top is being compared to a pancake
in this simile.
 What is the simile suggesting about the
mountain top?
 Example: The little girl is like a bull in a china
shop.
 In this simile, a girl is being compared to a bull in
a china shop.
 What is this simile saying about the little girl?
