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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Figurative Language Quiz: Spot Similes, Metaphors, and More

Quick, free figure of speech quiz with instant feedback and explanations.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Apostolos AggelisUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for figurative language quiz on teal background

This quiz helps you spot figurative language in short lines and decide whether each example is a simile, metaphor, or personification. Get instant feedback and quick explanations as you go, then keep learning with our metaphor and simile practice, try a focused metaphor vs simile quiz, or broaden your skills with a figure of speech quiz.

Which of the following is a simile?
Her smile was sunshine.
He runs like the wind.
Time is a thief.
The thunder shouted.
A simile compares two things using "like" or "as," making "He runs like the wind" the correct simile. The other sentences use metaphor or personification to convey figurative meaning. Similes explicitly state the comparison with these words. .
Which sentence contains a metaphor?
The stars winked.
She swims like a fish.
His words were music to her ears.
He is as stubborn as a mule.
A metaphor directly equates two things without using like or as, as in "His words were music to her ears." The other sentences are similes or personification. Metaphors convey meaning by stating one thing is another. .
Identify the personification in the sentence: "The old house groaned under the weight of snow."
"house"
"groaned"
"weight"
"old"
Personification attributes human qualities to non-human things; "groaned" gives the house a human action. The weight and age are literal descriptions. Personification often helps create vivid imagery. .
What distinguishes a simile from a metaphor?
Similes use like or as to compare; metaphors do not.
Metaphors use like or as to compare; similes do not.
Metaphors compare only people; similes compare objects.
Similes always exaggerate; metaphors never do.
Similes explicitly compare two unlike things using "like" or "as," while metaphors make a direct comparison without these words. This distinction is fundamental in figurative language. Similes and metaphors both enrich writing by illustrating ideas. .
What figurative device is used in: "He has a heart of stone"?
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Personification
This sentence metaphorically describes someone as having a "heart of stone," equating heart and stone without like or as. It is a metaphor because it states one thing is another. The example conveys emotion through direct comparison. .
"She was as sly as a fox" features which figurative language?
Onomatopoeia
Simile
Personification
Metaphor
The phrase uses "as…as" to compare her slyness to a fox, making it a simile. Metaphors do not use like or as, and onomatopoeia imitates sounds. Similes clarify descriptions through explicit comparison. .
Which of these is an example of personification?
She has a backbone of steel.
They fought like cats and dogs.
He was as brave as a lion.
The leaves danced in the wind.
Attributing the human action of dancing to leaves is personification. The other options are similes or metaphors. Personification gives life to inanimate objects. .
Which sentence is a metaphor?
The city sleeps at night.
He's as proud as a peacock.
She sings like an angel.
Life is a rollercoaster.
"Life is a rollercoaster" directly compares life to a rollercoaster without like or as, so it is a metaphor. The other sentences are personification or simile. Metaphors are direct comparisons. .
Identify the simile in the following sentence: "Her voice was as smooth as silk."
Her voice was as smooth
as smooth as silk
silk
Her voice
"As smooth as silk" is the simile, comparing her voice to silk using "as." The rest of the sentence either sets up or names the items compared. Similes highlight similarities between two things. .
Which sentence illustrates a simile?
The moonlight danced.
His explanation was as clear as mud.
The test was a breeze.
The alarm clock screamed at me.
"As clear as mud" is a simile using "as" to compare clarity to mud. The other examples are personification or metaphor. Similes often use humor or exaggeration. .
In "The sky cried tears of rain," which type of figurative speech is used?
Simile
Personification
Metaphor
Hyperbole
This sentence gives the sky the human ability to cry, making it personification. It is not comparing two things but attributing human traits. Personification enriches imagery in writing. .
Which sentence is an example of a metaphor?
He moves like a tortoise.
The cafeteria was a zoo.
She was as gentle as a lamb.
The rain pitter-pattered.
"The cafeteria was a zoo" is a metaphor equating the cafeteria with a zoo to show its chaotic nature. It does not use like or as. The other choices are simile or onomatopoeia. Metaphors convey vivid imagery through direct comparison. .
Identify the simile in the sentence: "He fought like a lion to save his friend."
fought like
to save his friend
He fought
like a lion
"Like a lion" is the simile, using "like" to compare his fighting spirit to that of a lion. The rest of the sentence describes the action and purpose. Similes draw parallels between different entities. .
Which example best illustrates personification?
The wind whispered through the trees.
The paper cut stung.
He's as strong as an ox.
The sidewalk was a river.
"The wind whispered" attributes the human action of whispering to the wind. The sidewalk as a river is a metaphor, and the others are simile or literal. Personification animates non-human elements. .
What is the figurative device in "The exam was a breeze"?
Simile
Hyperbole
Metaphor
Personification
"The exam was a breeze" equates the exam to a breeze without like/as, making it a metaphor. It directly compares difficulty level to a gentle wind. Metaphors are common in everyday speech. .
Which sentence contains a simile?
His mind was a fortress.
She was thrilled to bits.
The stars danced in the sky.
Busy as a bee, she completed all tasks.
"Busy as a bee" uses "as" to compare someone's busyness to a bee's, creating a simile. The stars dancing is personification and the mind fortress is a metaphor. Similes often use animals. .
Identify the metaphor in this sentence: "Her words were bullets, piercing his heart."
piercing
Her words
his heart
Her words were bullets
This metaphor equates words with bullets, conveying their emotional impact. It's a direct comparison without like/as. Metaphors like this intensify meaning. .
Which sentence uses personification?
The alarm blared.
She is light as a feather.
He's a night owl.
Time waits for no one.
Giving time the human characteristic of waiting is personification. "Time waits" attributes a human action to an abstract concept. This device conveys urgency. .
Find the simile in: "He was like a deer caught in headlights."
like a deer
deer caught
in headlights
caught in headlights
"Like a deer" compares his stunned reaction to a deer's, using "like" which makes it a simile. The phrase "caught in headlights" describes the scenario. Similes enable vivid comparisons. .
Which of these is a metaphor?
She ran like the wind.
He is as stubborn as a mule.
The detective had a nose for clues.
The snow whispers.
"Nose for clues" is a metaphor equating the detective's intuition with a nose, without like/as. The other options are similes or personification. Metaphors enrich descriptions by direct comparison. .
What type of figurative language is in: "The waves danced across the shore"?
Personification
Hyperbole
Simile
Metaphor
Attributing dancing to waves gives them human characteristics, which is personification. There is no comparison using like/as or direct equation. This device brings scenes to life. .
Which sentence includes a simile?
He is as cool as a cucumber.
The fridge door creaked.
The candle flame sighed.
Her hair was silk.
"As cool as a cucumber" compares coolness to a cucumber using "as," making it a simile. Other options are personification or literal description. Similes help clarify traits. .
Which sentence contains an implied metaphor?
He is as cunning as a fox.
He is a rock for me.
She flew through her homework.
The stars danced in the sky.
An implied metaphor suggests a comparison without explicitly stating it; "flew through her homework" implies she is like a bird. "He is a rock" is an explicit metaphor. The others are personification or simile. .
Identify the figure of speech in "His love is the air I breathe."
Metaphor
Simile
Hyperbole
Personification
This sentence directly compares love to air without like/as, making it a metaphor. It emphasizes how essential love is. Personification would give human traits, which is not present here. .
Which is an absolute (nominal) metaphor?
She is a star.
A sea of troubles engulfed him.
Time is money.
His eyes were stars.
An absolute metaphor, or nominal metaphor, uses a noun phrase as the metaphor itself without a linking verb; "a sea of troubles" is a direct phrase. The others use linking verbs or explicit statements. .
In the phrase "The classroom was a zoo," what type of metaphor is this considered?
Dead metaphor
Cliché metaphor
Implied metaphor
Personification
Calling something "a zoo" to describe chaos is a cliché metaphor - a metaphor so common it becomes a cliché. It's not dead as it still retains its figurative impact. .
Which sentence contains both metaphor and personification?
The wind was a wild animal, howling in fury.
His heart raced.
She was as gentle as a dove.
Time slammed the door.
This sentence uses a metaphor ("wind was a wild animal") and personification ("howling in fury" gives the animalistic sound human-like emphasis). The others contain only one device or literal description. .
Identify the simile in this line from poetry: "Her face was like a blooming rose at dawn."
like a blooming rose at dawn
at dawn
blooming rose
Her face was a rose.
"Like a blooming rose at dawn" explicitly compares her face to a rose using "like," indicating a simile. The other parts of the line are descriptive context. Similes in poetry enhance imagery. .
Which sentence features a mixed metaphor?
She roared like a lion.
He dived into the pool.
We'll burn that bridge when we get to it.
The leaves danced.
This sentence improperly mixes two metaphors: "burn bridges" and "cross that bridge when we get to it." That creates a mixed metaphor. The others are clear, single devices. .
What type of figurative language is in: "My thoughts were stars I could not fathom into constellations"?
Simile
Extended metaphor
Hyperbole
Personification
This is an extended metaphor comparing thoughts to stars and the mind's process to creating constellations. It develops the metaphor beyond a single phrase. .
"The foot of the mountain provided a sturdy resting place." Which word is an example of a dead metaphor?
resting
mountain
provided
foot
"Foot" is a dead metaphor: it originally compared part of a person's body to the base of a mountain but now is ingrained in usage and loses figurative impact. Dead metaphors are common in language. .
Identify the mixed metaphor in the following: "We'll nip this problem in the bud before it sinks its teeth into us."
Time is a thief.
His idea is a bright star.
We'll nip this problem in the bud before it sinks its teeth into us.
She is as brave as a lion.
This sentence mixes "nip it in the bud" and "sink its teeth into us," combining two unrelated metaphors and creating a mixed metaphor. The other examples use single, coherent metaphors or similes. .
Which of these examples demonstrates both personification and metaphor?
The wind danced.
Time flies when you're having fun.
He fought like a lion.
She is a shining star.
"Time flies" is a metaphor comparing time to a flying creature and personifies time by giving it the human action of flying. The other examples are single devices or similes. .
Which figurative device is illustrated by the phrase "a blanket of snow"?
Metaphor
Personification
Simile
Hyperbole
"A blanket of snow" is a metaphor, likening snow's coverage to a blanket without like/as. It's a common metaphor to describe uniform coverage. .
Identify the tenor and vehicle in the metaphor: "His voice was music to her ears."
Tenor is music; vehicle is ears
Tenor is music; vehicle is voice
Tenor is his voice; vehicle is music
Tenor is ears; vehicle is voice
In a metaphor, the tenor is the subject (his voice) and the vehicle is the image used to represent it (music). Recognizing these helps analyze metaphors. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Distinguish Similes -

    Identify and explain simile structures in sentences by spotting comparisons using "like" or "as," sharpening your analytical skills.

  2. Recognize Metaphors -

    Discover how metaphors convey ideas by stating one thing is another, enhancing your interpretive ability in our figurative language quiz online.

  3. Interpret Personification -

    Examine personification examples to understand how human traits are assigned to objects or ideas, refining your literary insight.

  4. Analyze "the curtain finally rose" -

    Apply your understanding of figurative language to decode the metaphorical meaning behind "the curtain finally rose" and similar prompts.

  5. Apply Figurative Techniques -

    Use your new skills to correctly identify simile and metaphor questions in diverse contexts, reinforcing your mastery of figurative language.

  6. Boost Literary Confidence -

    Grow your confidence in spotting similes, metaphors, and personification under time constraints, making you a more perceptive reader.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Similes vs. Metaphors -

    Similes use "like" or "as" (e.g., "as brave as a lion") while metaphors make direct comparisons (e.g., "the world is a stage"). Practice with simile and metaphor questions from university writing centers to solidify the difference. Remember: if it's "like" or "as," it's a simile.

  2. Spotting Personification -

    Personification attributes human qualities to non-human things (e.g., "the wind whispered secrets"). Reviewing personification examples quiz items from reputable sites like OWL Purdue helps you recognize this device quickly. Tip: ask, "Can this object literally perform this action?" If not, it's likely personification.

  3. Contextual Clues Matter -

    Sentences often give hints: tone, imagery, and surrounding words reveal figurative usage. Use a figurative language quiz online to test how context changes meaning - many academic journals emphasize context in interpretation. Annotate passages: underline comparisons and label them to practice identify similes & metaphors.

  4. Deconstructing "the curtain finally rose" -

    This phrase is a stage metaphor indicating a new beginning; it's not literal but figurative language. Breaking it down with examples from literary analysis guides shows how metaphors convey emotions and timing. Connect this to your own writing: what new act does your metaphor signal?

  5. Memory Tricks & Practice -

    Use the "SIM" mnemonic: Simile = "SImple 'like/as'," Metaphor = "Merges meanings." Flashcards and timed practice drills boost recall and confidence. Regularly challenge yourself with free scored quizzes - like a comprehensive figurative language quiz - to track growth.

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