Metaphors, Analogies, & Similes

Foundation of Creative Thinking

The use of metaphors, analogies, and similes are excellent ways to spark innovative thinking. Building a habit of thinking in terms of metaphors, similes, and analogies allows one to develop a new perspective. Seeing connections in a new light can result in creative solutions to problems. In addition, all three of these makes the brain work harder as it looks at the familiar in a new (often strange) light, or the strange in a familiar light.

Metaphors

A metaphor is typically defined as a word or phrase that is applied to an object or action which it is not literally applicable (www.dictionary.com). That is a lot of verbiage for something pretty simple. The following are a few examples of a metaphor:

• Frozen wages

• Liquid assets

• Barks an order

• Late breaking news

Analogies

An analogy is typically a comparison of dissimilar things (www.dictionary.com). The following are examples of an analogy:

• A digger is like a praying mantis.

• A heart is like a pump

• I am going to be toast when I get home.

• She is as flaxy as a snowstorm

Similes

A simile is a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared (www.dictionary.com). The following are several examples of similes.

• Sweet as a summer shower

• Cute as a kitten

• Busy as a bee

Conclusion

The use of these for creative thinking allows one to make connections with unfamiliar things. This allows the mind to act as a beginner, allowing for the opening of new ideas. As Albert Einstein once said, “an expert is a person who has few new ideas; a beginner is a person with many.” The more ways one can look at the world differently will allow new thought patterns for new ideas.