A simile is a phrase that takes two unrelated nouns and compares them using like or as. Here are a few examples.

The toddler is like a hurricane.

Clearly a toddler isn’t a literal hurricane, but they are being compared as such. A toddler and a hurricane can both destroy whatever space they occupy fairly quickly.

The rain falls like tears.

The rain isn’t tears, but both fall from somewhere.

The man is as strong as a bear.

Often similes will use exaggeration to make a point. Clearly a man and a bear aren’t the same in strength.

Here are a couple of poems to show simile use:

House

The house stood like a solemn soldier,

Its columns solid as a pine.

The eaves graced the front like a lace shawl,

This beautiful old house of mine.

The Old Man

The man stooped as low as a stool,

His heart feeling like a stone.

He knew this day like his own birthday,

The day his darling went home.

His hand shook like a leaf

As he set the flowers on the soft dirt.

His tears fell like rain,

But he knew someday his soul wouldn’t hurt.

Practice identifying similes!