Figurative Language 1 (Idiom, Metaphor, Simile)

Crow tapped Miss Hickory’s hickory nut head with his long yellow beak. “Don’t be so hard-headed, Miss Hickory,” he said. “It is just as I have told you. The family is leaving, and you should start getting ready to move.”

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the phrase “hard-headed” is often used to describe someone who is very stubborn, this expression is an idiom.

Miss Hickory held on tight as Crow flew her to the new house he had found for her. He set her down on the edge of a large bird’s nest. She looked around for a while, and decided to make the best of things. “Why, it is a penthouse!” she exclaimed.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the word “penthouse” is not often used to describe a bird’s nest (and the words “like” or “as” are not used), this expression is a metaphor.

Squirrel looked embarrassed. “The reason that I keep forgetting where I buried my nuts is that I was an only child.” Miss Hickory gave Squirrel a stern look. “That is no excuse at all,” she said. “Just look at you hopping about like a flea! You really should be more responsible.”

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the phrase “hopping about like a flea” is not often used to describe some jumping around at random (and the word “like” is used), this expression is a simile).

When spring came, Miss Hickory used some soft new leaves to sew herself a skirt, and she knitted a sweater out of blades of grass. She had made it through the winter, and she was feeling more and more at home in the forest. She was as happy as a clam.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the phrase “as happy as a clam” is often used to describe someone who is very happy, this expression is an idiom.

Each wolf cub was named for what it would do for the pack. They had names like Leader, and Thinker. But the littlest cub was just named Runt. As he grew older, Runt feared that his name was a prophecy—that he would never do anything useful for the pack.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the phrase “a prophecy” is not often used to describe someone’s name (and the words “like” or “as” are not used), this expression is a metaphor.

One day when Runt was exploring the forest, he noticed that a storm was coming. He decided to stay out in the storm to prove that he was brave. But the storm came, and Runt was terrified. He ran like the wind, not knowing or caring where he was going.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the phrase “like the wind” is often used to describe running very fast, this expression is an idiom.

The storm passed, and Runt saw a strange place in front of him. From the stories he had heard, he knew it was a place where humans lived. It smelled like danger.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the phrase “smelling like danger” is not often used to describe something that looks dangerous (and the word “like” is used), this expression is a simile.

Runt looked at the human place. He saw a dog chained inside a fence. Suddenly Runt felt brave. He had stayed out in the storm. He was name-worthy. He lifted his head to let out his cub-wolf cry of “Yip-yip-yip.” He heard something strange, and he stopped. It was a howl that he had heard—a wolf’s howl—his own howl.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Since the term “name-worthy” is not often used” to describe someone who is brave” (and the words “like” or “as” are not used), this expression is a metaphor.

Johnny and his brother drove all over town trying to find their mother. Johnny’s brother was mad because they had spent all day on a wild goose chase, while their mother had been at home all along.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

A common expression which means something different than what the words literally mean.

This old laptop is such a dinosaur. You can’t play any of the new games on it.

What kind of figurative language is the underlined phrase?

• Idiom

• Metaphor

• Simile

Answer explanation

Comparison made without using like or as.