Which term is defined as 'Direct comparison without 'like' or 'as''?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Idiom
• C. Prefixes
• D. Coping Mechanism

Answer: (A)

Direct comparison without like or as is a metaphor. It states that one thing is another, creating a symbolic link that highlights a quality by equating the two things, as in “Time is a thief,” which treats time as if it could steal moments. This is different from a simile, which uses like or as to make a comparison, such as “Time is like a thief.” The other terms don’t describe this device: an idiom is a phrase whose meaning isn’t predictable from the individual words, prefixes are word parts attached to the beginning of a base word, and a coping mechanism is a psychological strategy for dealing with stress.