Which term refers to an implied comparison between unlike things?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Simile
• C. Metonymy
• D. Synecdoche

Answer: (A)

Metaphor involves an implied comparison between unlike things, without using words like like or as. It suggests that one thing is another to illuminate a shared quality. For example, saying “Time is a thief” treats time as if it could steal moments, conveying a vivid idea without stating the comparison outright. This stands in contrast to a simile, which makes the comparison explicit with like or as, such as “Time is like a thief.” Metonymy replaces a thing with something closely associated with it, not by comparing, but by association—think “the White House announced” referring to the president or administration. Synecdoche uses a part for the whole or vice versa, like saying “hands on deck” to mean sailors. So, the term that best fits an implied comparison between unlike things is metaphor.