Metaphors and Similes are handy tools a poet regularly uses. The idea is to look for fresh ones, rather than use those that are growing ragged through over use.
A simile says something is "like" something else. "The track was like a winding snake." "The house looked like a palace." "The horse’s coat was as black as ink." "The lambs were as white as snow."
In contrast a metaphor says something "is" another thing. "The sun was a hazy fire‑ball." "The centre‑back is a prowling tiger." "The cockatoo is king of the mountain." "The train is a silver bullet." "The sea is a raging monster."
Some poets occasionally write a poem with an Extended Metaphor. For example eleven year old Tommy, in a fantasy poem, might be the Flying Crusader. Throughout the poem he would not return to ordinary little Tommy, but would always be referred to as some kind of superior being. I think this would be quite difficult to do and cannot recall trying it myself.
Cliches are phrases that have been popular for a long time and get over worked. "As black as coal." "Cunning as a fox." "Like the driven snow." "Wild as a march hare." "Game as Ned Kelly."
Many of these are extremely clever if we stop to think about them. "As mad as a cut snake." Can you imagine anything quite as angry as a castrated taipan? " Every little bit helps" said the old woman as she did a wee in the sea." The effect would be rather minimal, wouldn’t it?
Popular cliches are used so regularly that we say them without thinking and they therefore lose impact. In short these are so popular that we have worn them out. Competition judges and publishers frown quite heavily on cliches, so it is best to avoid them. But some of these are so clever that its hard to find a replacement. But we may as well try ‑‑ as I've often said, "Don't handicap yourself."
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