Which figure of speech is defined as a comparison of unlike things, carrying the implied meaning beyond the literal?

• A. Simile
• B. Hyperbole
• C. Personification
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (D)

Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things, conveying meaning beyond the literal words. That direct, implicit link is what lets the reader sense a deeper idea without saying it outright, which matches the idea of carrying an implied meaning beyond the literal.

For example, saying “Time is a thief” uses metaphor to suggest that time steals moments from our lives, without claiming time literally steals. This differs from a simile, which would frame the comparison with like or as (for instance, “Time is like a thief”). Hyperbole uses exaggeration for effect, not a direct comparison. Personification gives human traits to nonhuman things, not a comparison between two unlike things.