Which term is defined as a figure of speech that compares things without using like or as?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Monotone
• C. Interview
• D. Jargon

Answer: (A)

Metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things by saying one thing is the other. It creates a vivid image by equating qualities of the two things, without using like or as. For example, saying “time is a thief” suggests that time steals moments, not that time is literally a thief. This is different from a simile, which would use like or as, such as “time is like a thief.” The other terms refer to unrelated language ideas: monotone describes a flat, unvarying voice; an interview is a method of gathering information; jargon means specialized language used by a group. So the term defined is metaphor.