Which of the following correctly defines both metaphor and onomatopoeia?

• A. They are synonyms.
• B. Metaphor is an implied comparison; Onomatopoeia uses sound-imitating words.
• C. Metaphor is an explicit comparison; Onomatopoeia imitates sounds.
• D. They are both metaphors.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is understanding how these two devices work in language. A metaphor makes an implied comparison between two unlike things without using like or as, while onomatopoeia uses words that imitate real sounds. The described definition pairs the two correctly: metaphor as an implied comparison, and onomatopoeia as words that imitate sounds. For example, “time is a thief” treats time as something that steals without saying time is like a thief; that’s the implied comparison. And words like buzz, clang, or hiss aren’t describing something directly; they imitate the actual sounds they represent. The other options fail because metaphor is not simply a synonym for onomatopoeia, and onomatopoeia isn’t a metaphor. It’s also not correct to say both are metaphors.