Me: What’s a metaphor?
Kid: Um – dunno – is it – um, I think I know the other one. Does it begin with an s-?
Me: You mean a simile?
Kid: Maybe? I guess.
Me: You mean the technique that uses ‘like’ or ‘as’?
Kid: [now looking happy] Yes, and metaphor is the one where it – is.
Me: Can you tell me anything else about it?
[blank, terrible silence]
For even more detail, try this one.