--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out…" description: "\"I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out used by scaredycats who won't commit to anything. Simile's for cowards.\" — Alan Garner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png" --- # I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out used by… ![“I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out used by scaredycats who won't commit to anything. Simile's for cowards.” quote by Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png) > “I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out used by scaredycats who won't commit to anything. Simile's for cowards.” [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Similes are seen as lazy comparisons, reflecting a fear of committing to original expression. **In simple terms:** Similes show lack of courage. Key Takeaway Embrace original metaphors. Themes writing creativity language Mood critical inquisitive Type literary educational When to use this quote - creative writing - editing - literary criticism - teaching writing Key Concepts metaphor vs simile artistic risk Questions to Reflect On - When does a simile enhance rather than diminish a text? - Can a simile ever be as powerful as a metaphor? A Different Perspective Some argue similes can be effective when used skillfully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) [Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cop/) [Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Metaphor Simile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor-simile-1193538/) [Simile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simile/) [Simile Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simile-cop-1997963/) [Simile Cowards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simile-cowards-1997962/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/never-use-a-metaphor-simile-or-other-figure-of-speech-which-you-are-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [He had gone beyond the world of metaphor & simile into the place of things that are, and it was changing him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/he-had-gone-beyond-the-world-of-metaphor-simile-into-the-place-of/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [When you're looking around for metaphor or simile, I do think it's often helpful to keep inside the world of the book, to gather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/when-you-re-looking-around-for-metaphor-or-simile-i-do-think-it-s/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/never-use-a-metaphor-simile-or-other-figure-of-speech-which-you-are/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Very Like a Whale One thing that literature would be greatly the better for Would be a more restricted employment by authors of simile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/very-like-a-whale-one-thing-that-literature-would-be-greatly-the/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“Metaphors failed him, then. He had gone beyond the world of metaphor and simile into the place of things that are , and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/metaphors-failed-him-then-he-had-gone-beyond-the-world-of-metaphor/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“At its simplest, the parable is a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-its-simplest-the-parable-is-a-metaphor-or-simile-drawn-from-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Insanity hovered close at hand, like an eager waiter at an expensive restaurant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/insanity-hovered-close-at-hand-like-an-eager-waiter-at-an-expensive/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [“A novel rough draft is like bread dough; you need to beat the crap out of it for it to rise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-baty/a-novel-rough-draft-is-like-bread-dough-you-need-to-beat-the-crap-out/) [Chris Baty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-baty/) > [“Detonations crash in from nearby like walls she's a void at the center of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/detonations-crash-in-from-nearby-like-walls-she-s-a-void-at-the/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [A simile is just a metaphor with the scaffolding still up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-geary/a-simile-is-just-a-metaphor-with-the-scaffolding-still-up/) [James Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-geary/) > [Poetic simile was strictly limited to statements like 'his mighty steed was as fleet as the wind on a fairly calm day, say about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/poetic-simile-was-strictly-limited-to-statements-like-his-mighty/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Faded like morning fog in the rising sun, sports team logo on a cheap T-shirt, ninety-nine dollar paint job on a Chevy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/faded-like-morning-fog-in-the-rising-sun-sports-team-logo-on-a-cheap/) [Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/) > [“gleaming like a searchlight, Iowa moon, silver plate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-vickers/gleaming-like-a-searchlight-iowa-moon-silver-plate/) [Dennis Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-vickers/) > [“Emotions unreel in her like spools of cotton.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/emotions-unreel-in-her-like-spools-of-cotton/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) ## More by Alan Garner > [I loathe crowds. I especially don't like cities. A city involves biomass. And biomass gets to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-loathe-crowds-i-especially-don-t-like-cities-a-city-involves/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [If you are going to write, nothing will stop you, and if you are not going to write, nothing will make you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/if-you-are-going-to-write-nothing-will-stop-you-and-if-you-are-not/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [My background is deep and set in deep time, and in a narrow space, oral traditions going back a long, long time, which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/my-background-is-deep-and-set-in-deep-time-and-in-a-narrow-space-oral/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [I've learned never to try and force words to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-ve-learned-never-to-try-and-force-words-to-come/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [My primary tongue, I would call North-West Mercian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/my-primary-tongue-i-would-call-north-west-mercian/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [It's where I keep all my things. Get a lot of compliments on this. Plus it's not a purse, it's called a satchel. Indiana…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/it-s-where-i-keep-all-my-things-get-a-lot-of-compliments-on-this-plus/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [“It's not a job but a condition. (Alan Garner on writing)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/it-s-not-a-job-but-a-condition-alan-garner-on-writing/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [“Everybody thinks some people are born with the "gift of gab" and some people aren't. But the truth is there is no "gift of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/everybody-thinks-some-people-are-born-with-the-gift-of-gab-and-some/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [She wants to be flowers, but you make her owls. You must not complain, then, if she goes hunting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/she-wants-to-be-flowers-but-you-make-her-owls-you-must-not-complain/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [“Lleu is a hard lord,” said Huw, “He is killing Gronw without anger, without love, without mercy. He is hurt too much by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/lleu-is-a-hard-lord-said-huw-he-is-killing-gronw-without-anger/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [“I wanted us to have a holiday, not a ruddy breakdown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-wanted-us-to-have-a-holiday-not-a-ruddy-breakdown/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [I wish Monkeys could Skype. Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-wish-monkeys-could-skype-maybe-one-day/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [I don't think I've ever frightened myself before when writing, but there were areas where there was terror, as though I was looking into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-frightened-myself-before-when-writing-but/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [Ive learned never to try and force words to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/ive-learned-never-to-try-and-force-words-to-come/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [My attitude is that if anybody of any age wants to read a book, let them, but I do think that no child would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/my-attitude-is-that-if-anybody-of-any-age-wants-to-read-a-book-let/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) [Explore all 41 Alan Garner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) ## More Commit quotes > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Don't commit to being a columnist unless you're willing to do it right. Report your behind off, so you have something original and useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-sloan/don-t-commit-to-being-a-columnist-unless-you-re-willing-to-do-it/) [Allan Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-sloan/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I like to always wash the slate clean, and reinvigorate my spirit to be connected to the characters that I am doing. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giancarlo-esposito/i-like-to-always-wash-the-slate-clean-and-reinvigorate-my-spirit-to/) [Giancarlo Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giancarlo-esposito/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [You get a script and you love it. You find a director that you trust, and it becomes all about how do I commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-der-beek/you-get-a-script-and-you-love-it-you-find-a-director-that-you-trust/) [James Van Der Beek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-der-beek/) > [Ok, look. I'm honest. Girl I can't lie I miss you. You and the music were the only things that I'd commit to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/ok-look-i-m-honest-girl-i-can-t-lie-i-miss-you-you-and-the-music-were/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [One should not withdraw from individuals and commit to the community what they can accomplish by their own enterprise and industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/one-should-not-withdraw-from-individuals-and-commit-to-the-community/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [A man must commit a crime at least once in his life-time. Only then will his virtue be recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girish-karnad/a-man-must-commit-a-crime-at-least-once-in-his-life-time-only-then/) [Girish Karnad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girish-karnad/) > [“A man, who does not commit an evil act either, has no opportunity or the stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/a-man-who-does-not-commit-an-evil-act-either-has-no-opportunity-or/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [One day I may commit to a city and settle down and do the restaurant thing - when I'm ready and however and whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-kish/one-day-i-may-commit-to-a-city-and-settle-down-and-do-the-restaurant/) [Kristen Kish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-kish/) > [Love and commit. Not hit and quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhecky/love-and-commit-not-hit-and-quit/) [Jhecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhecky/) [Browse all 1,824 Commit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commit/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out used by scaredycats who won't commit to anything. Simile's for cowards.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Garner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out-used-by-scaredycats-who-won/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commit" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out-used-by-scaredycats-who-won/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/alan-garner-16067_commit_i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out_2607341.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a cop-out used by scaredycats who won't commit to anything. Simile's for…” — Alan Garner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Garner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'll buy metaphor, but simile's a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out-used-by-scaredycats-who-won/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/i-ll-buy-metaphor-but-simile-s-a-cop-out-used-by-scaredycats-who-won/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```