Figurative Language Checker
Scan your writing for similes, idioms, and hyperbole. Paste in a paragraph or essay to highlight figurative language and see a breakdown by type.
This detects similes ("like"/"as" comparisons), a curated list of common idioms, and common hyperbole phrases using pattern matching - not full language understanding. It won't catch metaphors, personification, or figurative language outside these patterns, and may occasionally flag a literal phrase that happens to match. Use it as a starting point, not a definitive analysis.
Recommended Settings
Pro Tips
- •Similes are detected by looking for 'like a/an/the ___' and 'as ___ as ___' patterns, so comparisons phrased differently won't be caught
- •The idiom and hyperbole lists cover common, well-known phrases - regional expressions or less common idioms may be missed
- •This tool doesn't detect metaphors or personification, since both require understanding meaning rather than matching a pattern
- •A high count of idioms and hyperbole can be a useful signal to check for cliches in formal or professional writing
Most Popular
Most users paste an essay or short story and review each highlighted phrase to decide whether to keep, rework, or remove it
When to Use This Tool
Quickly spot figurative language in student essays or creative writing assignments.
Identify similes and idioms used in a poem, story, or piece of prose for literary analysis.
Find overused idioms and hyperbole in professional or formal writing that might be worth rewriting.
Practice recognizing similes, idioms, and hyperbole in sample texts.
How It Works
Scan the text for simile patterns ('like a ___' and 'as ___ as ___' constructions)
Match the text against a curated list of common idioms and hyperbole phrases
Highlight every detected phrase directly in the text and group results by category
100% Private
Files never leave your device. All processing happens locally in your browser.
Lightning Fast
Powered by Client-side pattern-based figurative language detection for optimal performance on modern browsers.
Open Source
Built with verified, open-source libraries. Fully transparent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this detect metaphors?
No. Metaphors require understanding meaning rather than matching a text pattern, so this tool focuses on similes, idioms, and hyperbole, which are more reliably detectable through pattern matching.
Why was a literal phrase highlighted?
Detection is based on common phrase patterns, so an idiom or simile-like phrase used literally (rather than figuratively) can occasionally be flagged - always review matches with your own judgment.
Can I add my own idioms to check for?
Not currently - this checks against a built-in list of common English idioms and hyperbole phrases covering the most frequently used expressions.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All detection happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript.
Why wasn't a simile I wrote detected?
Simile detection looks specifically for 'like a/an/the ___' and 'as ___ as ___' patterns - comparisons phrased another way, without those exact structures, won't be caught.