What Are Some Metaphors for Happiness?

By Staff Writer | Last Updated August 4, 2015

An example of a metaphor for happiness is “sunshine,” as in the phrase: “You are my sunshine,” which indicates the ability of happiness to bring warmth to another person’s day. Buddha is quoted as likening happiness to a candle, one of which can be the source for thousands of others.

Metaphors are distinct from similes. Whereas similes are a comparison between things, metaphors state that one thing is another thing.

Some happiness similes include a Chinese proverb’s likening of happiness to “a sunbeam,” Henry Grove’s comparison of the emotion with “a refreshing stream,” and Alphonse Karr’s association between happiness and game, which can be missed by a rifle if aimed at from too far away.