Love is a big feeling. It makes us feel warm, happy, and safe. Love can be for family, friends, pets, or even favorite toys. Sometimes, it’s hard to say what love feels like. That’s when we can use special word pictures called metaphors.
Metaphors help us talk about love in fun and clear ways. They compare love to things we already know. When we say, “Love is a warm blanket,” we don’t mean a real blanket. We mean that love feels cozy and nice, just like a blanket. In this lesson, we will learn many simple ways to think about love. These metaphors will help us talk about love in a new way.
Metaphors for Love
1. Love is a Blanket
Meaning: Love feels warm and safe.
To Provide an Example: Mom’s hug is like a soft blanket. / I feel like I’m wrapped in love.
Alternative Meaning: Love keeps you cozy. / Love helps you feel calm.
2. Love is a Light
Meaning: Love makes things bright.
To Provide an Example: Her smile is a light in my day. / Love lights up my heart.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings joy. / Love makes life happy.
3. Love is a Hug
Meaning: Love is kind and caring.
To Provide an Example: His note felt like a big hug. / Her kind words were like a hug.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings comfort. / Love helps you feel better.
4. Love is a Garden
Meaning: Love grows when you care.
To Provide an Example: We planted flowers and love grew too. / Grandma’s care is like a garden.
Alternative Meaning: Love takes time. / Love needs care.
5. Love is a Fire
Meaning: Love feels strong and bright.
To Provide an Example: My heart feels warm like a fire when Dad reads to me. / Love can glow inside us.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings heat and strength. / Love can grow big.
6. Love is a Star
Meaning: Love shines in dark times.
To Provide an Example: When I’m sad, love is my star. / She is the star of my heart.
Alternative Meaning: Love gives hope. / Love shines bright.
7. Love is a Gift
Meaning: Love is something special we give.
To Provide an Example: His drawing was a gift of love. / My smile is my gift to Mom.
Alternative Meaning: Love is kind. / Love is shared.
8. Love is a Song
Meaning: Love makes us feel happy inside.
To Provide an Example: Her laugh is a sweet song. / Love plays in my heart like music.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings joy. / Love makes us sing.
9. Love is a Balloon
Meaning: Love lifts you up.
To Provide an Example: Her hug made me feel like a balloon floating high. / Love makes me feel light.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings cheer. / Love makes you float with joy.
10. Love is a Home
Meaning: Love feels safe and nice.
To Provide an Example: Being with family feels like home. / Love is where I feel I belong.
Alternative Meaning: Love gives comfort. / Love is your safe place.
11. Love is a Bridge
Meaning: Love brings people together.
To Provide an Example: Saying sorry built a bridge of love. / We held hands and built love like a bridge.
Alternative Meaning: Love connects hearts. / Love helps us feel close.
12. Love is Sunshine
Meaning: Love makes everything feel brighter.
To Provide an Example: Her smile is my sunshine. / Love shines on even rainy days.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings light. / Love makes days feel good.
13. Love is a Treasure
Meaning: Love is very special.
To Provide an Example: My dog’s cuddles are a treasure. / Love is the best treasure of all.
Alternative Meaning: Love is valuable. / Love is a prize.
14. Love is a Cupcake
Meaning: Love is sweet and small.
To Provide an Example: His note was a little cupcake of love. / She gave me a love-filled cupcake hug.
Alternative Meaning: Love is a small joy. / Love feels yummy and sweet.
15. Love is a Tree
Meaning: Love grows strong.
To Provide an Example: Our love is tall like a tree. / Love stands strong in the wind.
Alternative Meaning: Love lasts. / Love gives shade and safety.
16. Love is a Bell
Meaning: Love rings out clearly.
To Provide an Example: Her “I love you” was like a bell. / I heard love in his laugh.
Alternative Meaning: Love speaks loud. / Love can be heard.
17. Love is a Boat
Meaning: Love helps you float.
To Provide an Example: We floated through the day on love. / Love helped us through rough waters.
Alternative Meaning: Love helps carry you. / Love keeps you up.
18. Love is a Quilt
Meaning: Love is made of many soft parts.
To Provide an Example: Our family hugs are like a quilt. / Love covers me gently.
Alternative Meaning: Love is warm and safe. / Love is made of caring.
19. Love is a Rainbow
Meaning: Love has many colors.
To Provide an Example: Our family is a rainbow of love. / Love colors my world.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings smiles. / Love is beautiful.
20. Love is a Key
Meaning: Love opens hearts.
To Provide an Example: His kind words were a key to my heart. / Love opens locked doors.
Alternative Meaning: Love lets us feel. / Love makes hearts open.
21. Love is a Cloud
Meaning: Love feels soft and dreamy.
To Provide an Example: I floated on a cloud of love. / Her hug was like a fluffy cloud.
Alternative Meaning: Love feels light. / Love helps us relax.
22. Love is a Starfish
Meaning: Love holds on in many ways.
To Provide an Example: Her love stretched out like a starfish hug. / Love touches all parts of me.
Alternative Meaning: Love reaches far. / Love sticks with you.
23. Love is a Nest
Meaning: Love is a cozy place to rest.
To Provide an Example: Grandpa’s lap is a nest of love. / I feel snug in Mom’s love.
Alternative Meaning: Love is safe. / Love is warm.
24. Love is a Puzzle
Meaning: Love fits just right.
To Provide an Example: You and I are two pieces of love’s puzzle. / We fit like love pieces.
Alternative Meaning: Love matches. / Love connects.
25. Love is a Flame
Meaning: Love burns inside.
To Provide an Example: His love burns like a little flame. / I feel the warm flame of love.
Alternative Meaning: Love glows. / Love keeps going.
26. Love is a Shell
Meaning: Love holds quiet beauty.
To Provide an Example: Her love is soft like a shell. / Love has secrets inside.
Alternative Meaning: Love is gentle. / Love is quiet.
27. Love is a Kite
Meaning: Love flies high and free.
To Provide an Example: My love for her soars like a kite. / Love flies in the sky of my heart.
Alternative Meaning: Love lifts us. / Love dances in the wind.
28. Love is a Cup
Meaning: Love fills us up.
To Provide an Example: I drank a cup of love when she smiled. / His love overflows like a cup.
Alternative Meaning: Love fills the heart. / Love is enough.
29. Love is a Snowflake
Meaning: Love is special and one of a kind.
To Provide an Example: Her love is like a snowflake—soft and special. / Every love is its own snowflake.
Alternative Meaning: Love is gentle. / Love is rare.
30. Love is a Ladder
Meaning: Love helps us grow.
To Provide an Example: With Dad’s love, I climb higher every day. / Love lifts us up.
Alternative Meaning: Love builds us. / Love helps us rise.
31. Love is a Candle
Meaning: Love shines in the dark.
To Provide an Example: Love is my candle when I feel sad. / Her love lights the way.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings hope. / Love helps us see.
32. Love is a Rope
Meaning: Love ties us together.
To Provide an Example: Our family is tied with love like a rope. / Love keeps us from falling.
Alternative Meaning: Love holds tight. / Love connects.
33. Love is a Cookie
Meaning: Love is sweet and small.
To Provide an Example: His note was a love cookie. / Her hug tasted like a cookie of care.
Alternative Meaning: Love is tasty. / Love feels like a treat.
34. Love is a Footstep
Meaning: Love walks with you.
To Provide an Example: Love follows me like footsteps. / I step in love every day.
Alternative Meaning: Love is always there. / Love stays close.
35. Love is a Balloon Animal
Meaning: Love is fun and full of shape.
To Provide an Example: Our day was shaped like a balloon of love. / Love twists into fun.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings joy. / Love is playful.
36. Love is a Swing
Meaning: Love goes up and down but still feels good.
To Provide an Example: Our talks swing with love. / I feel love like wind on a swing.
Alternative Meaning: Love moves. / Love lifts and rocks.
37. Love is a Sandwich
Meaning: Love wraps around good things.
To Provide an Example: That kiss was a sandwich of hugs and smiles. / Our picnic was full of love sandwiches.
Alternative Meaning: Love is wrapped care. / Love holds a surprise.
38. Love is a Bell
Meaning: Love rings loud and clear.
To Provide an Example: Her love rings like a bell at school. / I hear love in every ding.
Alternative Meaning: Love calls out. / Love is heard.
39. Love is a Crayon
Meaning: Love colors our world.
To Provide an Example: She draws love in every color. / His love colored my day bright.
Alternative Meaning: Love makes life bright. / Love paints joy.
40. Love is a Tunnel
Meaning: Love helps you find the way.
To Provide an Example: We crawled through love’s tunnel. / Love leads to new places.
Alternative Meaning: Love is a guide. / Love helps you through.
41. Love is a Magnet
Meaning: Love pulls people close.
To Provide an Example: We were pulled by love like magnets. / Her love sticks to me.
Alternative Meaning: Love draws near. / Love stays connected.
42. Love is a Waterfall
Meaning: Love pours out strong and full.
To Provide an Example: His love falls like a waterfall. / I feel soaked in her love.
Alternative Meaning: Love never runs dry. / Love keeps flowing.
43. Love is a Door
Meaning: Love lets people in.
To Provide an Example: She opened the door of love. / Love welcomes everyone.
Alternative Meaning: Love invites. / Love is open.
44. Love is a Path
Meaning: Love shows the way.
To Provide an Example: Love led me down a kind path. / We follow the trail of love.
Alternative Meaning: Love guides. / Love is the road.
45. Love is a Starburst
Meaning: Love shines and spreads.
To Provide an Example: Her love bursts like stars. / I saw love sparkle from him.
Alternative Meaning: Love surprises. / Love spreads wide.
46. Love is a Chair
Meaning: Love gives you rest.
To Provide an Example: I sat in her love like a soft chair. / Love is my resting spot.
Alternative Meaning: Love lets you pause. / Love is calm.
47. Love is a Whisper
Meaning: Love can be soft.
To Provide an Example: His love came in a whisper. / I felt her quiet care.
Alternative Meaning: Love doesn’t have to be loud. / Love is gentle.
48. Love is a Lightbulb
Meaning: Love makes things clear.
To Provide an Example: Love helped me see better. / Her words were love’s lightbulb.
Alternative Meaning: Love brings ideas. / Love makes things bright.
49. Love is a Raindrop
Meaning: Love can be small but strong.
To Provide an Example: Her tiny note was a raindrop of love. / I feel every drop of care.
Alternative Meaning: Love adds up. / Love falls softly.
50. Love is a Moon
Meaning: Love shines at night.
To Provide an Example: His love glowed like the moon. / I see her love in the night sky.
Alternative Meaning: Love stays. / Love lights the dark.
Trials for Success: Metaphors for Love
- When Mom hugs me, it feels like a warm _______.
- Dad’s smile is the _______ that brightens my day.
- My baby sister’s laugh is like a sweet _______ of love.
- Grandpa’s lap feels like a soft _______ where I can rest.
- When I’m scared at night, love shines like a _______.
- Our family is tied together with a strong _______ of care.
- When I read her note, it felt like a kind _______ on my heart.
- Playing with my puppy fills my heart like a full _______.
- Love grows in our home like a tall _______.
- Her words opened the _______ to my happy feelings.
- My brother’s help during homework was like a big _______ of love.
- When we laugh together, it feels like flying on a bright _______.
- Her love pours on me like a steady _______.
- Our classroom feels like a cozy _______ where we all belong.
- His surprise hug was like a bursting _______ in my heart.
Answer Key
- blanket
- light
- cupcake
- nest
- candle
- rope
- bell
- cup
- tree
- door
- sandwich
- balloon
- waterfall
- home
- starburst
Conclusion
Love is something we all feel. Sometimes it’s big. Sometimes it’s small. We can feel love from family, friends, or even pets. It’s not always easy to say what love is. That’s why we use metaphors.
Metaphors help us show what love feels like. We say love is a blanket when it feels warm. We say love is a light when it helps us feel better. These word pictures help others understand how love works. The next time you want to talk about love, try using one of these ideas.
