Sometimes we don’t understand something right away. It might be a story, a lesson, or what someone is saying. That’s okay. Everyone feels this way sometimes. Grown-ups, kids, even teachers can feel confused too. To talk about this in a fun way, we use something called metaphors.
Metaphors help us explain feelings using simple ideas. They say something is something else, even if it’s not really that thing. If someone doesn’t understand, we might say “he’s in the fog.” That doesn’t mean he’s outside in fog. It just means he feels confused. In this article, we will learn many easy metaphors that show what it feels like when we don’t understand something. They will help us share how we feel and learn how others feel too.
Metaphors for Not Understanding
1. My brain is in a fog
Meaning: I feel confused.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t get the math question—my brain was in a fog. / She looked at the map like her brain was in a fog.
Alternative Meaning: Hard to think clearly. / Not sure what’s going on.
2. The lights are on, but nobody’s home
Meaning: I’m here, but not really thinking.
To Provide an Example: When he was asked the question, the lights were on, but nobody’s home. / I waved at her, but she didn’t answer—the lights were on, but nobody’s home.
Alternative Meaning: Not paying attention. / Not thinking.
3. It went over my head
Meaning: I didn’t understand it.
To Provide an Example: That science word went right over my head. / The joke went over my head—I didn’t get it.
Alternative Meaning: Too hard to understand. / Missed the meaning.
4. I’m in the dark
Meaning: I don’t know what is happening.
To Provide an Example: Everyone knew the plan, but I was in the dark. / I was in the dark about what the teacher said.
Alternative Meaning: Not told. / Don’t get it.
5. A puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: Something important is missing.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t get the story—it felt like a puzzle with missing pieces. / His directions were like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t figure it out. / Something’s not there.
6. My brain feels like scrambled eggs
Meaning: My thoughts are all mixed up.
To Provide an Example: After reading that hard book, my brain felt like scrambled eggs. / My brain feels like scrambled eggs when I do hard math.
Alternative Meaning: Not thinking clearly. / Confused.
7. It’s all Greek to me
Meaning: I don’t understand any of it.
To Provide an Example: The new song was in another language—it’s all Greek to me. / That word is all Greek to me.
Alternative Meaning: Makes no sense. / Can’t understand it.
8. I’m chasing my tail
Meaning: I keep trying, but I’m not getting anywhere.
To Provide an Example: I’ve read the question five times—I’m just chasing my tail. / She was chasing her tail with that puzzle.
Alternative Meaning: Trying but stuck. / Going in circles.
9. I hit a wall
Meaning: I can’t go further in understanding.
To Provide an Example: I was doing fine, then I hit a wall in the story. / I hit a wall trying to learn that word.
Alternative Meaning: Got stuck. / Can’t move forward.
10. It’s like reading upside down
Meaning: Very hard to understand.
To Provide an Example: That paper felt like reading upside down. / When he spoke fast, it was like reading upside down.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear. / Confusing.
11. My brain hit a speed bump
Meaning: I stopped because I didn’t get it.
To Provide an Example: I was reading fine, then my brain hit a speed bump. / My brain hit a speed bump in math class.
Alternative Meaning: Got stuck. / Lost focus.
12. Like walking through fog
Meaning: I can’t see the answer clearly.
To Provide an Example: Learning this is like walking through fog. / That riddle felt like walking through fog.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear. / Feels fuzzy.
13. My head is spinning
Meaning: I have too much to understand.
To Provide an Example: My head is spinning after that story. / When she explained the rules, my head was spinning.
Alternative Meaning: Too much information. / Feeling dizzy or lost.
14. A radio with no sound
Meaning: I hear, but don’t understand.
To Provide an Example: I sat in class like a radio with no sound. / I was like a radio with no sound in the meeting.
Alternative Meaning: Quiet and confused. / Not getting anything.
15. Like reading a secret code
Meaning: Hard to understand.
To Provide an Example: His note was like reading a secret code. / That word list was like a secret code.
Alternative Meaning: Hidden meaning. / Not clear.
16. A maze with no end
Meaning: I don’t know how to figure it out.
To Provide an Example: This question feels like a maze with no end. / Trying to understand her was like a maze with no end.
Alternative Meaning: No way out. / Stuck and lost.
17. My brain is stuck in mud
Meaning: I can’t think clearly.
To Provide an Example: I woke up and my brain was stuck in mud. / After lunch, my brain is stuck in mud.
Alternative Meaning: Slow thinking. / Tired and confused.
18. Like chasing smoke
Meaning: I try to understand, but it disappears.
To Provide an Example: That idea is like chasing smoke. / I’m chasing smoke with these clues.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t catch it. / Always out of reach.
19. A cloud in my head
Meaning: I feel unsure or confused.
To Provide an Example: There’s a cloud in my head during math. / Her words made a cloud in my head.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear thinking. / Confused thoughts.
20. Like a book with missing pages
Meaning: Something important is not there.
To Provide an Example: That lesson was like a book with missing pages. / My instructions were like a book with missing pages.
Alternative Meaning: Not complete. / Hard to follow.
21. My thoughts are tangled
Meaning: My ideas are all mixed up.
To Provide an Example: I tried to write, but my thoughts were tangled. / His story had tangled thoughts.
Alternative Meaning: Not in order. / All jumbled.
22. Like trying to catch a shadow
Meaning: I can’t hold on to the idea.
To Provide an Example: That word is like trying to catch a shadow. / The answer feels like catching a shadow.
Alternative Meaning: Slipping away. / Not reachable.
23. A snowstorm in my mind
Meaning: Everything feels mixed and messy.
To Provide an Example: The big words made a snowstorm in my mind. / After the test, I had a snowstorm in my mind.
Alternative Meaning: Busy brain. / Too much at once.
24. Like tuning into the wrong channel
Meaning: I’m not hearing the right message.
To Provide an Example: I was like a TV on the wrong channel in class. / That speech was like the wrong channel.
Alternative Meaning: Not the right info. / Confusing sound.
25. My brain is a balloon losing air
Meaning: I’m losing focus.
To Provide an Example: After that story, my brain is a balloon losing air. / He looked like a balloon losing air in science class.
Alternative Meaning: Losing energy. / Not sharp anymore.
26. Like watching a movie with no sound
Meaning: I see it but don’t get it.
To Provide an Example: That lesson felt like watching a movie with no sound. / She spoke fast—it was like a silent movie.
Alternative Meaning: Can’t understand. / Missing something.
27. A locked door in my brain
Meaning: I can’t remember or figure it out.
To Provide an Example: That answer is behind a locked door in my brain. / My brain has a locked door when it comes to spelling.
Alternative Meaning: Blocked. / Can’t open up.
28. My brain is taking a nap
Meaning: I’m not thinking hard.
To Provide an Example: During quiet reading, my brain was taking a nap. / He didn’t answer—the brain was taking a nap.
Alternative Meaning: Not awake. / Not ready.
29. Like hearing underwater
Meaning: Sounds are unclear.
To Provide an Example: The speaker’s voice was like hearing underwater. / That lesson was like hearing underwater.
Alternative Meaning: Hard to hear or understand. / Muffled meaning.
30. Like soup without a spoon
Meaning: I have no way to understand.
To Provide an Example: That new rule was like soup without a spoon. / The game rules were like soup without a spoon.
Alternative Meaning: Missing a tool. / Hard to work with.
31. Like a broken pencil
Meaning: Not helpful for learning.
To Provide an Example: That answer was like a broken pencil—it didn’t help. / Her explanation was like a broken pencil.
Alternative Meaning: Useless or unclear. / Doesn’t help.
32. My brain is full of cotton
Meaning: I can’t think well.
To Provide an Example: I didn’t sleep well—my brain is full of cotton. / That question made my brain feel like cotton.
Alternative Meaning: Slow and soft thinking. / Not sharp.
33. A clock with no hands
Meaning: No way to tell what’s going on.
To Provide an Example: His talk was like a clock with no hands. / That plan felt like a clock with no hands.
Alternative Meaning: No direction. / No sense of time.
34. Like missing a puzzle piece
Meaning: One part is missing so it won’t work.
To Provide an Example: I don’t get the story—it’s like missing a puzzle piece. / That answer is like missing a piece.
Alternative Meaning: Something important is gone. / Can’t finish.
35. Like mud in my eyes
Meaning: I can’t see or think clearly.
To Provide an Example: The board was so messy—it was like mud in my eyes. / That riddle felt like mud in my eyes.
Alternative Meaning: Too messy. / Not clear at all.
36. Like a song with no tune
Meaning: Something doesn’t sound or feel right.
To Provide an Example: That rule was like a song with no tune. / Her story felt like a song with no tune.
Alternative Meaning: Missing flow. / Not easy to follow.
37. My thoughts are playing tag
Meaning: My mind is jumping around.
To Provide an Example: I can’t focus—my thoughts are playing tag. / Her brain was playing tag during the test.
Alternative Meaning: Distracted. / Too many thoughts.
38. Like a flashlight with dead batteries
Meaning: Can’t see or understand.
To Provide an Example: His idea was like a flashlight with dead batteries. / My thoughts were like a flashlight that won’t turn on.
Alternative Meaning: Not bright. / Not useful.
39. Like an eraser on ice
Meaning: I can’t get a grip on the idea.
To Provide an Example: That problem was like an eraser on ice. / I kept slipping off the answer.
Alternative Meaning: Slippery idea. / Can’t hold it.
40. Like a maze with no map
Meaning: I don’t know where to go or what to do.
To Provide an Example: Reading that book was like a maze with no map. / The steps felt like a maze with no map.
Alternative Meaning: Lost. / Not sure how to move ahead.
41. Like a phone with no signal
Meaning: No way to connect or understand.
To Provide an Example: His message was like a phone with no signal. / I felt like a phone with no signal during the game.
Alternative Meaning: Disconnected. / Out of reach.
42. Like a tree with no leaves
Meaning: Missing important parts.
To Provide an Example: That chart was like a tree with no leaves. / His answer was like a tree with no leaves.
Alternative Meaning: Not complete. / Bare or unclear.
43. Like a map with no names
Meaning: No way to know what anything means.
To Provide an Example: That worksheet was like a map with no names. / The diagram was like a map with no names.
Alternative Meaning: No help. / Can’t figure it out.
44. Like a sandwich with no filling
Meaning: Empty inside.
To Provide an Example: His speech was like a sandwich with no filling. / That answer was like a sandwich with no filling.
Alternative Meaning: Nothing helpful. / Not useful.
45. Like music with no beat
Meaning: Doesn’t make sense or feel right.
To Provide an Example: That story felt like music with no beat. / The new rule was like music with no beat.
Alternative Meaning: No rhythm. / Hard to follow.
46. Like a kite with no string
Meaning: Can’t control or guide the idea.
To Provide an Example: That lesson was like a kite with no string. / My thoughts were like a kite with no string.
Alternative Meaning: Wild thinking. / Not connected.
47. Like a page full of scribbles
Meaning: Too messy to understand.
To Provide an Example: Her notes were like a page full of scribbles. / The plan looked like scribbles to me.
Alternative Meaning: Messy. / Can’t read it.
48. Like jelly on a ladder
Meaning: Slippery and confusing.
To Provide an Example: That test question was like jelly on a ladder. / His idea felt like jelly on a ladder.
Alternative Meaning: Not steady. / Unclear.
49. Like a mirror with fog
Meaning: Can’t see the idea clearly.
To Provide an Example: Her explanation was like a mirror with fog. / My brain is like a foggy mirror today.
Alternative Meaning: Blurry. / Not clear thinking.
50. Like reading with my eyes closed
Meaning: I can’t understand at all.
To Provide an Example: That sentence felt like reading with my eyes closed. / It was like reading with my eyes closed in class.
Alternative Meaning: Not getting anything. / Total confusion.
Trials for Success: Metaphors for Not Understanding
- I tried to understand the math problem, but my brain was in a _______.
- When the teacher explained the new rule, it went right over my _______.
- Reading that long book felt like walking through thick _______.
- I forgot what to do next—it was like a _______ with no hands.
- The directions were so tricky, it was like reading a _______ code.
- I wanted to help, but my brain was taking a _______.
- During the science talk, my head felt like it was _______.
- That question felt like soup without a _______.
- His story was missing details, like a _______ with no filling.
- I stared at the board, feeling like a phone with no _______.
- My brain was _______ in mud after the long test.
- Her answer was like music with no _______—I didn’t get it.
- I looked at the hard word, and it felt like reading with my eyes _______.
- That idea was like a kite with no _______—just flying all over.
- The page was so messy, it looked like it was full of _______.
Answer Key
- fog
- head
- fog
- clock
- secret
- nap
- spinning
- spoon
- sandwich
- signal
- stuck
- beat
- closed
- string
- scribbles
Conclusion
Sometimes we don’t understand things right away. That’s okay. Everyone gets confused sometimes. It can feel strange, but we can talk about it using easy words and pictures.
Metaphors help us say how we feel. They make hard ideas easier to share. Now you know fun ways to talk about not getting something, like “my brain is in a fog” or “it went over my head.” You can use these when something feels tricky. Keep learning. Keep asking questions. And remember, it’s fine to say, “I don’t get it”—we all do sometimes.
