Sometimes, starting something new feels exciting. It could be your first day at school or trying a new sport. You may feel a little nervous too. That’s okay. New beginnings can be full of fun and learning.
Writers use special words to help us think about starting in fun ways. These are called metaphors. A metaphor says one thing is something else. But it doesn’t mean it exactly. It helps us picture an idea better. In this lesson, we will look at easy metaphors that show what it feels like to start something new.
Metaphors for Starting Something
1. A Door Opening
Meaning: A new chance is beginning.
To Provide an Example: Starting second grade felt like a door opening. / Joining the soccer team was like walking through a new door.
Alternative Meaning: A fresh start / A way to something new
2. A Rocket Launching
Meaning: Starting with lots of energy.
To Provide an Example: He began the race like a rocket launching. / She started her drawing like a rocket zooming up.
Alternative Meaning: A fast and strong beginning / Jumping right in
3. A Light Turning On
Meaning: Getting a new idea.
To Provide an Example: When I thought of a story to write, it was like a light turning on. / Her answer came like a light turning on.
Alternative Meaning: A bright beginning / A fresh idea
4. A Seed Being Planted
Meaning: The start of something that will grow.
To Provide an Example: Reading my first book was like planting a seed. / Making a new friend is like planting a seed of friendship.
Alternative Meaning: A small start that will grow / A gentle beginning
5. A Match Being Struck
Meaning: A quick, exciting start.
To Provide an Example: He ran onto the field like a match being struck. / She started the game like a spark.
Alternative Meaning: Fast and full of energy / Something just beginning
6. A New Page Turning
Meaning: Moving into a new time or experience.
To Provide an Example: The first day of school felt like turning a new page. / After the break, it felt like starting on a clean page.
Alternative Meaning: Starting fresh / A change
7. A Sunrise
Meaning: A bright and hopeful start.
To Provide an Example: Meeting my teacher was like a sunrise. / It felt like a sunrise when we started our trip.
Alternative Meaning: Happy beginning / A fresh new day
8. A Bell Ringing
Meaning: A clear signal to begin.
To Provide an Example: The bell rang and it was time to learn. / The idea rang like a bell in my head.
Alternative Meaning: The start of action / Wake-up moment
9. A Race Starting
Meaning: A fast and ready beginning.
To Provide an Example: He lined up like a runner at the start of a race. / She started her homework like a race.
Alternative Meaning: Energetic start / First step forward
10. A Baby Bird Hatching
Meaning: A soft and new beginning.
To Provide an Example: His first music lesson was like a baby bird hatching. / Starting to learn math was like breaking out of a shell.
Alternative Meaning: A new life or try / A slow beginning
11. A Car Starting
Meaning: Beginning with motion.
To Provide an Example: I started my homework like a car turning on. / Our game began like a car engine roaring.
Alternative Meaning: Starting to move / Getting going
12. A Candle Lighting
Meaning: A gentle, bright beginning.
To Provide an Example: Her smile at the party was like a candle lighting up. / The first idea in my story felt like a candle being lit.
Alternative Meaning: A warm start / A calm beginning
13. A Pencil on Paper
Meaning: Starting to create something.
To Provide an Example: Writing my story was like a pencil on paper. / He drew his first shape like a pencil drawing life.
Alternative Meaning: A creative start / Quiet beginning
14. A New Trail
Meaning: Beginning a new path.
To Provide an Example: Trying a new sport felt like walking on a new trail. / The school year began like a trail ahead.
Alternative Meaning: A journey just starting / A new direction
15. A Drumbeat
Meaning: A strong signal to begin.
To Provide an Example: The music started like a drumbeat. / He began to clean his room like a drum sounding.
Alternative Meaning: Steady beginning / A rhythm to start
16. A Bird Taking Flight
Meaning: Taking off with energy.
To Provide an Example: She started dancing like a bird taking flight. / I left the house like a bird flying free.
Alternative Meaning: First flight / Feeling free to begin
17. A Ball Rolling
Meaning: A start that keeps going.
To Provide an Example: Once we began, it was like a ball rolling. / She did her chores like a rolling ball.
Alternative Meaning: A fast-moving start / Not stopping
18. A Song’s First Note
Meaning: A start that feels beautiful.
To Provide an Example: Our class show started like the first note of a song. / He read his poem like a song beginning.
Alternative Meaning: Nice start / A sound to begin
19. A Button Being Pushed
Meaning: A quick way to begin.
To Provide an Example: The robot moved as soon as the button was pushed. / I began my game like pressing start.
Alternative Meaning: Starting quickly / An instant beginning
20. A Leaf Blowing
Meaning: A soft, quiet start.
To Provide an Example: He walked into class like a leaf blowing in the wind. / My first drawing floated from my hand like a leaf.
Alternative Meaning: Gentle start / Light and calm
21. A Snowflake Falling
Meaning: A soft and new beginning.
To Provide an Example: Her first day in art class was like a snowflake falling. / It felt like a snowflake the first time I tried painting.
Alternative Meaning: New and delicate / Just beginning
22. A Kite Taking Off
Meaning: Starting to rise with joy.
To Provide an Example: She ran outside like a kite taking off. / He smiled like a kite flying in the sky.
Alternative Meaning: Rising happily / Lifting into a new start
23. A Path Clearing
Meaning: Making room for a new start.
To Provide an Example: We made a new plan like a path clearing through the trees. / It felt easy, like a path opening up.
Alternative Meaning: A clear way / Ready to begin
24. A Balloon Floating Up
Meaning: A light and happy start.
To Provide an Example: The game started like a balloon going up. / Her idea was light like a floating balloon.
Alternative Meaning: Joyful beginning / Gentle rise
25. A Cloud Moving
Meaning: A calm beginning.
To Provide an Example: Our hike began like a cloud drifting in the sky. / The song started like a cloud passing by.
Alternative Meaning: Peaceful start / Slow and easy
26. A Fire Starting
Meaning: A bright and warm start.
To Provide an Example: His speech began like a little fire. / Her drawing started to glow like a fire.
Alternative Meaning: Starting with excitement / Bright new energy
27. A Bell Tower Ringing
Meaning: An important beginning.
To Provide an Example: The contest began like a bell ringing in a tower. / My idea rang out like a big bell.
Alternative Meaning: Bold and clear start / A start everyone notices
28. A Raindrop Falling
Meaning: A quiet but fresh start.
To Provide an Example: Her steps felt like the first raindrop. / The story began like soft rain.
Alternative Meaning: Small but new / Quiet beginning
29. A Paintbrush Stroke
Meaning: A creative start.
To Provide an Example: I painted my first line like a brush starting art. / His picture began with one stroke of fun.
Alternative Meaning: First step in art / Colorful beginning
30. A Clock Starting to Tick
Meaning: Time to begin.
To Provide an Example: The test began like a clock ticking. / I started my day like the clock at 8:00.
Alternative Meaning: Start of time / Time is moving
31. A Shell Cracking Open
Meaning: A small thing beginning to grow.
To Provide an Example: He started to read like a shell cracking for the first time. / Her new song idea cracked open gently.
Alternative Meaning: New growth / A start from inside
32. A Wind Blowing
Meaning: A fresh beginning.
To Provide an Example: Our walk started like a wind pushing us forward. / It felt like a breeze of new things.
Alternative Meaning: New and clean / Moving forward
33. A Light Flickering
Meaning: A small start showing up.
To Provide an Example: His story idea flickered like a light. / It began with just a little spark.
Alternative Meaning: Tiny new start / Not fully bright yet
34. A Footstep on Fresh Snow
Meaning: Being the first to begin.
To Provide an Example: Her idea was the first footstep in snow. / We began like kids making fresh tracks.
Alternative Meaning: First ones / Leading the way
35. A Jack-in-the-box Popping
Meaning: A surprise start.
To Provide an Example: The fun started like a jack-in-the-box popping up. / His laugh popped up and we all joined.
Alternative Meaning: A quick, fun beginning / A pop of joy
36. A Whistle Blowing
Meaning: A signal to go.
To Provide an Example: The race started with a whistle. / We began our task like a coach blowing the whistle.
Alternative Meaning: Start time / Let’s go
37. A Sprout Growing
Meaning: Something new coming up.
To Provide an Example: Our idea was like a sprout peeking from soil. / His plan began small like a green sprout.
Alternative Meaning: Start of growth / New life
38. A Toy Winding Up
Meaning: Getting ready to start.
To Provide an Example: He warmed up like a toy being wound. / The lesson began like a toy starting to spin.
Alternative Meaning: Warming up / Getting set
39. A Blink of an Eye
Meaning: Starting quickly.
To Provide an Example: It began in a blink. / He started the game fast like blinking.
Alternative Meaning: Super quick start / No waiting
40. A Smile Beginning
Meaning: A friendly new start.
To Provide an Example: Her smile started the friendship. / We began to talk with one smile.
Alternative Meaning: Soft welcome / Easy start
41. A Wind Chime Sound
Meaning: A soft call to start.
To Provide an Example: It felt like wind chimes when we began art class. / The project began sweetly like chimes.
Alternative Meaning: Pretty beginning / Light sound to go
42. A New Crayon Box
Meaning: A colorful fresh start.
To Provide an Example: Drawing with new crayons was like starting fresh. / I opened the box and began coloring.
Alternative Meaning: Full of options / New fun
43. A Page Lifting
Meaning: Turning to something new.
To Provide an Example: She turned the page like starting a new part of life. / The story began like lifting paper.
Alternative Meaning: Start of change / Beginning of story
44. A Whisper
Meaning: A quiet start.
To Provide an Example: We started our plan with a whisper. / The first word came like a whisper in the wind.
Alternative Meaning: Silent beginning / Soft start
45. A Button Click
Meaning: Start with a click.
To Provide an Example: He clicked the mouse to start the game. / The story began when she pressed the button.
Alternative Meaning: Easy beginning / Tech start
46. A Firework Shooting Up
Meaning: A loud and exciting start.
To Provide an Example: The show started like fireworks. / His idea exploded like a firework.
Alternative Meaning: Big and fun start / Surprise and wow
47. A Line Drawn in Sand
Meaning: A clear mark to begin.
To Provide an Example: We drew a line in the sand and started the race. / Her new goal was like a line drawn to begin.
Alternative Meaning: Beginning point / Set to go
48. A Glove Being Thrown
Meaning: Ready to try something.
To Provide an Example: He threw down his glove and said, “Let’s play!” / The game began with a glove toss.
Alternative Meaning: A bold start / Saying “I’m ready”
49. A Beam of Light
Meaning: A bright beginning.
To Provide an Example: The first idea shone like a beam of light. / She lit up like a light beam when we began.
Alternative Meaning: New hope / Bright start
50. A Book Cover Opening
Meaning: A story just beginning.
To Provide an Example: Opening her new book felt like a big beginning. / He flipped the cover like starting an adventure.
Alternative Meaning: Start of something great / New chapter
Trials for Success: Metaphors for Starting Something
- Lucy began her school year like a _______ opening.
- The team started the soccer match like a _______ launching.
- When he shared his idea, it felt like a _______ turning on.
- Making a new friend was like planting a _______.
- Mia’s energy in gym class was like a _______ being struck.
- Reading a new book was like turning a new _______.
- The class project began like a bright _______ rising.
- When the bell rang, it was like a _______ calling us to begin.
- She ran to the playground like a _______ starting a race.
- His first song on the piano was like a bird _______.
- The group’s clean-up started like a _______ rolling.
- Starting the art contest was like the first note in a _______.
- Pressing the game button was like _______ being pushed.
- Their new idea grew slowly, like a small green _______.
- The fireworks show began like a _______ shooting into the sky.
Answer Key
- door
- rocket
- light
- seed
- match
- page
- sunrise
- bell
- race
- flying
- ball
- song
- a button
- sprout
- firework
Conclusion
Starting something new can feel fun, big, or even a little scary. Metaphors help us talk about these moments in a simple way. They turn ideas into pictures we can imagine.
When we say things like “a door opening” or “a rocket launching,” we show how beginnings can look or feel. These words help us understand and share our thoughts. Try using these metaphors when you talk or write about your own new starts. They can make your stories clearer and more fun to tell.
