Metaphor and Oxymoron

Metaphor

This is a comparison made between two things, without the use of the words ‘as’ or ‘like’.

Examples:

That Jessie James is a snake.

She is a rainbow.

Oxymoron

This exists when contradicting words are used together (one is used to modify the other).

Examples:

Expressions like: original copy; found missing; terribly pleased; small crowd; clearly misunderstood; pretty ugly; great depression

“Did you respond to Marie’s question?” John asked. “Yes,” Joe replied. “I told her it was a definite maybe.”