“He brought his palms together like a supplicant” is an example of—

Answer Details

A simile is a figure of speech that makes an explicit comparison between two unlike things using the words "like" or "as." In the expression "He brought his palms together like a supplicant," the character's gesture of pressing his palms together is compared to that of a supplicant - a person who humbly and earnestly begs or prays for something.

The word "like" is the marker that identifies this as a simile. The comparison creates a clear visual image: the reader can picture someone bringing their hands together in a gesture of pleading or prayer. A supplicant typically presses their palms together and may bow or kneel, conveying desperation, humility, or sincere appeal.

This is not hyperbole because the description does not exaggerate. It is not irony because there is no contradiction between what is said and what is meant. It is not euphemism because the expression does not substitute a mild term for something harsh. The presence of the comparison word "like" makes this a straightforward example of simile.

For examinations, always look for "like" or "as" to distinguish a simile from a metaphor. If the comparison is direct (without "like" or "as"), it is a metaphor.