Opportunities are chances to do something good or important. These chances might come at school, at home, or while trying something new. When people talk about opportunity, they don’t always use simple words. Sometimes, they use special phrases called metaphors. A metaphor is when we say one thing is something else to explain a big idea. It helps us picture what the chance feels like.
For example, instead of saying “I got a new chance,” someone might say, “A door opened for me.” The door isn’t real. It just means they had a new chance to try. In this article, we will learn about these kinds of phrases. We will look at different ways people talk about opportunity using metaphors. This can help us understand and talk about our own chances better.
Metaphors for Opportunity
1. Opening a door
Meaning: Getting a new chance
Give an Instance: Being picked for the team opened a door. / Learning guitar opened a door to music.
Substitute Meaning: Starting something new / Getting a chance
2. Turning the key
Meaning: Starting something important
Give an Instance: Asking a question turned the key to better grades. / Trying out opened the lock to fun.
Substitute Meaning: Begin something / Unlock a new path
3. Catching the train
Meaning: Taking a chance at the right time
Give an Instance: She joined the club just in time and caught the train. / He didn’t miss the train to speak up.
Substitute Meaning: Grab the moment / Act fast
4. Opening a window
Meaning: A short time to try something
Give an Instance: There was a small window to sign up for art. / I jumped through the open window of chance.
Substitute Meaning: A short chance / Quick moment
5. Planting a seed
Meaning: Starting something that will grow
Give an Instance: Trying out helped plant a seed for confidence. / Asking for help planted a seed of trust.
Substitute Meaning: Begin something helpful / Start a path
6. Lighting a torch
Meaning: Starting a bright idea
Give an Instance: Her book idea lit a torch. / Helping others lit the way.
Substitute Meaning: Begin something good / Show the way
7. Building a bridge
Meaning: Making a way to connect or move forward
Give an Instance: Joining a new group helped build a bridge. / Talking with a friend built a bridge of trust.
Substitute Meaning: Make a path / Connect people
8. Cracking open a shell
Meaning: Breaking into a new chance
Give an Instance: Her first speech cracked her shell. / He cracked the shell by sharing an idea.
Substitute Meaning: Try something new / Break out
9. Lighting a spark
Meaning: Starting something exciting
Give an Instance: His story lit a spark in the class. / She lit a spark with her drawing.
Substitute Meaning: Begin fun / Start something cool
10. Breaking the ice
Meaning: Starting something that feels hard
Give an Instance: Her hello broke the ice in the group. / His joke broke the ice at lunch.
Substitute Meaning: Make things easier / Start talking
11. Turning the page
Meaning: Starting something new
Give an Instance: After trying out, she turned the page in her school life. / He turned the page after the move.
Substitute Meaning: Begin again / Move forward
12. Unlocking a treasure chest
Meaning: Finding a new opportunity
Give an Instance: His science idea opened a treasure chest. / Helping others unlocked a prize.
Substitute Meaning: Gain a reward / Find a big chance
13. Pushing open a gate
Meaning: Forcing a way to a new path
Give an Instance: He pushed open the gate to success. / She tried hard and pushed the gate of fear.
Substitute Meaning: Work for it / Try hard
14. Climbing over a wall
Meaning: Getting past a hard time
Give an Instance: She climbed over her fear and tried. / He got over the wall by speaking up.
Substitute Meaning: Pass a challenge / Overcome a block
15. Finding a path
Meaning: Discovering a new way
Give an Instance: He found a path by trying something new. / Her idea led to a fresh path.
Substitute Meaning: New way / Start a journey
16. Flipping a switch
Meaning: Making a fast change
Give an Instance: Saying yes flipped a switch in her thinking. / His effort flipped the switch to learning.
Substitute Meaning: Change quickly / Start suddenly
17. Catching the wind
Meaning: Moving forward with energy
Give an Instance: Their idea caught the wind. / He caught the wind and moved fast with learning.
Substitute Meaning: Pick up speed / Go forward
18. Shooting a rocket
Meaning: Taking off fast
Give an Instance: Her plan took off like a rocket. / His words shot like a rocket to everyone.
Substitute Meaning: Launch / Begin with power
19. Reaching the gate
Meaning: Getting to a chance
Give an Instance: His project helped him reach the gate. / She got to the gate of success.
Substitute Meaning: Almost start / Begin soon
20. Opening a book
Meaning: Beginning something full of ideas
Give an Instance: Her choice to read opened a book of fun. / He opened the book of art by drawing daily.
Substitute Meaning: Start learning / Begin something rich
21. Catching a wave
Meaning: Going along with something exciting
Give an Instance: He caught a wave of fun with the new club. / She caught the wave and joined the singing group.
Substitute Meaning: Go with the flow / Join in
22. Ringing the bell
Meaning: Marking the start of something
Give an Instance: Trying something new rang the bell for him. / Her question rang the bell for a cool idea.
Substitute Meaning: Start / Begin a moment
23. Opening a gift
Meaning: Finding a surprise chance
Give an Instance: Her award felt like opening a gift. / The letter from camp was a gift of joy.
Substitute Meaning: Surprise / Happy start
24. Stepping onto a stage
Meaning: Taking a chance in front of others
Give an Instance: Speaking up was like stepping on stage. / His idea gave him the stage to shine.
Substitute Meaning: Be seen / Show yourself
25. Jumping into the pool
Meaning: Taking a big leap
Give an Instance: She jumped into the pool of drama club. / He jumped into the pool of learning.
Substitute Meaning: Dive in / Try fully
26. Pulling back the curtain
Meaning: Seeing a new side
Give an Instance: The trip pulled back the curtain on history. / His question pulled the curtain on a secret.
Substitute Meaning: Discover / Uncover
27. Rolling the dice
Meaning: Taking a risk for a chance
Give an Instance: She rolled the dice by trying out. / He rolled the dice and gave the speech.
Substitute Meaning: Take a chance / Try and see
28. Holding the torch
Meaning: Leading with new ideas
Give an Instance: She held the torch for change. / He held the torch and others followed.
Substitute Meaning: Be first / Show the way
29. Taking the leap
Meaning: Jumping into something new
Give an Instance: He took the leap and signed up. / She took the leap into making friends.
Substitute Meaning: Try something new / Make a bold move
30. Opening the gate
Meaning: Allowing something to begin
Give an Instance: Learning a new skill opened the gate. / Her effort opened the gate to more chances.
Substitute Meaning: Start something / Let it begin
31. Setting sail
Meaning: Beginning a new journey
Give an Instance: Starting school was like setting sail. / They set sail with their first group project.
Substitute Meaning: Begin the trip / Start exploring
32. Pulling the lever
Meaning: Starting something with one move
Give an Instance: Asking for help pulled the lever for change. / She pulled the lever of action by volunteering.
Substitute Meaning: Start with a choice / Make it go
33. Lifting the lid
Meaning: Opening to new ideas
Give an Instance: Reading that book lifted the lid to science. / His joke lifted the lid to new friendships.
Substitute Meaning: Discover / Open a new part
34. Striking the match
Meaning: Sparking an idea or start
Give an Instance: Her poem struck the match of interest. / He struck the match with one question.
Substitute Meaning: Start up / Light the way
35. Tuning the radio
Meaning: Finding the right moment
Give an Instance: She tuned the radio and found her group. / He tuned into what was needed.
Substitute Meaning: Adjust and join / Get in
36. Building a ladder
Meaning: Creating steps to reach higher
Give an Instance: Each effort was a step in building a ladder. / He built his ladder with kindness.
Substitute Meaning: Step up / Create your way
37. Chiseling a statue
Meaning: Slowly creating your chance
Give an Instance: Every good deed was like chiseling his future. / She carved out her chance in class.
Substitute Meaning: Shape the future / Make your way
38. Tapping into a stream
Meaning: Finding a flow of good things
Give an Instance: Her new habit tapped into a stream of fun. / He tapped into the stream of ideas.
Substitute Meaning: Use the good / Find the flow
39. Lifting the fog
Meaning: Making things clear
Give an Instance: Her question lifted the fog on the topic. / Talking with her teacher lifted the fog.
Substitute Meaning: See clearly / Understand
40. Cracking the door
Meaning: A small start to a big chance
Give an Instance: Joining the team cracked the door to confidence. / His smile cracked the door to friendship.
Substitute Meaning: Begin gently / Tiny start
41. Lining up the dominoes
Meaning: Getting ready for success
Give an Instance: Each task lined up the dominoes. / She lined up her goals for the big day.
Substitute Meaning: Prepare / Get things in order
42. Pouring the foundation
Meaning: Building the base for future things
Give an Instance: Her study plan poured the foundation for success. / His kind acts laid the foundation for trust.
Substitute Meaning: Start strong / Build the base
43. Climbing into the car
Meaning: Getting ready to go
Give an Instance: Choosing her topic was like climbing into the car. / He climbed in and took off with his idea.
Substitute Meaning: Begin / Get started
44. Stirring the pot
Meaning: Creating action or change
Give an Instance: His new idea stirred the pot. / She stirred the pot with a question that mattered.
Substitute Meaning: Make things move / Start talking
45. Catching the spotlight
Meaning: Getting noticed for a chance
Give an Instance: Her effort caught the spotlight in class. / He caught the spotlight with his answer.
Substitute Meaning: Get attention / Be seen
Find the “Metaphors for Opportunity”
Reading Passage
Last Thursday, the fifth graders at Willow Creek Elementary planned a school kindness week. At the morning meeting, Ms. Lopez asked who wanted to share first. Everyone was quiet, until Maya broke the ice with a story about helping her neighbor. That story lit a spark in the room.
After that, others joined in. Liam shared that holding the door for a classmate felt like opening a door to friendship. Later, Jalen said that joining the lunch helpers club had opened a window for him to meet new people. Emma said she took the leap and signed up for the school news team. That moment cracked the door to something exciting.
Each day, students worked together to plan nice things. Drawing posters was like planting a seed for kindness. Some kids even caught the wave and started helping in the library. By Friday, it felt like the whole class had set sail on a kindness trip. Ms. Lopez said the students had really lit a torch that others would carry next year.
Directions for Students
Read the story again. Underline or list all the metaphors for opportunity used in the passage.
Answer Key
- Broke the ice
- Lit a spark
- Opening a door
- Opened a window
- Took the leap
- Cracked the door
- Planting a seed
- Caught the wave
- Set sail
- Lit a torch
Conclusion
Metaphors help us talk about chances in fun and simple ways. Instead of just saying “I got a chance,” we can say “I opened a door” or “I caught the train.” These phrases help us see and feel what a new start is like.
When you learn and use these kinds of expressions, it makes your talking and writing more interesting. You can show how something began, how you took a risk, or how you made a change. Keep listening for these word pictures in stories and real life. They can help you better understand chances and how to take them.
