sayings

[stevenflett]

If someone uses the following saying "it's like a sausage machine- what you put in you are going to get out" in conversation when explaining something, what is that called? What are the 'sayings' called?

[Quizmonster]

Muffet answered your question below this one with the word 'proverbs', which is correct. As you've asked again, I presume you want some other word. I wonder, therefore, whether the word you are looking for is "clich�". That is a sort of saying that has been used so often that it has become boring and rather meaningless.

[Loosehead]

It's called an Analogy

[Loosehead]

here's a topical example:

"Having a no smoking area in a pub is like having a no peeing area in a swimming pool!"

Generally it is using a non related idea to illustrate a point about the original idea.