Is this a metaphor

A metaphor is comparing two unlike things without using the Words 'like' or 'as'.

"She was a gazelle, clearing the hurdles with ease." In stead of saying "She was LIKE a gazelle..."

"The fire became the sun." Instead of saying "The fire became LIKE the sun [burning]".

Using LIKE or AS turns a sentence into a SIMILE.

But not necessarily with sentences like "I LIKE cats" or "I LIKE you AS a friend".

This topic falls under Figurative Language:

-Personifications

-Metaphors

and

-Similes (not smilies :-) )