So, like the question says, basically. Say a character kisses someone and the writing says "she saw fireworks exploding behind her closed eyes", what is that? Because it seems like it comes from the same family as similes/metaphors but isn't either of those things.
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This is called a metaphorical phrase. It is not a simile; because similes are basically comparing "similar" things.
For example, "it was like watching fireworks", or "it was like heaven", are similes, the feeling was similar to watching fireworks, or similar to the person's imagined heaven. The same thing for "it was as if I was fighting for my life."
To claim something actually happened when it is clear that it did not, is either a metaphor or a metaphorical phrase (or a lie!).
She did not actually see fireworks behind her close eyes. Somebody did not "die and go to heaven." Nobody was transported to different plane of existence, etc.
"It was like he'd been hit with sledgehammer." = simile. Comparison.
"Her words struck him with the force of a sledgehammer." = metaphorical phrase. Direct claim of fact.
Amadeus
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