connective N1 uncommon politewritten

たとえて言えば — to use an analogy

たとえて言えば・たとえていえば

Meaning

to use an analogy / if I were to put it figuratively — introduces a comparison to make something easier to grasp

たとえて言いえば、脳のうはコンピューターのようなものだ。

To use an analogy, the brain is like a computer.

Attaches to	Form	Example
Set adverbial phrase, sentence-initial; the analogy that follows usually ends in ようだ／ようなものだ	たとえて言いえば、… ようだ	たとえて言いえば、〜のようだ

たとえて言いうなら / たとえるなら — Interchangeable openers for the same analogy frame.

会社かいしゃを家族かぞくにたとえて言いえば、社長しゃちょうは父親ちちおやのような存在そんざいだ。

If we compare a company to a family, the president is like the father.

たとえて言いえば、彼かれの文章ぶんしょうは澄すんだ水みずのように読よみやすい。

To put it by analogy, his writing is as easy to read as clear water.

Jengo shows たとえて言えば the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.

Sources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar.