hold your horses
Life is being compared to a competition without the usage of 'like' or 'as' so it is a metaphor.
"Gym Candy" by Carl Deuker uses metaphors related to sports and competition to explore themes of ambition, pressure, and identity. For example, the idea of "being addicted to candy" is a metaphor for the protagonist's obsession with performance-enhancing drugs in sports. Another metaphor is the portrayal of physical strength as "armor," reflecting how athletes use their bodies to protect themselves emotionally.
A good, no-fail recipe you can make under pressure.
Competition is the biggest force that is applying pressure to the building industry. Other factors applying pressure includes ownership change, technology, and customer pressure.
Its a metaphor
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by thefans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence
W. T. Stanbury has written: 'Business interests and the reform of Canadian competition policy, 1971-1975' -- subject(s): Business and politics, Canada, Competition, Unfair, Pressure groups, Unfair Competition
It is a metaphor.
it is neither, it is personification
When you put enough pressure on coal it turns to purls!
Based on my own experiences, I would say that it does both. I have seen myself (and people I've played against and coached) get better and worse under the pressure of competition. The thing that usually goes bad in competition is that we have a hard time remembering to compete hard but yet not hate the opponent. In competition, it is so easy to start to hate your opponent because you want so badly to win. This can lead to all sorts of unethical and obnoxious conduct. What competition does to bring out the best in people is to force them to be brave under pressure. When you are trying to perform and your performance affects whether you or your team will win or lose, you learn how to deal with pressure and the fear of failure
"He was a lion in the fight" is a metaphor.