Here's how it breaks down:
* Ray of sunshine: This evokes the image of sunlight penetrating darkness. Sunlight is associated with warmth, life, and positivity.
* Metaphor: This means the phrase is not meant to be taken literally. It's used to compare something else to a ray of sunshine.
Here are some examples of how this metaphor is used:
* "After a tough week, seeing my friends brought a ray of sunshine into my life." This means the friends' company brought joy and happiness after a stressful time.
* "Her smile was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day." This means her smile had a positive and uplifting effect, even in a difficult situation.
* "The news of her recovery was a ray of sunshine for the whole family." This implies that the news brought hope and happiness to the family.
In essence, "a ray of sunshine" is a way to express that something has brightened someone's day or outlook.