Final answer:
The examples provided are instances of metaphor in language, where one thing is compared to another without using 'like' or 'as'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given examples are instances of metaphor in language. A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things without using 'like' or 'as'. It helps create vivid and imaginative descriptions or comparisons by taking characteristics from one thing and applying them to another.
In the examples provided, the speaker is using metaphors to describe different situations. For instance, 'That was Dr. Todd, not a man from the Mafia' compares Dr. Todd to a man from the Mafia to highlight their differences. Similarly, 'That was the sound of a car backfiring' compares the sound to something related to the event. And in 'Your mother is not here; I am a nurse,' the speaker compares their role to that of a nurse.