Metaphors
What is a Metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure
of speech in which a word or phrase that
denotes a certain object or idea is applied
to another word or phrase to imply some
similarity between them.
Examples of Metaphors Using Words
and Phrases
- The inside of the car was a refrigerator.
- A refrigerator is very cold. In
this example, “refrigerator” is
a metaphor because it is being applied
to “the inside of the car” to
imply that the inside of the car was
very cold.
- The teenage boy’s stomach was
a bottomless pit.
- A bottomless pit can never be filled. In
this example, “bottomless pit” is
a metaphor because it is being applied
to “the teenage boy’s stomach” to
imply that his appetite could never be
satisfied (that is, his stomach could never
be filled).
Why Use a Metaphor?
Speakers and writers use metaphors for
several reasons:
- Metaphors can help readers or listeners
to better understand something about
the object or idea to which the metaphor
is being applied.
- Metaphors can make speaking and writing
more lively and interesting.
- Metaphors can communicate a great deal
of meaning with just a word or a phrase.
- Metaphors, because they imply rather
than directly state relationships, can
get listeners and readers to think about
what they are hearing or reading.
Some More Metaphors
Depending on what you are trying to communicate
when writing or speaking, just about any
word or phrase can be used as a metaphor. Here
are some sentences in which a metaphor
is used. In each sentence, the metaphor
appears in bold print. What the metaphor
implies is shown after each sentence.
- The teacher got to the bottom of
the problem. (This implies that
the teacher got to the source of the
problem.)
- My dad was boiling mad. (This
implies that my dad was very, very angry.)
- His idea was difficult to swallow. (This
implies that his idea was hard to accept.)
- The homework was a breeze. (This
implies that the homework was very easy
to do.)
- They showered the
birthday girl with gifts. (This
implies that they gave the girl many
gifts.)
- My memory of the event is foggy. (This
implies that my memory of what happened
was unclear.)
- Her dog, Jake, was the sunshine of
her life. (This implies that Jake was
the brightest or best part of her life.)
- Mary stole the spotlight with
her performance. (This implies
that Mary’s performance made her
the center of attention.)
- If I were you, I would steer
clear of that topic. (This
implies that you should stay away from
that topic.)
- After graduating from college, William
decided to market himself
as a computer specialist. (This
implies that William decided to present
himself as a computer specialist when
looking for a job.)
- Alice was thrilled when her idea began
to bear fruit. (This
implies that Alice’s idea produced
results.)
- I knew he was just joking because I
could see a smile sprouting from
the edges of his lips. (This implies
that a smile was forming and growing.)
- Helen and Maria hatched a
plan to help Maria become president of
her class. (This implies that Helen
and Maria came up with a plan.)
- Each year, a new crop of
students entered Harrison High School.
(This implies that each year a new group
of students entered whose skills and
abilities would grow during their years
at Harrison.)
- The suspect clammed up when
the police began to ask him questions
about where he had been the night of
the crime. (This implies that the suspect
shut his mouth and said nothing.)
A Strategy for Using Metaphors
- Identify the object or idea that is
the subject of what you are writing or
saying. For example, suppose you
are trying to describe a sunset.
- Identify what it is you want to communicate
about that object or idea. You
want to bring out how beautiful the sunset
is.
- Identify another object or idea that
strongly implies what you want to communicate.
You decide that the idea of “painted” would
be a good way to communicate the beauty
of the sunset.
- Construct a sentence in which you link
the idea of painted with sunset. For
example, you could write or say, “The
sunset painted the sky with vibrant colors.”
Congratulations! You have just used painted as
a metaphor.
Using metaphors when you write and speak
will allow you to communicate more effectively
and in a more interesting way.
