metaphor
C1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, suggesting a likeness or analogy without using "like" or "as".
A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Metaphor implies a direct comparison where one thing is spoken of as if it were another. Unlike simile, it does not use comparative words. It is a foundational concept in literary analysis, cognitive linguistics, and rhetoric.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. The concept and term are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical academic and literary connotations. May be used slightly more frequently in British literary criticism due to historical tradition.
Frequency
Similar frequency in academic and literary contexts. Slightly higher in American cognitive linguistics discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + metaphor: use/employ/create/extend/mix a metaphormetaphor + [preposition] + [noun]: metaphor for life/of loveVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A metaphor for life”
- “A metaphor for the times”
- “The metaphor runs dry”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe strategic concepts, e.g., 'Our business model is a well-oiled machine.'
Academic
Central to literary criticism, linguistics, and philosophy. Analysed for cognitive and cultural significance.
Everyday
Common in describing feelings or situations, e.g., 'He's a rock.' Often used unconsciously.
Technical
In cognitive linguistics, a 'conceptual metaphor' is a mapping from one domain to another (e.g., ARGUMENT IS WAR).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The author skilfully metaphors the city as a living beast.
American English
- The poet metaphors grief as a heavy weight.
adverb
British English
- She spoke metaphorically about her personal journey.
American English
- The term is used metaphorically, not literally.
adjective
British English
- Her metaphorical language painted vivid pictures.
American English
- He offered a metaphorical reading of the legal text.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Time is money' is a famous metaphor.
- My friend said my room is a jungle. It's a metaphor!
- The poet used a beautiful metaphor comparing life to a river.
- When she called him her sunshine, she was speaking metaphorically.
- The extended metaphor of the ship navigating a storm powerfully represented the company's crisis.
- His argument was undermined by a clumsy mixed metaphor.
- Lakoff and Johnson's conceptual metaphor theory posits that we live by metaphors we are barely conscious of.
- The film's central visual metaphor of the labyrinth brilliantly conveys the protagonist's psychological state.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MET-A-PHOR: Makes Everyday Things A Picture, Hiding Obvious Reality.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS (e.g., 'He grasped the concept.'), LIFE IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'She's at a crossroads.'), TIME IS MONEY (e.g., 'Spend your time wisely.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'метафора' – it's a direct cognate and translation, but the English term has a broader application in linguistics.
- Avoid translating 'metaphorically' as 'метафорично'; the standard Russian adverb is 'метафорически' or 'в переносном смысле'.
- The Russian 'иносказание' is closer to 'allegory', not 'metaphor'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'metaphor' with 'simile' (using 'like' or 'as').
- Creating a 'mixed metaphor' by combining incompatible images.
- Using a 'dead metaphor' (e.g., 'leg of a table') without recognizing its metaphorical origin.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a metaphor?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A simile explicitly uses 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison ('brave as a lion'), while a metaphor directly equates two things ('he is a lion').
A dead metaphor is a figure of speech that has lost its original imaginative force due to frequent use and literal understanding, e.g., 'the leg of a table' or 'falling in love'.
Yes. This is often called a 'nominal metaphor'. For example, calling a person a 'snake' metaphorically attributes qualities of deceit and danger.
No. Metaphor is pervasive in everyday language, shaping how we think about abstract concepts (e.g., 'spending time', 'attacking an argument'). It's studied in linguistics, psychology, and communication.
Collections
Part of a collection
Literary Language
C1 · 48 words · Vocabulary for reading and writing about literature.
Rhetoric and Argumentation
C2 · 49 words · Advanced tools of persuasion and argumentation.