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Questions tagged [metaphors]

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels."

0 votes
2 answers
99 views

Would this be a metaphor?

So there is an incident where someone was vacationing in Scotland. This other person asks her if she is in Scotland. The one vacationing says "yes". The person's response is "Take as ...
Alyson's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
3 answers
115 views

Is it possible to say: "He swung at something complicated"?

In my language, this phrase will mean that some person is trying to do some difficult thing, which at this moment is either at the limit of his capabilities or even higher. So, is it possible to say ...
Владимир Говоров's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
262 views

Simile or metaphor that describes constant change over the years

I'm writing an essay about the amendments and how the situation is different now than when they were created and because of those changes, the amendments must also change to protect the citizen's ...
hannah's user avatar
  • 11
-1 votes
1 answer
81 views

What is a word for when an analogy could be used for both sides of an argument?

A person might say on one day: It is hot outside - let's go out for a picnic! It is healthy. Another person might say on the same day in the same place: It is hot outside - stay inside where it is ...
hawkeye's user avatar
  • 2,608
5 votes
5 answers
1k views

What is the meaning of "the granite moulding of the inflexible jaw"?

I am quoting from the Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Three Quarter by Arthur Conan Doyle : "Yet even without knowing his brilliant record one could not fail to be impressed by a mere ...
aissam's user avatar
  • 775
1 vote
1 answer
39 views

Technical term for parts of a metaphor [duplicate]

What's the technical term for the "argument" of a metaphor? For example: The world is a vampire, set to drain Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Smashing Pumpkins (1995). "Vampire" is ...
Tevildo's user avatar
  • 1,293
1 vote
0 answers
58 views

Samey metaphors -v- unlike metaphors

Often metaphors are likenesses where there's a direct connection. For example on the news somebody describes a crash/ earthquake/ explosion as It was like a bomb going off. What about where the two ...
Peter Fox's user avatar
  • 217
3 votes
5 answers
1k views

A word to cover meanings of religion, mysticism, occult, and philosophy

Is there a word (or maybe a metaphor) to cover the idea of religion, mysticism, occult, and philosophy all together? In other words, how would you name a bookshelf with books and other texts by or ...
jsx97's user avatar
  • 301
0 votes
2 answers
53 views

Word, term or phrase for idioms, proverbs, figure-of-speech that lose their true meaning due to being from a different time or due to translation? [duplicate]

In various language literature, there could be idioms, proverbs, figure-of-speech that lose their true meaning because it meant something in a different time period Or it was being translated from ...
crazyTech's user avatar
  • 265
1 vote
1 answer
331 views

Malady vs Disease

How does the word malady differ from disease? Also,in what contexts can the word malady be used? Below are my findings / details I have collected about the two: Many dictionaries list the word ...
Selfie groufie's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

American English Slang Phrase for "see you in court"?

I'm trying to recall a phrase it goes along the lines of "choose ___" where ___ is a number. OR "pick ___" (I can't remember which word exactly). The explanation of the phrase is ...
Sidharth Ghoshal's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
108 views

Usage of crutch when referred to avoid

Recently, while going through a book I encounter this statement. Try to avoid the crutch of saying "I feel like." As in, "I feel like you are being mean to me." I am trying to ...
Sumit Singh's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
68 views

Which literary device is "the only place to put the pieces were the bags under my eyes"?

I am writing a few paragraphs about Rupi Kaur's poetry. I've been trying to think about which literary device is used in this example. In milk and honey, written by Rupi Kaur, she states: "the ...
Arden's user avatar
  • 153
36 votes
7 answers
9k views

What does "darkest Africa" refer to?

Many times in my life, I have heard phrases such as "in darkest Africa...", seemingly to refer to somewhere in Africa. It is never explained, and appears to be considered so obvious as to ...
R. Aue's user avatar
  • 369
2 votes
1 answer
91 views

What is meant when light is like a benediction?

I've recently undertaken to expand and enrich my vocabulary, but the word "benediction" has me stumped. I believe I have a good sense of the denotative meaning, but the connotative meaning ...
A.L. Ion's user avatar

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