Metaphorically speaking: How widespread is the use of metaphor in English?
Malcolm Mann
Metaphor:
- Not just a literary device
- Not just used by writers of fiction / poets / etc
- Most often used unconsciously
- Absolutely fundamental to all communication
- To communicate, we need to make comparisons / analogies
- To talk about present / recent / new experience, the easiest / best / clearest thing is often to use a common language of past, shared experience.
idioms/expressions: too many cooks spoil the broth
verbs: dissect (a problem)
nouns: the problem was a real headache
adjectives: green fingers
adverbs: she spoke to me sharply
phrasal verbs: build up (e.g. support)
collocations / fixed phrases: one-track mind, couch potato
prepositions: in light of
When we talk about X, we sometimes use the language of Y:
(abstract ideas / emotions/psychological effects – physical/concrete world)
intelligence – knives and blades: stab in the dark / razor-sharp mind / she's very sharp / dissect a problem / an incisive comment / a cutting remark
intelligence – light: bright child / she's brilliant / she shines at languages / outshine everyone else / flash of inspiration / enlighten me! / he's a bit dim
learning – travelling and movement: start out believing / first step / approach a subject / explore a subject / serve as a guide to / pointers / unchartered territory / reach or come to a conclusion
time – money: save time / spend time / waste time / buy time / run out of time / profitable/valuable use of time
mistakes – walking (badly): stumble over words / fall flat on your face / slip of the tongue / not put a foot wrong / put your foot in it
language/words/information – food and flavours: eat your words / digest the news / a bit of a mouthful to say / speak bitterly / unpalatable truth
opportunity – doors and entrances: the key to / opportunity knocks / an opening / on the threshold of / it unlocked...
being busy – being covered: up to your eyes/neck/ears/etc in work / pile work on sb / wade through / snowed under / drowning in / swamped with / flooded with
searching – digging: dig up / turn up / unearth / come to light / spadework / leave no stone unturned
searching – hunting: track down / on sb's trail / hounded by / trawl through / sniff around / throw off scent
illness – war: fight/battle/combat disease / virus attacks / a battle with / fight off a cold / resistance to / guard against
anger – heat and combustion: explode / hot under the collar / let off steam / lose your cool
location and position: stand your ground / be in a difficult position / on the horizon / in the distant future
movement along the horizontal (travelling): a way to do sth / run over points / walk through / lead to
movement along the vertical (up and down): price/temperature rises/falls / look down on / look up to / feel down (in the dumps) / feel high (as a kite)
Domains
domain = area of specific activity
e.g. sailing / war / driving / cooking / gambling / hunting / fashion / etc
Domains produce their own vocabulary.
Certain domains have such a cultural resonance that their specific language often starts to be used metaphorically outside the domain in the wider culture.
If the domain is one of universal experience (e.g. war) then the metaphors are often cross-cultural, and used in different languages.
If the domain is culturally specific, then the metaphors may not be cross-cultural, used in a different language.
e.g.
theatre/entertainment: your part in / stage sth / difficult act to follow / take centre stage / balancing act / clown / media circus / behind the scenes
card-playing/gambling: not miss a trick / follow suit / keep your cards close to your chest / raise/up the ante / hedge your bets / bet over the odds / poker face
Call my bluff!
option 1 (the easiest): Give both students the correct definition. Give 1 student the correct etymology and one student a false etymology – class votes on the most likely
option 2: Give 1 student the definition/etymology – the other student(s) have to create their own – class votes on the most likely
option 3: Give all students the definition – give only 1 student the etymology – class votes on the most likely
option 4: Give all students the etymology – give only 1 student the definition – class votes on the most likely
Useful phrases: It comes from... / It all started when... / Imagine you're...
Non-random elements of metaphors
1) (chrono)logical progression: down and out / cut and dried / dead and buried
2) from general to specific: done and dusted / chapter and verse
3) alliteration: bread and butter / tried and tested / fall flat on your face
4) rhyme: name of the game / eager beaver / go with the flow
Rebus: pictorial/graphic representation of words and phrases
e.g.
= the situation is under control
There's a huge amount of material about English metaphors online. Just put 'metaphor' or 'ELT metaphor' into Google.
There are lots of websites with rebus puzzles, e.g.
Most good advanced learner dictionaries these days have sections on metaphor. The Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners has some excellent material on metaphor.
There are several good resources online for etymologies e.g.
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