Metaphor
noun
A word or phrase that is used to describe something or someone else, not in its literal meaning but by expressing a similar feature or quality.
In the phrase 'a sea of troubles', 'sea' is a metaphor for many difficulties.
Often appears as...
- mixed metaphor
- extended metaphor
noun
In literature or poetry, a metaphor is a way of describing something by comparing it symbolically to something else that is not literally applicable.
In the poem 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, the road serves as a metaphor for life choices.
Often appears as...
- visual metaphor
- conceptual metaphor
Usage tips
Literal
noun
A word or phrase that is used to describe something or someone else, not in its literal meaning but by expressing a similar feature or quality.
In the phrase 'a sea of troubles', 'sea' is a metaphor for many difficulties.
Often appears as...
- mixed metaphor
- extended metaphor
noun
In literature or poetry, a metaphor is a way of describing something by comparing it symbolically to something else that is not literally applicable.
In the poem 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, the road serves as a metaphor for life choices.
Often appears as...
- visual metaphor
- conceptual metaphor
Usage tips
Literal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Common Usage
Metaphors are abundant in everyday language, often without us noticing.
Calling a dependable person 'a rock' is using a metaphor.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Metaphors add emotional depth, helping you express feelings more powerfully.
Her voice was a warm blanket comforting my soul.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Remember, metaphors describe something figuratively, not by its actual attributes.
Saying 'He's a lion in battle' doesn't mean he's actually a lion.
Pro Tip 1/3Common Usage
Metaphors are abundant in everyday language, often without us noticing.
Calling a dependable person 'a rock' is using a metaphor.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Metaphors add emotional depth, helping you express feelings more powerfully.
Her voice was a warm blanket comforting my soul.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Remember, metaphors describe something figuratively, not by its actual attributes.
Saying 'He's a lion in battle' doesn't mean he's actually a lion.
Pro Tip 1/3Common Usage
Metaphors are abundant in everyday language, often without us noticing.
Calling a dependable person 'a rock' is using a metaphor.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Metaphors add emotional depth, helping you express feelings more powerfully.
Her voice was a warm blanket comforting my soul.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Remember, metaphors describe something figuratively, not by its actual attributes.
Saying 'He's a lion in battle' doesn't mean he's actually a lion.
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Video examples
Bring on the learning...
is because it doesn't feed their spirit, it doesn't feed their energy or their passion. So I think we have to change metaphors. We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people.
Video examples
The five major world...
In the next few years, more and more messages came, and he memorized and taught them. The verses he recited were full of wise sayings, beautiful rhymes, and mysterious metaphors. But Muhammad was a merchant, not a poet. Many agreed the verses were indeed the words of God,
Video examples
Paper towns and why...
And this is of course a completely irresistible metaphor to a novelist, because we would all like to believe that the stuff that we write down on paper can change the actual world in which we're actually living, which is why my third book is called "Paper Towns".
Video examples
Where good ideas come...
And it turns out that, in fact, the network patterns of the outside world mimic a lot of the network patterns of the internal world of a human brain. So the metaphor I'd like to use, I can take from a story of a great idea that's quite recent --
Video examples
James Geary, metaphorical...
But metaphor is a way of thought before it is a way with words. Now, to assist me in explaining this, I've enlisted the help of one of our greatest philosophers, the reigning king of the metaphorians, a man whose contributions to the field
Video examples
The beauty of data...
a huge amount of information data we irrigated with networks and connectivity and it's been worked and tilled by unpaid workers and governments and all right kind of milking the metaphor a little bit but it's a really fertile medium and
Video examples
Stopping Pandemics, An...
that um that mayor bowser said before because as she talked about the economic and social ripple effects of this pandemic and this virus i think that's a really good metaphor for how we also have to think medically and how i know
Video examples
What makes a poem … a...
Poets themselves have struggled with this question, often using metaphors to approximate a definition. Is a poem a little machine? A firework? An echo? A dream? Poetry generally has certain recognizable characteristics.
Video examples
The art of the metaphor...
The first way to meet a metaphor is just to see the world through its an insect sings from a branch passing by in the middle of the river. Even as you see that though, some part of you recognizes in the image
Video examples
Creating a Bio-Industrial...
revolution is coming towards us and this time we can see it and we have a choice we can make we can use the metaphors of the rusty machine age or we can consult biological wisdom and if we choose the latter
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
is because it doesn't feed their spirit, it doesn't feed their energy or their passion. So I think we have to change metaphors. We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people.
Video examples
The five major world...
In the next few years, more and more messages came, and he memorized and taught them. The verses he recited were full of wise sayings, beautiful rhymes, and mysterious metaphors. But Muhammad was a merchant, not a poet. Many agreed the verses were indeed the words of God,
Video examples
Paper towns and why...
And this is of course a completely irresistible metaphor to a novelist, because we would all like to believe that the stuff that we write down on paper can change the actual world in which we're actually living, which is why my third book is called "Paper Towns".
Video examples
Where good ideas come...
And it turns out that, in fact, the network patterns of the outside world mimic a lot of the network patterns of the internal world of a human brain. So the metaphor I'd like to use, I can take from a story of a great idea that's quite recent --
Video examples
James Geary, metaphorical...
But metaphor is a way of thought before it is a way with words. Now, to assist me in explaining this, I've enlisted the help of one of our greatest philosophers, the reigning king of the metaphorians, a man whose contributions to the field
Video examples
The beauty of data...
a huge amount of information data we irrigated with networks and connectivity and it's been worked and tilled by unpaid workers and governments and all right kind of milking the metaphor a little bit but it's a really fertile medium and
Video examples
Stopping Pandemics, An...
that um that mayor bowser said before because as she talked about the economic and social ripple effects of this pandemic and this virus i think that's a really good metaphor for how we also have to think medically and how i know
Video examples
What makes a poem … a...
Poets themselves have struggled with this question, often using metaphors to approximate a definition. Is a poem a little machine? A firework? An echo? A dream? Poetry generally has certain recognizable characteristics.
Video examples
The art of the metaphor...
The first way to meet a metaphor is just to see the world through its an insect sings from a branch passing by in the middle of the river. Even as you see that though, some part of you recognizes in the image
Video examples
Creating a Bio-Industrial...
revolution is coming towards us and this time we can see it and we have a choice we can make we can use the metaphors of the rusty machine age or we can consult biological wisdom and if we choose the latter
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Javier Zanetti
Argentinian Athlete
I liked my father's work. But above all I liked the idea of doing something concrete and useful. Building a house is a metaphor that I like, it's at the core of my life philosophy: starting from the bottom and reaching the top.
Quote examples
Robert Redford
American Actor
Sport is a wonderful metaphor for life. Of all the sports that I played - skiing, baseball, fishing - there is no greater example than golf, because you're playing against yourself and nature.
Quote examples
Goldie Hawn
American Actress
Being a dancer is my metaphor for life because you have to know your body. Being a dancer and paying attention to fitness is all about moving in balance.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
My goal is to create a metaphor that changes our reality by charming people into considering their world in a different way.
Quote examples
Frank Grillo
American Actor
I'm a believer in getting punched in the face. I know it sounds cliched, but to me, fighting is a metaphor for life.
Quote examples
Zawe Ashton
English Actress
Living with the notion that you might never have a permanent spot in the world is really quite a powerful metaphor.
Quote examples
Jeff Bridges
American Actor
It's a wonderful metaphor, catching a wave, for how you can look at other challenges in your life.
Quote examples
Geoffrey West
British Physicist
Cities are obvious metaphors for life. We call roads 'arteries' and so forth.
Quote examples
Jeff Dean
American Musician
Deep learning is a really powerful metaphor for learning about the world.
Quote examples
Lynn Nottage
American Playwright
We use metaphors to express our own truths.
Quote examples
Javier Zanetti
Argentinian Athlete
I liked my father's work. But above all I liked the idea of doing something concrete and useful. Building a house is a metaphor that I like, it's at the core of my life philosophy: starting from the bottom and reaching the top.
Quote examples
Robert Redford
American Actor
Sport is a wonderful metaphor for life. Of all the sports that I played - skiing, baseball, fishing - there is no greater example than golf, because you're playing against yourself and nature.
Quote examples
Goldie Hawn
American Actress
Being a dancer is my metaphor for life because you have to know your body. Being a dancer and paying attention to fitness is all about moving in balance.
Quote examples
Chuck Palahniuk
American Novelist
My goal is to create a metaphor that changes our reality by charming people into considering their world in a different way.
Quote examples
Frank Grillo
American Actor
I'm a believer in getting punched in the face. I know it sounds cliched, but to me, fighting is a metaphor for life.
Quote examples
Zawe Ashton
English Actress
Living with the notion that you might never have a permanent spot in the world is really quite a powerful metaphor.
Quote examples
Jeff Bridges
American Actor
It's a wonderful metaphor, catching a wave, for how you can look at other challenges in your life.
Quote examples
Geoffrey West
British Physicist
Cities are obvious metaphors for life. We call roads 'arteries' and so forth.
Quote examples
Jeff Dean
American Musician
Deep learning is a really powerful metaphor for learning about the world.
Quote examples
Lynn Nottage
American Playwright
We use metaphors to express our own truths.
Example 1 of 10
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