18 types of metaphors

The extremely obvious first question is: What is this damn metaphor? Another fancy name? Well … yes and no. It is elegant, but also effective. Charged with energy. Full of genius. By definition, a metaphor is a way of speaking in which two completely different words or phrases are combined to suggest similarity. Confused? What are the examples for?

All the world’s a stage

Yes, it is Shakespeare and he is comparing the world to a stage. Generally, you don’t see the world as a stage, you see it … as the world, the earth, the mother; but not a stage. That is why it is a metaphor. Because it has brought together two completely alien things and it makes sense with that.

That was easy. But there is no peace, here the roller coaster begins. (I bet you won’t enjoy it right now)

1. Metaphor or extended or telescopic presumption

When your metaphorical perception has developed, then you cannot limit yourself to a single metaphor. Like –

All the world is a stage and men and women merely actors.

This extension – “Men and women are just gamers” has made this a widespread metaphor. The author stretched “the world” and “a stage” by presenting parts of the “world” (men and women) and “a stage” (players). Of course, it has to make sense. It cannot be expanded by comparing men and women with an ipod. Sound unpleasant? Exactly.

2. Metonymy

When you’ve grown tired of cliché words and are desperately searching for a word closely related to it that hasn’t been used to death, that word is a metonymy. A new word to replace an old one. Of course, an example. The pen is more powerful than the sword. This saying in itself has become a cliché, but originally the idea was different. Here, the pen represents freedom of expression and the sword the power of authority. Now if you said, freedom is greater than power, no one would have said Wow. That is why Pen and Sword instead of freedom and power.

3. Mixed metaphor

Some of us fail to create a good metaphor; Such a twisted and out of tune metaphor is called a mixed metaphor.

Waves of emotion have pierced my heart.

Can the waves pierce? They do it in a no-nonsense world, but most of us are still sane, but we are largely tolerable with nonsense and that is why such nonsense is given a modest name of mixed metaphor.

Okay, for the sake of information, there are two types of mixed metaphors: admissible mixed metaphors and inadmissible mixed metaphors. Never use the disallowed ones, so let me explain only the allowed ones.

Allowed mixed metaphors make sense even if the parts are not directly related.

We have weathered many storms with an iron will.

There’s no connection between weathering storms and an iron will, it still sounds good.

4. Absolute metaphor

A perfect metaphor to show madness and confusion. In an absolute metaphor, the metaphor actually, really, truly, doesn’t make sense.

Broke off a sad hunk.

In today’s world of indistinction, absolute reigns. Confuse them with your confusion.

There are two types of absolute metaphor: paralogical and antimetaphor.

5. Implicit metaphor

The implicit metaphor is an indirect metaphor in which an implication is made for the whole.

Close your trap.

He ruffled his feathers.

No bird and no mouth, just feathers and trap. Yes, that is implied.

6. Dead metaphor

Dead metaphors have been so abused that they have lost their individuality.

Mountains face

Glory crown

Dead metaphors are used primarily as phrases and not as metaphors. Your association is dead. Now they are just phrases, although their names still remain. Take off your hats. It is time to mourn!

7. Dream metaphor

Didn’t our teachers say that eating words is not good? Here it is again. When the meaning of a metaphor becomes confusing because the sentence has been shortened, then it is called a latent metaphor.

It was burning. (so please)

He flew to his uncle. (why?)

They blew it up. (WHY?)

Okay, it makes sense, but in and of itself, they don’t create the whole picture. Why chew words. Asleep, yes, they are sleeping. Hibernating. But I’m still alive

8. Metaphor of synecdoche

The name is scary, but it’s pretty simple. In the synecdoche metaphor, a part of the association is used instead of the object. For example, feathers instead of bird or claws instead of crab. These associations are a symbol of the whole.

His feet flapped like terrified wings.

9. Root metaphor

Root metaphors are so named because many other metaphors can be born from them. In addition, they are generalizations such as:

Time is money.

Make hay while the sun shines.

Etcetera etcetera.

10. Active metaphor

Active metaphors are born again so you will have to present them to the world. They are unfamiliar to the reader. That is why it is better if they are explained clearly.

His flickering love.

They crushed each other’s life.

Any new metaphor that has not been written before is an active metaphor.

11. Submerged metaphor

In a submerged metaphor, the first part of the metaphor or the vehicle is implied. For example: your winged dreams or your ambition legs.

12. Dying metaphor

It should have been called ‘the metaphor of rising from the dead’ or ‘the metaphor of the mummy’ because when you take dead metaphors out of the grave and use them in your writing, then they cannot be called dying. I don’t know what George Orwell was thinking when he coined the name. J Dying metaphors are cliche metaphors like

Needle in a haystack

Achilles heel

A different ball game

13. Conceptual metaphor

This is difficult, so read slowly. A conceptual metaphor has many metaphorical meanings. Its underlying meaning creates a novel thought or a universal concept. Life as a journey is an old conceptual metaphor. This metaphor has universal appeal. It is not about a particular situation or one person. He remains faithful to all men.

Also, if you see life as a journey, you can also use many other metaphors such as

My life just stopped

I have come to a crossroads.

I came to this world without luggage.

So, Life is a journey is a conceptual metaphor.

14. Pataphor

Paragraphs are metaphors that are stretched to such an extent that they make no sense. They are often used to attract attention and introduce news.

He broke his fear, accelerated his anger and crashed into the house.

15. Simple or tight metaphor

In a simple metaphor, you don’t need to do much. Just cool it down. There is nothing to cool except just that. Seriously speaking, in a simple metaphor, the relationship between the vehicle (great) and the tenor (that) is very intimate (close).

Squat (lean) down.

He’s crazy (crazy).

You are a (huge) dinosaur.

Simple metaphors are generally very brief. Only two or three words at most.

16. Implicit metaphor

Here, neither the vehicle nor the tenor is clearly specified, but rather implicit.

Close your trap.

Look at your tongue.

Here, ‘cheat’ and ‘tongue’ are used instead of mouth and words.

17. Compound or loose metaphor

A composite metaphor is made up of more than one similarity. In it, the writer extends a metaphor using more than one association.

He ran toward the assassin, a wild beast with a pounding heart.

The air smelled of fear, fear of abandonment.

18. Complex metaphor

In a complex metaphor, you have a simple metaphor and its accomplice (not in the crime). Instead of an explanation, an example would be better.

Let me shed some light on his character.

Here, “throw” is used for “light” that does not exist in itself.

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