List of English-language metaphors explained
A list of metaphors in the English language organised alphabetically by type. A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels". Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via association, comparison or resemblance. In this broader sense, antithesis, hyperbole, metonymy and simile would all be considered types of metaphor. Aristotle used both this sense and the regular, current sense above.[1] With metaphor, unlike analogy, specific interpretations are not given explicitly.
Animals
Body parts
Nautical
See also: Glossary of nautical terms.
- Taken aback, on a sailing vessel the sails were 'taken aback' when the wind was unintentionally blowing on the wrong side of the sails causing a potentially dangerous situation. Later used to indicate a difficult or unexpected situation.[2]
- Batten down the hatches, to secure the hatch covers against ingress of water in preparation for a storm or other rough conditions.
- Clear the decks to get everything out of the way as a warship went into action.[2]
- Show someone the ropes to show or explain to someone how to do a task or operation. Taken from the use of ropes to orient and adjust the sails, and that each rope is belayed at a specific place.
- Sail close to the wind is to operate hazardously on very slim margins, usually applied in a financial sense. Derived from the practice of sailing close to the direction of the oncoming wind, where a small shift in the wrong direction could set the vessel aback.
- Loaded to the gunwales
- Back and fill
- On one's beam ends
- Awash
- Adrift
- A wide berth
- Flagship
- Unmoored
- Nail one's colors to the mast, to commit completely to a course of action, as striking the colors is no longer an option
- Flying the flag
- Plain sailing
- With flying colors - the colors was the national flag flown at sea during battle, a ship would surrender by lowering the colors and the term is now used to indicate a triumphant victory or win.[2]
- In the doldrums
- All hands to the pumps
- Weathering a storm
- A different tack
- Swinging the lead is to avoid duty by feigning illness or injury, original a confusion between Swing the leg which related to the way dogs can run on three legs to gain sympathy and the sailor's term heaving the lead which was to take soundings.[2]
- Left high and dry
- Three sheets to the wind, meaning "staggering drunk," refers to a ship whose sheets have come loose, causing the sails to flap uncontrolled and the ship to meander at the mercy of the elements. Also, "Three sheets in the wind, unsteady from drink."[3]
- Sun over the yardarm
This phrase is widely used, both afloat and ashore, to indicate that the time of day has been reached at which it is acceptable to have lunch or (more commonly) to have an alcoholic beverage.
Objects
People
Places
Science
Richard Honeck described three forms of scientific metaphors: "mixed scientific metaphor, the scientific metaphor theme, and the scientific metaphor that redefines a concept from a theory."[5]
Sport
Various
War
Lists
References
- Further reading
- Book: Isil, Olivia A. . When a loose cannon flogs a dead horse there's the devil to pay: seafaring words in everyday speech . 1966 . International Marine . Camden ME . 978-0-07-032877-8.
- Book: Miller, Charles A. . Charles A. Miller (political scientist)
. Ship of state: the nautical metaphors of Thomas Jefferson : with numerous examples by other writers from classical antiquity to the present . Charles A. Miller (political scientist) . 2003 . University Press of America . Lanham, MD . 978-0-7618-2516-6 .
- Milligan, Christopher S. . Smith, David C. . Language from the Sea: Discovering the Meaning and Origin of Nautical Metaphors. English Quarterly. 1997. 28. 4. 36–40.
- Web site: Service Jargon . Naval Air Station Jacksonville . 1942 . 9780070328778A-V(S) Indoctrination School . Department of the Navy . June 17, 2010.
Notes and References
- The Oxford Companion to the English Language (1992) pp.653–55: "A rhetorical figure with two senses, both originating with Aristotle in the 4c BC: (I) All figures of speech that achieve their effects through association, comparison and resemblance. Figures like antithesis, hyperbole, metonymy and simile are [in that sense] all species of metaphor. [But] this sense is not current, ..."
- Book: Jeans, Peter D . Ship to Shore . 1998 . ABC-Clio . Oxford, England . 1-85109-321-4.
- Book: Smyth . William Henry . William Henry Smyth . Belcher . Edward . Edward Belcher . The sailor's word-book: An alphabetical digest of nautical terms, including some more especially military and scientific ... as well as archaisms of early voyagers, etc. . Blackie and Son . 1867 . London . 680, 121 .
- Web site: Regulation 34 - Safe Navigation . IMO RESOLUTION A.893(21) adopted on 25 November 1999 . March 26, 2007.
- Honeck, Richard P. (1980) Cognition and figurative language pp.405-417
