A metaphor is an expression which says one thing is a thing which it is not.
- It is, in a way, a LIE.
- Phrases can have both a LITERAL and METAPHORICAL meaning.
My dad’s going to kill me.
LITERAL: My dad is going to commit a murder.
But the word “kill” is a lie.
METAPHORICAL: I am in a lot of trouble.
The word comes from the Greek μεταφορά which means to “transfer” over.
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The boys were glued to the television.
- Here, the word “glued” is a lie. But we transfer the idea of not moving, being stuck, to the boys watching the television.
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She had a heart of stone.
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Here, the word “stone” is a lie. But we transfer the idea of not having any feelings to the woman.
