18 types of metaphors
The first extremely obvious question is: What is this bloody metaphor? Another fancy name? Well… yes and no. It’s elegant, but also effective. Loaded with energy. Filled with awesomeness. By definition, a metaphor is a figure of speech in which two completely different words or phrases come together to suggest a similarity. Confused? What are the examples for?
All the world is a stage
Yes, it’s Shakespeare and he’s 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’s why it’s a metaphor. Because he has joined two things that have nothing to do with each other and make sense.
That was easy. But there is no peace, here begins the roller coaster. (I bet you won’t enjoy it right now)
1. Metaphor or conceit extended or telescopic
When your metaphorical vision has developed, then you cannot limit yourself to a single metaphor. I like it-
All the world is a stage and men and women mere actors.
This extension – “Men and women are mere players” has made this an extended metaphor. The author extended “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 clichéd words and are desperately searching for a closely related word that hasn’t been used to death, that word is a metonym. A new word to replace an old one. Of course, an example. The pen is mightier than the sword. This saying 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 had said that freedom is greater than power, no one would have said Wow. That’s 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 off-key metaphor is called a mixed metaphor.
Waves of emotion have pierced my heart.
Can waves prick? They do it in a nonsense world, but most of us are still sane, but we widely tolerate nonsense and that’s why such nonsense is given a modest mixed-metaphor name.
Well, for the sake of information, there are two types of mixed metaphors: permissible mixed metaphors and non-permissible mixed metaphors. Never use the disallowed ones, so let me explain only the allowed ones.
The 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 the 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 really, really, honestly doesn’t make sense.
He broke with a sad piece.
In today’s world of indistinction, he is reigning absolute. Confuse them with your confusion.
There are two types of absolute metaphors: paralogical and anti-metaphors.
5. Implied metaphor
The implicit metaphor is an indirect metaphor where an implication is made to the whole.
Close your trap.
He ruffled his feathers.
No bird and no mouth, just feathers and a trap. Yes, that is implied.
6. Dead metaphor
Dead metaphors have been so abused that they have lost their individuality.
mountains face
crown of glory
Dead metaphors are mainly used as sentences and not as metaphors. Your association is dead. Now, they are just phrases, although their names still remain. Take off your hats. It’s morning time!
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 unclear because the sentence has been shortened, then it is called a latent metaphor.
It was burning. (what for 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? Sleeping, yes, they are sleeping. Hibernating. But he is still alive.
8. Metaphor of synecdoche
The name sounds 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 a bird or claws instead of a crab. These associations are symbolic of the whole.
Her feet flapped like terrified wings.
9. Root metaphor
Root metaphors are so named because numerous 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 newly born, so you will have to introduce them to the world. They are not familiar to the reader. That is why it is better if they are clearly explained.
His flickering love.
They crushed each other’s lives.
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: his winged dreams or his ambition of legs.
12. Dying Metaphor
It should have been called ‘rising from the dead metaphor’ or ‘the mummy metaphor’ because when you bring dead metaphors out of the grave and use them in your writing, then you can’t call them dying. I don’t know what George Orwell was thinking when he coined the name. J Metaphors of death are clichéd metaphors like
needle in a haystack
Achilles heel
A different ball game
13. Conceptual metaphor
This is hard, so read slowly. A conceptual metaphor has many metaphorical meanings in them. Its underlying meaning creates a novel thought or universal concept. Life as a journey is an old conceptual metaphor. This metaphor has universal appeal. It is not about a particular situation or a person. He is faithful to every man.
Also, if you see life as a journey, you can also use many other metaphors like
my life just stopped
I have reached the crossroads.
I came into this world without baggage.
So, Life is a journey is a conceptual metaphor.
14. Pataphor
Metaphors are metaphors stretched to the point where they don’t make sense. They are usually used to attract attention and introduce novelties.
He put the brakes on his fear, accelerated his anger and crashed into the house.
15. Simple or narrow metaphor
In a simple metaphor, you don’t need to do much. Just chill it. There is nothing to refresh except just that. Seriously speaking, in a simple metaphor, the relationship between the vehicle (cool) and the tenor (it) is very intimate (close).
Duck (bow) down.
He’s crazy (crazy).
You are a (huge) dinosaur.
Simple metaphors are usually very short. Just two or three words maximum.
16. Implied Metaphor
Here the vehicle or tenor is not clearly specified, but rather implied.
Close your trap.
Look at your tongue.
Here, ‘trap’ and ‘tongue’ are used instead of mouth and words.
17. Compound or Loose Metaphor
A compound metaphor is made up of more than one similarity. In it, the writer extends a metaphor using more than one association.
He ran at 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 accomplishment (not 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” which itself does not exist.
