The first extremely obvious question is: What is this damn metaphor? Another fancy name? Well… yes and no. It’s elegant, but also effective. Charged with energy. Filled with awesomeness. By definition, a metaphor is a figure of speech in which two completely different words or phrases are put 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 it has joined two things that have nothing to do with each other and it makes sense.

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

1. Extended or telescopic metaphor or conceit

When your metaphorical vision has developed, then you cannot limit yourself to a single metaphor. As-

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 introducing parts of “the world” (men and women) and “a stage” (players). Of course, it has to make sense. You can’t expand by comparing men and women with an ipod. Sound nasty? Exactly.

2. Metonymy

When you’ve grown tired of cliché words and are desperately searching for a closely related word 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 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 out of tune metaphor is called a mixed metaphor.

Waves of emotion have pierced my heart.

Can the waves puncture? They do it in a nonsensical world, but most of us are still sane, but we widely tolerate nonsense and that is why such nonsense is given the modest name of mixed metaphor.

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

The allowed mixed metaphors make sense even though the parts are not directly related.

We have weathered many a storm with an iron will.

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

4. Absolute metaphor

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

He broke up with a sad piece.

In today’s world of indistinction, absolute is reigning supreme. Confuse them with your confusion.

There are two types of absolute metaphors: paralogical and anti-metaphors.

5. Implicit 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 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 phrases and not as metaphors. Your partnership is dead. Now, they are just phrases, although their names still remain. Hats off. 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.

I was burning. (for what, please)

He flew to his uncle. (because?)

They blew it up. (BECAUSE?)

Okay, it makes sense, but in and of itself, it doesn’t create the whole picture. Why chew words? Sleeping, yes, they are sleeping. Hibernating. But he is still alive.

8. Synecdoche metaphor

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

His feet flapped like terrified wings.

9. Root metaphor

Root metaphors are so called because numerous other metaphors can be born from them. Also, they are generalizations like:

Time is money.

Make hay while the sun shines.

Etcetera etcetera.

10. Active metaphor

Active metaphors are just born, so you will have to present 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 pawed ambition.

12. Dying metaphor

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

I came into this world without baggage.

So, Life is a Journey is a conceptual metaphor.

14. metaphor

Metaphors are metaphors that are stretched to the point where they don’t make sense. They are usually used to attract attention and introduce novelties.

He reined in his fear, quickened his anger, and crashed into the house.

15. Simple or narrow metaphor

In a simple metaphor, you don’t need to do much. Just cool it down. There is nothing to refresh except only 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 brief. Only two or three words maximum.

16. Implicit metaphor

Here, the vehicle or tenor is not clearly specified, but rather implied.

Close your trap.

Watch your tongue.

Here ‘trap’ and ‘tongue’ are used in place of mouth and words.

17. Compound or loose metaphor

A compound metaphor is made 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 achievement (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” which itself does not exist.