B2nounlanguagearts
US/ˈmet.ə.fɔːr/
UK/ˈmet.ə.fɔː/
a way of describing something by calling it something else that has similar qualities
In context
'Life is a journey' is one of the most common metaphors in English.
The poet uses the river as a metaphor for time passing.
In his speech, the coach used a cooking metaphor to explain teamwork.
Words that go with metaphor
noun + preposition
- metaphor forThe storm in the novel is a metaphor for the war.
verb + noun
- use a metaphorGood teachers often use a metaphor to explain a hard idea.
adjective + noun
- powerful metaphorThe broken mirror is a powerful metaphor for the divided family.
- mixed metaphor'We'll burn that bridge when we come to it' is a funny mixed metaphor.
- perfect metaphorTraffic in Hanoi is a perfect metaphor for the city's energy.
- visual metaphorThe film uses a bird cage as a visual metaphor for her marriage.