metaphornoun [ C or U ]
uk/ˈmet.ə.fɔːr/us/ˈmet̬.ə.fɔːr/C2 an expression, often found in literature, that describes a person or object by referring to something that is considered to have similar characteristics to that person or object:
"The mind is an ocean" and "the city is a jungle" are both metaphors.
Metaphor and simile are the most commonly used figures of speech in everyday language.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Figurative use of language
- a metaphor for sth idiom
- allegory
- anthropomorphism
- as
- as it were idiom
- fig
- figurative
- figuratively
- figure of speech
- idiom
- imagery
- ironic
- irony
- metaphorical
- metonymy
- mix
- mixed metaphor
- pathetic fallacy
- speak
- symbol
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Idiom(s)
a metaphor for sth