metonimikus

Metonimikus is a term used in linguistics and literary studies to describe a figure of speech where a word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated. This association is not one of similarity, as in metaphor, but rather one of contiguity or a related concept. It's a shift in meaning based on a connection rather than a likeness.

There are several common types of metonymy. One frequent example is using the container for the thing contained, such as saying "the White House" to refer to the U.S. administration. Another is using the cause for the effect, like "He has a good head for business," where "head" signifies intelligence or acumen. The instrument can also stand for the agent, as in "The pen is mightier than the sword," where "pen" represents writing or diplomacy and "sword" represents warfare.

Furthermore, metonymy can involve using a characteristic for the thing itself, such as calling a wealthy person a "Midas." The producer can be used for the product, for instance, "She bought a Ford," meaning she bought a car manufactured by Ford. Similarly, the place can represent the product, like "Champagne" for the wine from that region. These substitutions create a more vivid or concise expression by leveraging shared understanding and context.