métaphores

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing by asserting it is, or has the qualities of, another thing. Unlike a simile, which compares directly with like or as, a metaphor makes a direct equivalence, enabling imagery or meaning to transfer from the source domain to the target domain.

Metaphors come in several forms. A direct metaphor states the relation outright, as in “the mind is a battlefield.” An extended metaphor develops a sustained comparison across multiple lines or sections, creating a cohesive imaginative framework. A dead metaphor has become so familiar that it loses its vivid force, such as “the heart of the matter.” A mixed metaphor combines incompatible images, sometimes for humorous or emphatic effect.

In language and thought, metaphors are central to conveying complex or abstract ideas. In cognitive linguistics, conceptual metaphor theory argues that many everyday concepts are structured by underlying metaphors, such as TIME IS MONEY or A POSITIVE STATE IS UP (success is upward movement). Metaphors thus shape how people perceive, reason about, and act in the world, not merely decorate speech.

Historically, metaphors have been a core tool of rhetoric and poetry, dating back to ancient Greece and evolving through medieval, modern, and contemporary literature. They play roles in science, politics, journalism, and popular culture by enabling concise expression, persuasive force, and new viewpoints. While some metaphors endure as conventional wisdom, others are debated for their accuracy or implications, reflecting the dynamic interplay between language, culture, and cognition.