"Metaphorically speaking:how widespread is the use of metaphor in English?"
методическая разработка по английскому языку по теме

Metaphorically speaking: How widespread is the use of metaphor in English?

Malcolm Mann

Metaphor:

• Not just a literary device
• Not just used by writers of fiction / poets / etc
• Most often used unconsciously
• Absolutely fundamental to all communication
• To communicate, we need to make comparisons / analogies
• To talk about present / recent / new experience, the easiest / best / clearest thing is often to use a common language of past, shared experience.

idioms/expressions: too many cooks spoil the broth

verbs: dissect (a problem)

nouns: the problem was a real headache

adjectives: green fingers

adverbs: she spoke to me sharply

phrasal verbs: build up (e.g. support)

collocations / fixed phrases: one-track mind, couch potato

prepositions: in light of

When we talk about X, we sometimes use the language of Y:

(abstract ideas / emotions/psychological effects – physical/concrete world)

intelligence – knives and blades: stab in the dark / razor-sharp mind / she's very sharp / dissect a problem / an incisive comment / a cutting remark

intelligence – light: bright child / she's brilliant / she shines at languages / outshine everyone else / flash of inspiration / enlighten me! / he's a bit dim

learning – travelling and movement: start out believing / first step / approach a subject / explore a subject / serve as a guide to / pointers / unchartered territory / reach or come to a conclusion

time – money: save time / spend time / waste time / buy time / run out of time / profitable/valuable use of time

mistakes – walking (badly): stumble over words / fall flat on your face / slip of the tongue / not put a foot wrong / put your foot in it

language/words/information – food and flavours: eat your words / digest the news / a bit of a mouthful to say / speak bitterly / unpalatable truth

opportunity – doors and entrances: the key to / opportunity knocks / an opening / on the threshold of / it unlocked...

being busy – being covered: up to your eyes/neck/ears/etc in work / pile work on sb / wade through / snowed under / drowning in / swamped with / flooded with

searching – digging: dig up / turn up / unearth / come to light / spadework / leave no stone unturned

searching – hunting: track down / on sb's trail / hounded by / trawl through / sniff around / throw off scent

illness – war: fight/battle/combat disease / virus attacks / a battle with / fight off a cold / resistance to / guard against

anger – heat and combustion: explode / hot under the collar / let off steam / lose your cool

location and position: stand your ground / be in a difficult position / on the horizon / in the distant future

movement along the horizontal (travelling): a way to do sth / run over points / walk through / lead to

movement along the vertical (up and down): price/temperature rises/falls / look down on / look up to / feel down (in the dumps) / feel high (as a kite)

Domains

domain = area of specific activity

e.g. sailing / war / driving / cooking / gambling / hunting / fashion / etc

Domains produce their own vocabulary.

Certain domains have such a cultural resonance that their specific language often starts to be used metaphorically outside the domain in the wider culture.

If the domain is one of universal experience (e.g. war) then the metaphors are often cross-cultural, and used in different languages.

If the domain is culturally specific, then the metaphors may not be cross-cultural, used in a different language.

e.g.

theatre/entertainment: your part in / stage sth / difficult act to follow / take centre stage / balancing act / clown / media circus / behind the scenes

card-playing/gambling: not miss a trick / follow suit / keep your cards close to your chest / raise/up the ante / hedge your bets / bet over the odds / poker face

Call my bluff!

option 1 (the easiest): Give both students the correct definition. Give 1 student the correct etymology and one student a false etymology – class votes on the most likely

option 2: Give 1 student the definition/etymology – the other student(s) have to create their own – class votes on the most likely

option 3: Give all students the definition – give only 1 student the etymology – class votes on the most likely

option 4: Give all students the etymology – give only 1 student the definition – class votes on the most likely

Useful phrases: It comes from... / It all started when... / Imagine you're...

Non-random elements of metaphors

1) (chrono)logical progression: down and out / cut and dried / dead and buried

2) from general to specific: done and dusted / chapter and verse

3) alliteration: bread and butter / tried and tested / fall flat on your face

4) rhyme: name of the game / eager beaver / go with the flow

Rebus: pictorial/graphic representation of words and phrases

e.g.

= the situation is under control

There's a huge amount of material about English metaphors online. Just put 'metaphor' or 'ELT metaphor' into Google.

There are lots of websites with rebus puzzles, e.g. www.fun-with-words.com/rebus_puzzles.html

Most good advanced learner dictionaries these days have sections on metaphor. The Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners has some excellent material on metaphor.

There are several good resources online for etymologies e.g. www.etyonline.com