metaphor

noun

/ˈmetəfə(r)/, /ˈmetəfɔː(r)/

/ˈmetəfər/, /ˈmetəfɔːr/

[countable, uncountable]

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a word or phrase used to describe somebody/something else, in a way that is different from its normal use, in order to show that the two things have the same qualities and to make the description more powerful, for example She has a heart of stone; the use of such words and phrases
- a game of football used as a metaphor for the competitive struggle of life
- the writer’s striking use of metaphor
Collocations Literature
LiteratureBeing a writer
- write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography
- become a writer/novelist/playwright
- find/have a publisher/an agent
- have a new book out
- edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript
- dedicate a book/poem to…
Plot, character and atmosphere
- construct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrative
- advance/drive the plot
- introduce/present the protagonist/a character
- describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villain
- create an exciting/a tense atmosphere
- build/heighten the suspense/tension
- evoke/capture the pathos of the situation
- convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of…
- engage the reader
- seize/capture/grip the (reader’s) imagination
- arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader)
- lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm
Language, style and imagery
- use/employ language/imagery/humour/(US English) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a device
- use/adopt/develop a style/technique
- be rich in/be full of symbolism
- evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of…
- create/achieve an effect
- maintain/lighten the tone
- introduce/develop an idea/a theme
- inspire a novel/a poet/somebody’s work/somebody’s imagination
Reading and criticism
- read an author/somebody’s work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage
- review a book/a novel/somebody’s work
- give something/get/have/receive a good/bad review
- be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece
- quote a(n) phrase/line/stanza/passage/author
- provoke/spark discussion/criticism
- study/interpret/understand a text/passage
- translate somebody’s work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem
compare simile
Wordfinder
- alliteration
- euphemism
- figure of speech
- hyperbole
- image
- litotes
- metaphor
- metonymy
- onomatopoeia
- paradox
Extra Examples
- ‘This vale of tears’ is a metaphor for the human condition.
- He uses the metaphor of fire to represent hatred.
- The ladder metaphor works in several ways.
- an extended metaphor for human existence
- one of the central metaphors in the book
- the metaphor of life as a journey
Topics Languageb2, Literature and writingb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- appropriate
- apt
- good
- …
verb + metaphor
- employ
- invoke
- use
- …
metaphor + verb
- describe something
- represent something
- imply something
- …
preposition
- metaphor for
- metaphor of
See full entry
Word Originlate 15th cent.: from French métaphore, via Latin from Greek metaphora, from metapherein ‘to transfer’.

单词	metaphor
释义	metaphor noun /ˈmetəfə(r)/, /ˈmetəfɔː(r)/ /ˈmetəfər/, /ˈmetəfɔːr/ [countable, uncountable] jump to other results a word or phrase used to describe somebody/something else, in a way that is different from its normal use, in order to show that the two things have the same qualities and to make the description more powerful, for example She has a heart of stone; the use of such words and phrases a game of football used as a metaphor for the competitive struggle of life the writer’s striking use of metaphor Collocations LiteratureLiteratureBeing a writer write/publish literature/poetry/fiction/a book/a story/a poem/a novel/a review/an autobiography become a writer/novelist/playwright find/have a publisher/an agent have a new book out edit/revise/proofread a book/text/manuscript dedicate a book/poem to… Plot, character and atmosphere construct/create/weave/weave something into a complex narrative advance/drive the plot introduce/present the protagonist/a character describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(somebody as) a hero/villain create an exciting/a tense atmosphere build/heighten the suspense/tension evoke/capture the pathos of the situation convey emotion/an idea/an impression/a sense of… engage the reader seize/capture/grip the (reader’s) imagination arouse/elicit emotion/sympathy (in the reader) lack imagination/emotion/structure/rhythm Language, style and imagery use/employ language/imagery/humour/(US English) humor/an image/a symbol/a metaphor/a device use/adopt/develop a style/technique be rich in/be full of symbolism evoke images of…/a sense of…/a feeling of… create/achieve an effect maintain/lighten the tone introduce/develop an idea/a theme inspire a novel/a poet/somebody’s work/somebody’s imagination Reading and criticism read an author/somebody’s work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage review a book/a novel/somebody’s work give something/get/have/receive a good/bad review be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece quote a(n) phrase/line/stanza/passage/author provoke/spark discussion/criticism study/interpret/understand a text/passage translate somebody’s work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem compare simile Wordfinder alliteration euphemism figure of speech hyperbole image litotes metaphor metonymy onomatopoeia paradox Extra Examples ‘This vale of tears’ is a metaphor for the human condition. He uses the metaphor of fire to represent hatred. The ladder metaphor works in several ways. an extended metaphor for human existence one of the central metaphors in the book the metaphor of life as a journey Topics Languageb2, Literature and writingb2 Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective appropriate apt good … verb + metaphor employ invoke use … metaphor + verb describe something represent something imply something … preposition metaphor for metaphor of See full entry Word Originlate 15th cent.: from French métaphore, via Latin from Greek metaphora, from metapherein ‘to transfer’.
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