metaphor

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

meta·phor [metaphor metaphors] BrE [ˈmetəfə(r)] NAmE [ˈmetəfər] BrE [ˈmetəfɔː(r)] NAmE [ˈmetəfɔːr] noun countable, uncountable
a word or phrase used to describe sb/sth 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
compare ↑simile

Word Origin:
late 15th cent.: from French métaphore, via Latin from Greek metaphora, from metapherein ‘to transfer’.

Thesaurus:
metaphor noun C, U
•The writer uses the game of football as a metaphor for the competitive struggle of life.
image • • imagery • • allegory • |technical simile • • figure of speech •
(a) striking metaphor/image/imagery/simile
(a/an) powerful/vivid/poetic metaphor/image/imagery
use (a/an) metaphor/image/imagery/simile/figure of speech
Which word? Metaphor, allegory and simile are all types of figure of speech. These words all refer to the words, phrases, figures or ideas used to create an image in the mind of the reader.

Collocations:
Literature
Being 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 sth into a complex narrative
advance/drive the plot
introduce/present the protagonist/a character
describe/depict/portray a character (as…)/(sb 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/(especially US) 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/sb's work/sb's imagination
Reading and criticism
read an author/sb's work/fiction/poetry/a text/a poem/a novel/a chapter/a passage
review a book/a novel/sb's work
give sth/get/have/receive a good/bad review
be hailed (as)/be recognized as a masterpiece
quote a phrase/line/stanza/passage/author
provoke/spark discussion/criticism
study/interpret/understand a text/passage
translate sb's work/a text/a passage/a novel/a poem

Example Bank:
•‘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
•In the story, the game of football is used as a metaphor for the competitive struggle of life.
•The writer's use of metaphor is striking.