DEAD METAPHOR Meaning and
Definition
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A dead metaphor refers to a figure of speech or phrase that has been so overused and ingrained in daily language that its original metaphorical meaning has become lost or faded. These metaphors have become so common and conventional that they are now perceived as ordinary words or expressions, devoid of their initial figurative association. Consequently, a dead metaphor is considered figuratively "dead," as it no longer evokes a visual or imaginative understanding.
The usage of a dead metaphor might be unintentional or subconscious, as individuals employ them without realizing their metaphorical origin. These metaphors may have initially arisen from vivid or vividly imaginative associations, but their overuse in everyday language has caused them to lose their potency. Consequently, the original image or idea represented by the metaphor has become so diluted that it can no longer effectively convey or inspire the intended meaning.
Common examples of dead metaphors include "the foot of the hill," which originally depicted a human foot but has lost its visual impact over time, and "turning a blind eye," which metaphorically implied intentionally avoiding something but is now understood as simply meaning to ignore. Dead metaphors are distinct from live metaphors, where the figurative meaning remains strongly connected to its literal origin.
In conclusion, a dead metaphor is a once-vibrant metaphorical expression that has lost its imaginative or visual association due to its frequent and widespread usage. These phrases have become conventional and ordinary, no longer evoking the creative or imaginative impact of their original metaphorical meaning.
Common Misspellings for DEAD METAPHOR
- sead metaphor
- xead metaphor
- cead metaphor
- fead metaphor
- read metaphor
- eead metaphor
- dwad metaphor
- dsad metaphor
- ddad metaphor
- drad metaphor
- d4ad metaphor
- d3ad metaphor
- dezd metaphor
- desd metaphor
- dewd metaphor
- deqd metaphor
- deas metaphor
- deax metaphor
- deac metaphor
Etymology of DEAD METAPHOR
The word "dead metaphor" is a compound phrase that consists of the terms "dead" and "metaphor". The etymology of each term is as follows:
1. "Dead": The word "dead" comes from the Old English word "dēad", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*dauþaz". The Indo-European root of "dead" is "*dheu", meaning "to die" or "to pass away".
2. "Metaphor": The word "metaphor" has its root in the Greek word "metaphora", meaning "transfer" or "carry over". It combines "meta" (meaning "beyond", "change", or "transfer") with "phorein" (meaning "to bear" or "to carry").
Similar spelling word for DEAD METAPHOR
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