as in code word
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Recent Examples of dead metaphor
Many of our emotion terms are references to states of the body—we’re downcast, bent out of shape, head over heels, shaken up, down in the mouth—which have slowly rigidified into dead metaphor.
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Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022
This shift reminds us that dead metaphors aren’t always terminally dead.
—Rob Nixon, Smithsonian, 23 Mar. 2018
Nikhil Krishnan, The New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2022
This shift reminds us that dead metaphors aren’t always terminally dead.
—Rob Nixon, Smithsonian, 23 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead metaphor
Noun
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As Jamie divulges the details of the enterprise, including the special code words staff must use in the presence of The Butcher, Cooper gets increasingly nervous.Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024
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Kingsley suggests having a code word with your friends and family to verify their identity.Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY, 4 June 2024
Noun
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Her second prank ended up with Ubah puking up Jenna Lyon’s perfect pavlova (not a euphemism).Brian Moylan, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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Many experts argue that both are simply euphemisms for extrajudicial executions, which the laws of armed conflict proscribe.Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Given the motor-racing analogies, Senna is a good place to start.Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2024
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The alleged analogy is that Salazar, an NBA fan, simply watched a video on NBA.com.Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
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There’s hardly any esoteric metaphors to be found in this far-reaching work.Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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In his first run for office, in 2018, Allred topped a crowded Democratic field and, in a surprise, beat an 11-term incumbent Republican to win the seat he’s held ever since. Bidding now for a second upset, Allred’s Senate campaign is mercifully short on football metaphors.Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Later, when asked about his evolution as a coach, Harbaugh described himself as open to change and used a mall-entrance simile to make his point.Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024
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As the simile suggests, the pen could be used as a weapon, producing militant verses that would advance the nationalist cause.Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Dead metaphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead%20metaphor. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
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