dead metaphor

English - English

Definition of dead metaphor in English English dictionary

A former metaphor which has in effect lost its metaphorical status and become literal, e.g. "electric current" (electricity was at first thought to be analogous to water). Not to be confused with stale metaphor (a type of cliché), although it often is

`he is a snake' may once have been a metaphor but after years of use it has died and become a new sense of the word `snake'

a metaphor that has occurred so often that it has become a new meaning of the expression e

Hyphenation

dead met·a·phor

Turkish pronunciation

ded metıfôr

Pronunciation

/ˈded ˈmetəfôr/ /ˈdɛd ˈmɛtəfɔːr/

Etymology

[ 'ded ] (adjective.) before 12th century. Middle English deed, from Old English dEad; akin to Old Norse dauthr dead, deyja to die, Old High German tOt dead; more at DIE.