Metaphors are a crucial part of any writer’s prose. The figurative language technique can illustrate an idea or image in just a few words. Metaphors come in all shapes and sizes. One of the subtlest of its forms is the implied metaphor– a linguistic flare that you can miss if you’re not looking. But just because it can be hard to spot doesn’t mean it’s not important. What is an implied metaphor?
What is an Implied Metaphor?
Implied Metaphor Definition
Because implied metaphors can be so tricky to nail down, it’s crucial to have a good understanding of what exactly they are in the first place. Let’s look at a definition.
IMPLIED METAPHOR DEFINITION
What is an Implied Metaphor?
An implied metaphor suggests a figurative comparison without explicitly naming one of the elements being compared. This is often done by using non-literal verbs; for example, “Sarah was shattered by the news.” Sarah is being compared to glass through the use of “shattered.”
Implied Metaphor Examples:
- He was chomping at the bit for the opportunity.
- She barked orders.
- He fetched the garbage.
Still a little confused about the implied metaphor definition? To further understand how the metaphor works, you need to know how to write one.
What is an Implied Metaphor?
Writing Implied Metaphors
You may already be writing implied metaphors and not realizing it. In order to write an implied metaphor deliberately, it’s helpful to understand the pieces of a basic metaphor.
A metaphor can be broken into two parts: A tenor and a vehicle. The tenor is the subject on which the traits of the vehicle are being transferred.
Implied metaphor examples
Okay– that’s a bit of a mouthful. Let’s take the sentence “Vivek was an erupting volcano, screaming at the cast and crew.” The metaphor in the sentence is “Vivek was an erupting volcano.” Vivek is the tenor, and the volcano is the vehicle– the traits of the volcano are being transferred onto Vivek.
Tenors and vehicles can’t be swapped. Take our example in reverse: “The erupting volcano was Vivek.” Unless Vivek is the name of the volcano, this doesn’t make sense. For more on tenors, vehicles, and more metaphorical elements, check out this video:
Metaphors explained
So what does all this have to do with implied metaphors? Implied metaphors remove either the tenor or the vehicle.
Let’s go back to our example, but this time take out the vehicle: “Vivek erupted at the cast and crew.” Vivek is now implicitly being compared to a volcano. Note, too, how much more efficient this sentence is.
Now let’s try taking out the tenor. To make this work, let’s give the metaphor context with a preceding sentence: “We watched on as Vivek finally lost his cool. The volcano erupted at the cast and crew.” We understand “the volcano” is in fact Vivek. This method is a bit trickier, so you’ll usually see the vehicle removed.
Related Posts
- What is an Idiom? →
- What is a visual metaphor? →
- Dead metaphors, explained →
What is an Implied Metaphor?
When To Use Implied Metaphors
A good implied metaphor is a powerful tool. Let’s look at when an implied metaphor can be of use.
Characterization
Implied metaphors can be a great way to build a character and emphasize their traits.
For example, let’s say we want to establish a character as an annoying sycophant. We could write: “Charles hovered near the king at all times, buzzing in his ear from morning to night.” By using verbs like “hovered” and “buzzing,” we’re implicitly comparing Charles to a fly.
Using an implied metaphor for characterization can be tremendously efficient– one verb can open up a larger comparison to an entire entity with its own connotations.
Vivid Imagery
A good implied metaphor can conjure an image in a reader’s head, so of course this makes it great for describing a visual.
Take this sentence: “Harry walked into the room.” This doesn’t tell us much of anything visually. But what if we say: “Harry waddled into the room.” This implicitly compares Harry to a duck, and now we’re imagining a man, probably heavy set, slowly making his way into a space. Far more information.
For whom Harry waddles • Implied metaphor examples
An implied metaphor can add detail to a sentence without adding to the word count.
Extend a Metaphor
An implied metaphor can work as part of a larger metaphor. This form is called an extended metaphor, referring to when a figurative comparison is stretched over multiple sentences.
Extended metaphors explained
Example time. Let’s say we have the metaphor “Burcu was a snake.” This metaphor tells us that perhaps Burcu is deceitful and hard to pin down. But what if we elaborate using implied metaphors?
It might look something like this: “Burcu was a snake. She slithered from delegate to delegate, hissing lies about candidates, slipping out of allegations of back-stabbing before returning to her perch above the assembly and warming his cold blood.”
Implied metaphors abound: slithered, hissing, slipping, cold blood. All inform us about Burcu’s nature while drawing on one core comparison.
What is an Implied Metaphor?
Implied Metaphor Examples
Implied metaphors are everywhere: you can find them in books, television, film, and beyond. Let’s look at a couple examples.
“Hope is a Thing with Feathers,” Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –That perches in the soul –And sings the tune without the words –And never stops – at all –
In this famous poem, Emily Dickinson compares hope to a bird, but never explicitly names the animal. This metaphor could also be categorized as extended, since Dickinson returns to the comparison in each line.
“Their Eyes Were Watching God,” Zora Neale Hurston
She could feel him and almost see him bucking around the room in the upper air. After a long time of passive happiness, she got up and opened the window and let Tea Cake leap forth and mount to the sky on a wind.
Here, Hurston uses verbiage associated with horses (bucking, mount) to illustrate the delightful vibrant energy of her husband. Figurative language abounds in this passage, intertwining and interacting– Hurston also describes the man as flying. The overall effect is one of emotional ecstasy.
Zora Neale Hurston • What is implied metaphor?
“Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands,” Bob Dylan
With your silhouette when the sunlight dimsInto your eyes where the moonlight swimsAnd your matchbook songs and your gypsy hymnsWho among them would try to impress you?
Like Hurston, Bob Dylan uses a cocktail of figurative language in his magnum opus. In this stanza, we can see a particularly evocative implied metaphor: “Into your eyes where the moonlight swims.” Here, the subject’s eyes are being implicitly compared to water through the verb “swims.”
“Halloween,” John Carpenter and Debra Hill
John Carpenter and Debra Hill’s script for Halloween is almost as terrifying as the film itself. Their writing is minimalist but descriptive. Take a look at this segment from early in the screenplay, which we imported into StudioBinder’s screenwriting software:
Implied metaphor examples • What is implied metaphor?
In this sequence, Michael Meyers is lurking in the background as Laurie goes about her daily routine. Notice the use of the implied metaphor in the action: “then fades back into the interior of the house.”
“Fade” implies a ghostly quality onto Meyers, heightening the unsettling nature of the scene.
As these examples illustrate, an implied metaphor can be worked into just about any medium. Used well, it can uncover new layers in your writing.
Up Next
What are Mixed Metaphors?
You’ve got one type of metaphor down, why not try another? Mixed metaphors get a bad rap, but they can actually be a useful tool. You just need to know exactly how they work.
Up Next: Mixed Metaphors Explained →
FAQs
What is an Implied Metaphor — Definition, Examples & Usages? ›
An implied metaphor is a type of metaphor that compares two things that are not alike without actually mentioning one of those things. For example, “A woman barked a warning at her child.” Here, the implied metaphor compares a woman to a dog, without actually mentioning the dog.
Why are implied metaphors used? ›Definition of Implied Metaphor
It occurs when the writer compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” This kind of comparison suggests that one thing is another, whether it actually is or not. It allows readers to think about things in a new way.
- Life is a highway.
- Her eyes were diamonds.
- He is a shining star.
- The snow is a white blanket.
- She is an early bird.
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of object or action is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them: the person being addressed in "you're a peach" is being equated with a peach, with the suggestion being that the person is pleasing or delightful in ...
What's the difference between implied metaphor and metaphor? ›Lesson Summary
A metaphor is a type of figurative language that compares two things by asserting one thing is another. Metaphors are used to make clearer descriptions and provide better understanding to the reader. However, an implied metaphor is a metaphor that doesn't explicitly state the comparison.
Early reports implied that the judge's death was not an accident. His words implied a threat. War implies fighting and death.
What are the 8 metaphors? ›In his book, Images of Organization, Gareth Morgan lays out eight metaphors for an organization: machines, organisms, brains, cultural systems, political systems, psychic prisons, instruments of domination, and flux and transformation.
What is a simple sentence for metaphor? ›Take these famous metaphor examples: All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. America has tossed its cap over the wall of space.
Which of the following is an example of metaphor? ›Detailed Solution. The correct answer is He is a big donkey. Metaphor is a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar. Here, a person, as denoted by 'he', is a human being who is said to be a donkey.
What are 3 examples of a simile? ›- As slow as a sloth.
- As busy as a bee.
- As innocent as a lamb.
- As proud as a peacock.
- As fast as a cheetah.
- As blind as a bat.
- As bold as brass.
- As cold as ice.
What is direct and implied metaphor? ›
A direct metaphor is a type of figurative language comparing two objects, but it does not use the words like or as. Instead, it claims that the first object is the second object. On the other hand, an implied metaphor implies the comparison. It does not state exactly what the first object is being compared to.
What is implied or indirect metaphor? ›Implied Metaphors
Implied, or indirect, metaphors do not explicitly say that one thing is another, but they hint at a connection in a subtler way than direct metaphors.
A metaphor is an implied simile. It doesn't state that one thing is like another or acts as another. Instead it says that the two things are one and the same. A simile, on the other hand, says that one thing is like another.
What are 4 implied terms? ›There are four different types of implied terms: contractual, custom and practice, statutory and common law.
What is an implied offer easy example? ›An implied offer is one that's implied rather than overtly stated. For instance, a person who buys a product from a seller assumes that the product functions properly without a seller explicitly claiming that the product works. An agreement stems from the offer, and the offer is then construed as the proposal.
What are implied words? ›involved, indicated, or suggested without being directly or explicitly stated; tacitly understood: an implied rebuke; an implied compliment.
What is an example of an active metaphor? ›An active metaphor is one which is relatively new and hence is not necessarily apparent to all listeners, although if the metaphor is well-selected, it will be easy enough to understand. For example, (7) Let me compare thee to an artic day, sharp and bright, forever light... (8) It's been a purple dinosaur of a day.
What is the most common metaphor? ›Illogical, but we understand the meaning. Other examples of common metaphors are “night owl”, “cold feet”, “beat a dead horse”, “early bird”, “couch potato”, “eyes were fireflies”, “apple of my eye”, “heart of stone”, “heart of a lion”, “roller coaster of emotions”, and “heart of gold.”
What are 20 metaphors? ›- The classroom was a zoo.
- The alligator's teeth are white daggers.
- She was such a peacock, strutting around with her colorful new hat.
- My teacher is a dragon ready to scold anyone he looks at.
- Mary's eyes were fireflies.
It suggests what something is like by comparing it with something else with similar characteristics. For example: 'My brother' is a piglet is a metaphor.
What's a metaphor for love? ›
LOVE-AS-NATURAL-FORCE METAPHOR - love is represented as a storm, flood, or wind, thus highlighting the aspects of the intensity of love and the lack of control of those in love. She swept me off my feet. Waves of passion came over him. She was carried away by love.
What is a metaphor Grade 7 example? ›What is a Metaphor? A metaphor shows a resemblance between two totally different objects by saying that one object is another. It compares these two unlike objects by identifying a single similar common characteristic. One example of the metaphor “Sport is war minus the shooting”.
What are some lists of metaphors? ›- I could eat a horse: I am very hungry.
- It all went pear shaped: to go wrong.
- It's no skin off my nose: it doesn't affect me negatively (but it might affect others).
- She is an open book: she has nothing to hide.
- He wears his heart on his sleeve: he shows his feelings readily.
He was Bawling his Eyes Out
The phrase “bawl your eyes out” means to cry very hard. This is another example of a metaphor, as no one's eyes will actually fall out from crying. This phrase is usually used to describe someone who is crying uncontrollably.
The most common types of metaphors are standard metaphors, extended metaphors, visual metaphors, and in student writing, unfortunately, mixed metaphors.
What are the nine key metaphors? ›Morgan's (1986) method of multiple metaphor is used to develop an eclectic view of career studies. Nine key metaphors for career are considered—the career as inheritance, construction, cycle, matching, journey, encounters and relationships, roles, resource, and story.
What two words does a metaphor use? ›Although it has the word "as," nothing is being compared. Metaphor - Metaphors use the keywords "is" or "are" if they are comparing two nouns in the present tense or "was" or "were" when comparing them in the past tense.
What is an example of a metaphor sentence in literature? ›To give you a starting point, here are some examples of common metaphors: “Bill is an early bird.” “Life is a highway.” “Her eyes were diamonds.”
How do you identify a metaphor in a sentence? ›It is possible to be systematic in your approach to learning how to spot and analyse metaphors. See if the sentence uses a word such as “as” or “like” as a preposition. That is, it is comparing things explicitly. If it compares things without using prepositions such as “like” or “as” it is a metaphor.
What is a simple definition of metaphor? ›Metaphor is a comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated. With metaphor, the qualities of one thing are figuratively carried over to another.
What is a 5 sentence example of a simile? ›
Examples of Similes Using “As”
He's as sick as a dog. It was as big as an elephant. He is as bright as a button. She's as cold as ice.
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.” Common similes include the descriptive phrases “cool as a cucumber,” “cold as ice,” and “sly like a fox.”
What is an example of a simile being used? ›A simile is a literary device that compares two things in an interesting and vivid way. Words such as “like” and “as” are used to compare the two subjects. For example, “He was as quiet as a mouse” or “She smelled like a rose”.
What is an implied metaphor in Lord of the Flies? ›The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid nearer and nearer the sill of the world. In this poetic metaphor, the narrator likens the setting sun to a “drop of burning gold” sliding down a windowpane toward the windowsill.
What is informal or implied simile? ›Metaphor - When you compare two unlike or different things or ideas, it is known as a metaphor. It is an informal or implied simile in which the words 'like' 'as' are avoided. For example, He is like a Giant - Simile and He is a Giant - Metaphor.
What is the implied idea? ›The Implied Main Idea is one that is NOT clearly stated in any one sentence in a passage. It is only suggested or inferred by the supporting details. The author doesn't state it directly.
Can a metaphor be implied? ›An implied metaphor is a type of metaphor that compares two things that are not alike without actually mentioning one of those things. For example, “A woman barked a warning at her child.” Here, the implied metaphor compares a woman to a dog, without actually mentioning the dog.
What is the difference between an implied metaphor and a personification? ›Personification involves attributing human characteristics to a non-human being or object, or representing an abstract quality in human form. Metaphor is an indirect comparison between two unrelated things without using connecting words such as like or as.
What does a metaphor look like in a sentence? ›A simile is a comparison between two things that uses the word like or as: Her smile is as bright as sunshine. A metaphor is a direct comparison between two things that does not use like or as: Her smile is sunshine.
How do you find the metaphor in a sentence? ›It is possible to be systematic in your approach to learning how to spot and analyse metaphors. See if the sentence uses a word such as “as” or “like” as a preposition. That is, it is comparing things explicitly. If it compares things without using prepositions such as “like” or “as” it is a metaphor.
What are similes 10 examples? ›
- As slow as a sloth.
- As busy as a bee.
- As innocent as a lamb.
- As proud as a peacock.
- As fast as a cheetah.
- As blind as a bat.
- As bold as brass.
- As cold as ice.
Examples of Similes Using “Like”
She eats like a pig. She ran like lightning. He looks like a fish out of water. She slept like a log.
Take these famous metaphor examples: All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. America has tossed its cap over the wall of space.
Which of these is an example of a metaphor? ›Detailed Solution. The correct answer is He is a big donkey. Metaphor is a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar. Here, a person, as denoted by 'he', is a human being who is said to be a donkey.
What are 4 examples of metaphor? ›| Movie | Metaphor | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Cinderella | "A dream is a wish your heart makes." | Dreams to a wish |
| The Princess Bride | "Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something." | Life to pain |
| Aladdin | "Seek thee out the diamond in the rough." | Diamond to a person |
A metaphor compares one kind of thing to another kind of thing. This definition incorporates sub-categories like analogy, parable, story, metonymy and a bunch of others you learned about in school. If it compares one kind of thing to another, it's a metaphor. It's not a metaphor if it is literally true.
What words do you use to identify a metaphor? ›Metaphor - Metaphors use the keywords "is" or "are" if they are comparing two nouns in the present tense or "was" or "were" when comparing them in the past tense.
What is an example of a metaphor for life? ›Some examples of metaphors for life include: "Life is a song; we each get to write our own lyrics." "Life is a puzzle; you can only see the picture when you put all the pieces together." "Life is a garden; with care and love you can cultivate beautiful flowers."