Exercise: Build your own metaphor !

 

Here are several common statements using words that are already metaphors, or are easily replaced with metaphors. Try to make working statements by substituting one or more italicized words with their counterparts below.
A wire conducts electrons; electric current flows along a wire; water current streams along a course; traffic moves along a road; a bottleneck in traffic slows the flow of cars; water runs along a pipe; electric lines, plumbing/sewer lines, railway lines; railway cars; path of electrons; a backed-up drain; backed-up traffic; traffic is running smoothly; blood flows down an artery;

wire = road = course = pipe = line = path = artery   (Notice that each is a "hollow" line, that can allow movement along itself.)

electrons = water (molecules) = cars = blood (cells) *  (Notice that each is an object or a single group of objects that may travel together.)

flow = run = move = stream = pass (Notice that each is a steady movement - an indication of traveling a distance over a period of time.)

Examples: 

"water current flows along a course" becomes "electric current streams along a path"

"blood flows down an artery" becomes "(a) train runs down a line"

 

*A system can behave as a single object, as well: for example "the system is running smoothly". Try to find a few systems to substitute in the above statements, such as "the mail service is running smoothly" or "the paperwork is backed-up"

Note: If an expression doesn't seem to work, see if you can find the needed element that will make the statement work. Such "adjustments" will really help you understand what you already know, and help you create very coherent and extensive metaphors.

Back to: A Language of Metaphors; Metaphor Examples