Dead Metaphor — Definition & Examples
What is a dead metaphor?
A dead metaphor is a figure of speech that describes when the figurative meaning of a metaphor shifts away from its original meaning. The metaphorical meaning becomes so familiar that the literal meaning is forgotten.
There are two reasons why a metaphor "dies:"
Repetition: After using a metaphor repetitively for an extended period, it loses the connection to its initial imagery. It becomes so common that it is understood without knowing the earlier connotation.
Semantic shift: Semantics deal with the meaning of words. Therefore, a dead metaphor occurs if the meaning of a word within it shifts over time.
Dead metaphors can also be called a frozen metaphor or a historical metaphor. The English language is always changing, so figurative language is too. The evolution of a language is responsible for dead metaphors.
Examples of dead metaphors
The following is a list of dead metaphors with their literal and figurative meanings:
| Dead Metaphor | Literal Meaning | Figurative Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Go belly up | What happens to a fish when it dies | Bankrupt; ruined |
| Nip it in the bud | Snipping a flower before it has the chance to bloom | To stop something at an early stage |
| Flying off the handle | Ax blade flung off its handle | Someone losing his/her sense of self-control |
| Time is running out | The sand in the top of an hourglass was almost all in the bottom | There is not enough time to finish something |
| Head over heels | Being the wrong way up (upside down; topsy turvy) | Being extremely excited |
| Deadline | Inmates would be shot if they passed a certain line in the prison yard | Time limit |
| Stick in the mud | Reference to a horse-drawn carriage being stuck in the mud | Person who resists change |
| Roll up/down the window | Use the spinning lever below the window to open/close it | Close the window |
| Hang up the phone | Disconnect the phone by putting it back on the receiver | End a phone call |
