Category: Metaphors

Blog posts in this category describe meanings, origins and usage of common metaphors, idioms, similes and allusions found in cultures throughout the world

Chessboard with chess pieces in blue and red colors

Political Metaphors 401 Sports Military

Political Chess, Political Baton, Lowering the Bar, Political Rope-a-dope, Scoring Political Points, Political Curveball, Political Home Run, Political Dominoes, Political firing line, Political Foot Soldiers, Taking the Flak Sports Metaphors in Politics Because we...

Unicorn

Fantasy Folklore Mythical Metaphors 101

Unicorn, The Midas touch, Leprechauns guarding pot of Gold at the end of Rainbow, El Dorado, Face that launched a thousand ships, Milli Helen, Trojan Horse, Gremlins in my Computer, Volatility Gremlins Quoting Joseph...

Hand of God

Religious Origin Metaphors 401 God

Hand of God. God of Cricket, God’s gift to Mankind, God Forsaken, Man Proposes God Disposes, God helps those who help themselves, God works in mysterious ways, Put the fear of God into someone,...

Nectar of the Gods

Religious Origin Metaphors 301 God

Nectar of the Gods, Act of God , Greek God, God’s Country, Godspeed, Fit for the Gods, Alpha and Omega, Act of God (Force Majeure), Taking God’s name in Vain, As God is my...

Devil and Blind Lady Justice Sitting Side by Side

Religious Origin Metaphors 101 Devil

Devil’s Advocate, Devil Incarnate, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Better the Devil you know, Devil-may-care, Daredevil, Making a Deal with the Devil, Devil to Pay, Selling Your Soul to the Devil,...

Angel Investor with Wings

Religious Origin Metaphors 201 Angel Heaven

Angel Investor, Angel in Disguise, Deals made in Hell aren’t witnessed by Angels, Fools Rush in where Angels fear to Tread, Fallen Angel, Halo Effect, Get it’s Wings, Angel of Death, Seventh Heaven, Nirvana,...

Cricket Metaphors 101

I grew up on a diet of cricket in India, and media in cricket-loving countries use cricket related metaphors all around. When I immigrated to the US, I didn’t recognize baseball metaphors until I’d...

Political Grapevine

Political Metaphors 301 Characters Behaviors Issues

Political Grapevine, Political Spin Doctor, Political Pundit, Carpetbagger, Political Fence-Mending, Political Suicide, Political Witch hunt, Political Mumbo-Jumbo, Tweedledee and Tweedledum Politics, Whistle Stopping, Ride on other’s Coattails, Bread and Butter Issues, Third Rail Issues...

Red herring fish in a suit and tie

Political Metaphors 201 Nature Navigation

Political Red Herring, Political Tide, Gerrymandering, Logrolling, Swift Boat Politics, Political Crossroad, Political Compass , Political Mudslinging, Political Quagmire Use of Color in Political Metaphors In the 1990’s, the American media started to use...

PIg in Suit with Lipstick

Political Metaphors 101 Animals Birds

Lipstick on a Pig, Dark Horse, Jockeying, Dead Heat, Political Handicapper, Champing at the Bit, Two Horse Race, Underdog, Dogfight, Dog Whistles, To Wag the Dog, Pork Barrel Politics, Bringing Home the Bacon, Donkey...