Metaphors

[8115]

Tail between legs is an idiom, as is time can fly by I think.

 

[2hats]

Both idioms.

 

[Hellsbells]

Yes we did idioms in class but I'm confused by the comment 'tail between legs' is an idiom which is a type of metaphor. If a student calls tail between legs a metaphor (with no mention of idioms or anything else), are they right or wrong?

 

[2hats]

Yes we did idioms in class but I'm confused by the comment 'tail between legs' is an idiom which is a type of metaphor. If a student calls tail between legs a metaphor (with no mention of idioms or anything else), are they right or wrong?

Depends on context; how was it being used? If there is no context, then I would describe it as an idiom. However, with suitable linguistic dressing, it could be used metaphorically.

 

[toblerone3]

What starts off as a simile eventually turns into a metaphor and later still it may turn into a noun.

 

[ffsear]

thats simile

Wrong

 

[8115]

Yes we did idioms in class but I'm confused by the comment 'tail between legs' is an idiom which is a type of metaphor. If a student calls tail between legs a metaphor (with no mention of idioms or anything else), are they right or wrong?

I think that's an interesting and quite complicated question which you could probably debate at undergraduate level. So it's up to you how you mark him.

It's not a prototypical metaphor.

Look:

His eyes are black.
His eyes are black as diamonds.
His eyes are black like diamonds.

He has his tail between his legs.
He has his tails between his legs like a dog.

They are structured very differently. In the first his eyes are literally black, in the second he does not literally have his tail between his legs.

I don't know here. I think it's safer not to say it's a metaphor or simile as the element of comparison is so key with these. The comparison with a dog is implied. It may have been a metaphor in the past. That could be the root of many idioms (I have not thought further than this).

 

[Hellsbells]

Yeah I agree, possibly an implied metaphor.
What about time flies. An idiom & personification?

 

[8115]

Yeah I agree, possibly an implied metaphor.
What about time flies. An idiom & personification?

No I would say not personification as people don't fly, surely? It has a tinge of personification in, I do know what you mean though.

Figure of speech/ idiom.

 

[Hellsbells]

Living things (ie birds) fly. Is there a term for giving something abstract a living quality?

 

[8115]

Living things (ie birds) fly. Is there a term for giving something abstract a living quality?

Actually you could be right, the internet says that giving an abstract thing concrete qualities is personification.

 

[Hellsbells]

Actually you could be right, the internet says that giving an abstract thing concrete qualities is personification.

It's not often I'm right

 

[SpookyFrank]

Living things (ie birds) fly. Is there a term for giving something abstract a living quality?

Pathetic fallacy?