💡 Lesson 5: Metaphors & Complex Idioms
We have learned that similes make writing more descriptive by using 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison. Today, we learn about a more direct and powerful form of figurative language1 called a metaphor2. We will also expand our vocabulary with some more complex idioms3 common in everyday English.
Understanding Metaphors
A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by saying that one thing is the other. It does not use the words 'like' or 'as'. This creates a strong image in the reader's mind.
Simile vs. Metaphor
Simile: "He fights like a lion." (He is similar to a lion).
Metaphor: "He is a lion in the fight." (He has the qualities of a lion).
Common Metaphors:
- Time is money: This means that time is a valuable resource that should not be wasted.
- Life is a journey: This suggests that life has a beginning and end, with challenges and new experiences along the way.
- He has a heart of stone: This means he is cold, unkind, and shows no emotion.
More Advanced Idioms
As you improve your English, you will encounter more complex idioms. You cannot understand them from their literal4 meaning; you must learn the whole phrase.
bite the bullet: to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.
"I hate going to the dentist, but I have a bad tooth, so I just have to bite the bullet and make an appointment."
get cold feet: to suddenly become too nervous or scared to do something you had planned.
"He was going to ask his boss for a raise, but he got cold feet at the last minute."
the ball is in your court: it is now your turn to make a decision or take the next step.
"I've done everything I can to help. Now, the ball is in your court."
spill the beans: to tell a secret.
"We were planning a surprise party for her, but someone spilled the beans."
see eye to eye: to agree with someone.
"My brother and I don't always see eye to eye on politics."
Using this kind of language makes your speaking and writing much more colorful and expressive5.
🧠 Practice Quiz: What's the Meaning?
Choose the best answer for each question.
- "The politician's words were a comfort blanket to the worried crowd." This is an example of a _______.
Answer: metaphor (It directly compares the words to a blanket, without 'like' or 'as'.) - If someone tells you to "break a leg" before a performance, what do they mean?
Answer: Good luck! (This is a common idiom from a previous lesson.) - I've given you my final offer for the motorbike. It's a good price. Now, _______.
Answer: the ball is in your court (It's your turn to decide.) - She was all set to get married, but a week before the wedding she _______ and cancelled it.
Answer: got cold feet (She became too scared.)
📝 Homework: Explain and Use
For each sentence, first explain the meaning of the bold idiom, then write your own original sentence using it.
- He had to bite the bullet and work two jobs to pay for his family's expenses.
Meaning: To face a difficult situation with courage.
Your Sentence: _________________________________________ - My parents don't see eye to eye about which university I should attend.
Meaning: To agree with each other.
Your Sentence: _________________________________________ - Please don't spill the beans; the party is a secret!
Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Your Sentence: _________________________________________
Vocabulary Glossary
- Figurative Language: (Noun Phrase) - ភាសាន័យធៀប (phéa'saa ney'tʰéap) - Language that uses words with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation. ↩
- Metaphor: (Noun) - ឧបមា (u'pâ'méa) - A direct comparison where one thing is said to be another thing, without using 'like' or 'as'. ↩
- Idiom: (Noun) - សំនួនវោហារ (sâm'nuən vo'ha) - A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meaning of its words. ↩
- Literal: (Adjective) - តាមព្យញ្ជនៈ (tam pchœ̆nh'chĕă'nă) - The most basic or usual meaning of a word. ↩
- Expressive: (Adjective) - ដែលបង្ហាញ (dael bâng'hanh) - Effectively showing thought or feeling. ↩