18e Use figures of speech with care.

A figure of speech is an expression that uses words imaginatively (rather than literally) to make abstract ideas concrete. Most often, figures of speech compare two seemingly unlike things to reveal surprising similarities.

In a simile, the writer makes the comparison explicitly, typically by using like or as: By the time cotton had to be picked, Grandfather’s neck was as red as the clay he plowed. In a metaphor, the like or as is omitted, and the comparison is implied. For example, in the Old Testament Song of Solomon, a young woman compares the man she loves to a fruit tree: With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Although figures of speech are useful devices, writers can misuse them if they don’t think about the images they evoke. The result is sometimes a mixed metaphor, the combination of two or more images that don’t make sense together.

The sentence reads as follows: ‘Our manager decides to put all controversial issues [strikethrough begins] in a building pattern [strikethrough ends] on a back burner until after the annual meeting.’

Text below the sentence reads, Here the writer is mixing airplane and stoves. Simply deleting one of the images corrects the problem.

Exercise 18–1

Edit the following sentences to replace worn-out expressions and to clarify mixed figures of speech. Possible revisions appear in the back of the book.

The example reads, When he heard about the accident, (strikethrough) he turned white as a sheet. (end strikethrough) (insert) the color drained from his face. (end insert)

1. John stormed into the room like a bull in a china shop.

2. Some people insist that they’ll always have your back, even when they haven’t before.

3. The Cubs easily beat the Mets, who were in over their heads early in the game today at Wrigley Field.

4. We ironed out the sticky spots in our relationship.

5. My mother accused me of beating around the bush when in fact I was just talking off the top of my head.