dead metaphor
Unnoticed figurative language
A dead metaphor is a figure of speech so familiar that speakers no longer perceive it as figurative.
When someone says the leg of the table or falling in love, no one pictures an actual limb or physical descent—the metaphorical origin has faded from awareness.
Dead metaphors contrast with live ones, where the comparison remains vivid and conscious.
Overused, lacking freshness
- hackneyedOverused and unoriginal
- overusedEmployed too frequently
- banalUnoriginal and dull
- staleNo longer fresh
worn-out · tired · threadbare · platitude · bromide · stock phrase · shopworn · old hat
Fixed phrase, opaque meaning
- tropeRecurring narrative device
- symbolismRepresenting concepts through images
- figure of speechNonliteral expressive phrase
- connotationImplied sense, not dictionary
allusion · analogy · imagery · literalization · etymology · fossilization · conventionalized · set phrase
Not perceived by anyone
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- transparentAllowing light through
- automaticOperating without intervention
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
ingrained · habitual · naturalized · taken-for-granted · unremarkable · background · invisible · absorbed
Extremely heavy precipitation
- kick the bucketSlang for dying
- heart of the matterCentral essential issue
- fall in loveDevelop romantic feelings
- time fliesPerception of accelerating duration
Lost original color
- weakenedMade less capable
- bleachedHad color removed
- defusedMade harmless
- neutralizedMade ineffective or harmless
diluted · blunted · diminished · flattened · colorless · drained · eroded · attenuated
trite
Overused, lacking freshness
stale · worn-out · tired · threadbare · platitude · bromide · stock phrase · shopworn · old hat · corny
idiom
Fixed phrase, opaque meaning
- tropeRecurring narrative device
- symbolismRepresenting concepts through images
- figure of speechNonliteral expressive phrase
connotation · allusion · analogy · imagery · literalization · etymology · fossilization · conventionalized · set phrase · fixed expression
unnoticed
Not perceived by anyone
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- transparentAllowing light through
- automaticOperating without intervention
unconscious · ingrained · habitual · naturalized · taken-for-granted · unremarkable · background · invisible · absorbed · internalized
raining cats and dogs
Extremely heavy precipitation
- kick the bucketSlang for dying
- heart of the matterCentral essential issue
- fall in loveDevelop romantic feelings
faded
Lost original color
neutralized · diluted · blunted · diminished · flattened · colorless · drained · eroded · attenuated · muted
- clichescliche, platitude, bromide, tired phrase, worn phrase
- expressionsexpression, I love you, phrase, idioms, thank you
- etymologyword origins, word history, word origin, etymon, root words
- literary devicessimile, hyperbole, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia
- figurative languagesimile, figure of speech, analogy, personification, figures of speech
- metaphorsbroken heart, time is money, life journey, simile, analogy