Metaphor
If someone uses a metaphor, they use a word in a way that is slightly different from its basic meaning. For example, the first meaning of sunny is connected with the weather, so we talk about a sunny day. However, sunny can also be used in expressions like a sunny smile, the children’s sunny faces to mean happy; in these collocations sunny is used in a metaphorical way. Metaphors are more common in written than spoken English and often have the effect of sounding quite poetic.
Fire and heat
Words associated with fire and heat often suggest anger in English. A heated debate, a heated
discussion or a heated conversation is one in which people disagree in an angry way with each
other. If you say that someone has a fiery temper, you mean that they often get suddenly angry.
The word flare means show a bright light in the dark. If you say tempers flared, you mean that
people became angry with each other. Similarly violence flares up and troubles flare up. These all
mean that problems which existed in the past suddenly become serious again.
However, not all metaphors relating to fire suggest anger. If you feel very embarrassed, your cheeks
burn with embarrassment. A blaze is a very bright fire. We talk about a blaze of glory or a blaze of
publicity meaning there is a lot of it and it is spectacular.
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