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.
Light and dark
Light in English is associated with happiness. So a face shines with pleasure and eyes shine with
excitement or delight. If someone’s face lights up or their eyes light up, they show that they
suddenly feel happy. If an atmosphere lightens or a mood lightens, it becomes more relaxed or
cheerful than it was.
Darkness is associated with unhappiness and negative feelings. Dark thoughts are gloomy or
sinister ones and dark days or dark times are unpleasant times to live through. If someone’s face
darkens or their eyes darken or someone’s expression darkens, then we know that that person is
unhappy, often because they are feeling angry.
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