metaphor
Loading your saved state.
metaphor
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is transferred from its usual context of meaning to another in order to create a vivid image. It is a comparison without the word 'like' or 'as'.
Der Ausdruck „eine Mauer des Schweigens“ ist eine Metapher für die Weigerung zu kommunizieren.
The expression 'a wall of silence' is a metaphor for the refusal to communicate.
To explain a metaphor, people often use the structure 'X ist eine Metapher für Y' (X is a metaphor for Y). Here, X is the figurative expression and Y is the actual meaning.
Der „Herbst des Lebens“ ist eine bekannte Metapher für das Alter.
The 'autumn of life' is a well-known metaphor for old age.
The related adjective is 'metaphorisch' (metaphorical). You can use it to describe that something is meant in a transferred, figurative sense.
Seine Aussage war nicht wörtlich, sondern metaphorisch gemeint.
His statement was not meant literally, but metaphorically.
Metaphors are often described with adjectives such as 'treffend' (apt), 'kühn' (bold), 'originell' (original), or 'passend' (fitting) in order to evaluate their quality.
Für seine komplizierte Theorie fand er eine sehr treffende Metapher.
He found a very apt metaphor for his complicated theory.
picture / image
'das Bild' and 'die Metapher' can both make something vivid in language. In this context, 'Bild' means a linguistic image, that is, a figurative expression. 'Metapher' is more precise: it transfers a word into another area, for example when you say that someone has a 'Herz aus Stein' (heart of stone). Learners may confuse the words because metaphors are often also called 'Bilder' (images). 'Bild' sounds more general and more everyday, while 'Metapher' is more appropriate when talking about language, texts, or lessons.
Im Deutschkurs erklärt Mara die Metapher „ein Meer von Problemen“.
In German class, Mara explains the metaphor 'a sea of problems'.
Die Lehrerin benutzt ein einfaches Bild, damit die Klasse die Idee besser versteht.
The teacher uses a simple image so that the class understands the idea better.