What Does Metaphorically Speaking Mean And When Can I Use It?

Metaphorically speaking means that someone is talking of a certain situation or describing something in a way that is not physically possible. For example, "neck of the woods" or "it's raining cats and dogs". It is a descriptive way of speaking of a situation that cannot be taken as a literal statement.

• When can you use metaphors?

You can use a metaphor in practically any situation when you are speaking to someone or describing something to another person. Make sure that when you use a metaphor you use it in the correct situation. For example, when I mentioned the metaphor "it's raining cats and dogs", you wouldn't use this metaphor if it was a bright sunny day outside. However, keep in mind that you can use a metaphor in practically any type of situation and you will probably notice that you say them without even realizing at times. It is very easy to assign a metaphor to something that you are describing, you just have to make sure you say it in the right context.

• How to use metaphors correctly?

It is important that you should refrain from using the words "as" or "like" because then the metaphor will turn into a simile which is a completely different phrase. You need to keep in mind that a metaphor is spoken as a statement that cannot possibly be true. That is why the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" is not "it's raining like cats and dogs." Also, it is best not to use them too many times in one conversation because you may end up confusing yourself. If you are not aware of what many of the common metaphors are then you can find many of them online by simply searching metaphors in an appropriate engine like Google.