|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 247
enthusiast
|
OP
enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 247 |
the boiling water in my kettle gushing ... and slowly but surely, evaporating and disappearing into the mist.
As WW says, there is a missing link in the original metaphor between 'evaporation' and 'mist.
"evaporating and disappearing" into mist nicely fills the void.
Thank you, maahey, for supplying the missing link.
BTW, is "evaporation into mist" any worse than "clouded in a sea" ... as in the following example of a mixed metaphor (from UVic Writer's Guide).
MIXED METAPHOR
A mixed metaphor attempts to create an extended comparison but fails because it is not consistent with itself. For example, in an essay on the language used in describing pain relief medicine, a student wrote:
"The topic of pain relievers seems clouded in a sea of medical terminology."
The metaphor is mixed because the images of cloud and sea do not match. The student should have said either "drowned in a sea of medical terminology" or "clouded in a fog of medical terminology."
Metaphor can be effective, but do not put too much weight on your own ingenuity; it might collapse under the strain.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
yah, I'm a dope. I'm all missed up about this one. foggy. foggy. do.
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
do not put too much weight on your own ingenuity
Arright, Mr. Mixed Metaphor. Name the right fielder.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555
addict
|
|
addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555 |
imagine a group of ayleurs standing around watching that steaming kettle and discussing the metaphorical applications of the event.
A most enticing proposition, WW! 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Great to see you again in one of your many guises, wordminstrel -- and a big "thank-you" for not only teaching us semi-literates and/or fastidious grammarians what's what, but also for the reminder of one of my favorites: "Or to take arms against a sea of troubles..."--Hamlet, Act III, Scene I
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 247
enthusiast
|
|
OP
enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 247 |
a big "thank-you" for not only teaching us semi-literates and/or fastidious grammarians
I questioned the usage, dear ASp, not the author of the usage ... unless someone takes umbrage with the description "fastidious grammarian".
Personally, I think all grammarians should be "fastidious", or what's the point of being a grammarian?
I would certainly not describe you as "semi-literate", ASp, nor Faldage as "semi-grammatical".
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
In reply to:
the reminder of one of my favorites:
"Or to take arms against a sea of troubles..."
But it's hard to beat Sir Boyle Roche:
Mr Speaker, I smell a rat; I see him forming in the air and darkening the sky; but I'll nip him in the bud.
Bingley
Bingley
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
nor Faldage as "semi-grammatical"
Bestn't be callin' *me no semi-grammatical. I gots me more grammar in my left little finger than any bowlin-team's worth of prescripters gots in they whole body.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Sir Boyle Roche
Who is or was he, please?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
Invented "herb" tea, using the fag-ends of marijuana cigarettes.
TEd
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
691
guests, and
0
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
