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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1 |
Downhill is an interesting metaphor. It can be positive or negative depending on its use. “We’ve reached the crest of the pass, boys, it’s all downhill from here.” Since the accident, she’s wasting away. I’m afraid it’s all downhill from here.” I can use a quote or phrase that refers to this phenomenon. Any thoughts?
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
I've heard it used both ways, to mean things are going to keep on getting better, and
also just the opposite, meaning things are going to keep on getting worse.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
The phrases from here on up it's all downhill and from here on down it's all uphill were used upon occasion in Pogo.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
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Joined: Aug 2000
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
I guess it's quite hard to hit something that oscillates vertically ...
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Looks like no one has an answer yet to your question, Trusty, but don't give up.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555 |
"We've reached the crest of the pass, boys, its all downhill from here"
Rusty, the usage of the word downhill in that particular sentence seems pretty literal, not figurative. The speaker is describing the downhill nature of the slope, (or the down slope of the hill!) more like an adverb. Doesnt sound like a metaphor, does it?
Still thinking abt the phenomenon though!
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
If there isn't a name for it, there should be - my reading is as serendipitous as my typos: for instance, builders vans that advertise the firm as shopfitters I invariably read as "shoplifters." 
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,819 |
I would say that the phrase is ambiguous if taken out of context, since each expression (either downhill or uphill) can have one of two opposite meanings.
How about the phenomenon when a single phenomenon can be described using one of two phrases that semantically sound like opposites? For example, burn up and burn down.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
I've got the T shirt:
Over What Hill?
Where?
When?
I Don't Remember Any Hill!
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