Metalepsis
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Metalepsis is a figure of speech in which one thing is referenced by something else which is only remotely associated with it. Often the association works through a different figure of speech, or through a chain of cause and effect. Oftentimes metalepsis refers to the combination of several figures of speech into an altogether new one.
Examples
- "I've got to go catch the worm tomorrow morning."
- *"The early bird catches the worm" is a common maxim in English, advocating getting an early start on the day to achieve success. The subject, by referencing this maxim, is compared to the bird; tomorrow, the speaker will awaken early tomorrow in order to achieve success.
- "He's a lead foot."
- *Lead is heavy; a lead foot would be heavy; the weight of a lead foot would push down on the automobile accelerator; hence, he drives quickly. The meaning comes from transferring heaviness from lead to feet and by understanding that the context of the comment is how "he" drives.
See also
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