Bùi Việt Minh Tâm

2019607444
1. When he gets going, Jack is a streak of lightning. Jack is a streak of lightning is a metaphor
which means Jack is very fast.
2. I found the fifty-two pounds of books you left for me to carry. Your kindness really moved
me. Your kindness really moved me is an expression of irony which means you were not kind to
me at all
. 3. The man is a demon for work. 183 The man is a demon for work is a metaphor which means
the man is an energetic person who works very hard.
4. When you take that course, plan to study thirty hours a day. Study thirty hours a day is an
overstatement/a hyperbole which means study for a long time every day.
5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night. The wind is [−animate] and/or [−human]
while howled angrily is [+animate] and/or [+human]. Therefore, howled angrily is an expression
of personification which means blew strongly.
6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once. The White House, which is
[+sign], is a metonymy meaning the US President, which is [+person].
7. My dormitory room is like a cave. My dormitory room is like a cave is a simile which means
my dormitory room is small and uncomfortable. In this case, my dormitory room is explicitly
compared to a cave.
8. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in. A cave is a metaphor which means a
small and uncomfortable room. In this case, my dormitory room is implicitly compared to a cave.
9. Dick was fairly pleased when he won the brand-new car in the contest. Fairly pleased is an
ironical understatement which means very pleased.
10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall. The City Hall, which is
[+sign], is a metonymy meaning the city’s Mayor, which is [+person].
11. Man does not live by bread alone. 184 Bread, which is [+part], is a synecdoche which means
necessaries or things needed for living, which is [+whole].
12. We now live under the same roof. Roof is [+part] while house is [+whole]. Therefore, live
under the same roof is a synecdoche which means live in the same house.
13. Albert was as sharp as a tack this morning. He answered every question as soon as it was
asked. Albert was as sharp as a tack is a simile which means Albert was quick-minded.
14. The river ate the bank away. The river is [−animate] and/or [−human] while ate away is
[+animate] and/or [+human]. Therefore, ate the bank away is an expression of personification
which means eroded the bank or gradually destroyed the bank.
15. Keep overeating like that and pretty soon you’ll weigh a thousand pounds. Weigh a thousand
pounds is an overstatement/a hyperbole which means be too heavy or get too fat.
16. After she heard the good news, she grinned like a mule eating briars. Grinned like a mule
eating briars is a simile which means smiled broadly.
17. The captain was in charge of one hundred horses. Horses, which is [+instrument], is a
metonymy which means cavalries or soldiers fighting on horseback, which is [+agent].
18. Joe cried a little when he lost the thousand dollars. Cried a little is an ironical understatement
which means cried a lot.
19. You can depend on Gina; she is a rock when trouble comes. 185 She is a rock is a metaphor
which means she is strong-minded or she has strong nerves.
20. Life is a dream. There may be two possible ways to interpret this sentence: Life is a dream is
a metaphor which means life is short or life passes quickly. Life is a dream is a metaphor which
means life is as beautiful as a dream.
21. He’s so hardheaded that he won’t listen to anyone. Hardheaded is an idiom/a dead metaphor
which means obstinate or stubborn.
22. Research says that these methods are best. There may be two possible ways to interpret this
sentence: • The first way: Research is [−animate] and/or [−human] while says is [+animate]
and/or [+human]. Therefore, the whole sentence is an expression of personification which means
researchers say that these methods are best. • The second way: Research, which is [+controlled],
stands for/substitutes for researchers, which is [+controller]. This is a metonymy. The whole
sentence means researchers say that these methods are best.
23. Right at this minute, I could drink a barrel of water without stopping. A barrel of water is an
overstatement/a hyperbole which means a lot of water.
24. It is amazing what a great mind he is. A great mind, which is [+part], stands for/substitutes
for an erudite scholar, which is [+whole]. This is a synecdoche. The whole sentence means I am
amazed by his intellectual power.
25. Alice came in gently, like a May breeze. Alice is like a May breeze is a simile which means
Alice is as young, fresh, sweet and warm as a breeze signaling the beginning of a summer.
26. Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress. Susie is a picture of loveliness is a metaphor
which means Susie is very lovely.
27. A thousand thanks are for your kindness. A thousand thanks are for your kindness is an
overstatement/a hyperbole which means thank you very much for your kindness.
28. I walked past the big sad mouth which didn’t know what to say then. Mouth, which is
[+part], stands for person, which is [+whole]. This is a synecdoche. The whole sentence means I
passed by the talkative person who was then too upset to give an immediate response.
29. We are tired to death of such movies. Tired to death is an overstatement/a hyperbole which
means extremely bored with.
30. Give every man thine ears, bid a few thy voice. This sentence consists of two metonymies:
give every man thine 4 ears which means listen to everyone, and bid a few thy voice which
means talk to only a few people. The whole sentence means you should listen to everyone but
talk to only a few people.
31. There was a storm in Parliament last night. Respectively, thine and thy occur before a noun
beginning with a vowel and a consonant. 187 A storm is a metaphor which means a heated
argument, a bitter disagreement or a terrible conflict.
32. I’m afraid he has misrepresented the facts. He has misrepresented the facts is a euphemism
which means he has lied or he has told lies.
33. He worked and worked until he breathed his last. Breathed his last is a euphemism which
means died.
34. We’ll just have to go our separate ways. Go our separate ways is a metaphor which implies
that life is a journey.
35. They were vital, unforgettable matches that gave us a new window on the game. A new
window on the game is a metaphor meaning a new understanding of the game.
36. I’ve told you a thousand times not to touch that again. A thousand times is an
overstatement/a hyperbole which means more than one time.
37. He is as mute as a fish. He is as mute as a fish is a simile which means he rarely speaks or he
is quiet. 38. We stopped to drink in the beautiful scenery. Drink in is a metaphor which means
enjoy or admire. In other words, the beautiful scenery is implicitly compared to a delicious drink.
39. His words can be trusted. His words stands for/substitutes for that person himself. This is a
metonymy. The whole sentence means you can trust him.
40. The police team has cemented close ties with the hospital staff. - Cemented literally means
joined (the police team and the hospital staff) together as with cement. - Cemented in this context
is a metaphor which means firmly established or strengthened. The whole sentence means close
connections have been established between the police team and the hospital staff.
41. The boss gave her a hot look. A hot look is a metaphor which means an angry look. The
whole sentence means the boss looked at her angrily.
42. He could not bridle his anger. - Bridle literally means put on a horse part of a harness,
including the metal bit for the mouth, the straps and the reins. - Bridle in this context is a
metaphor which means control or restrain. The whole sentence means he failed to control his
anger.
43. He attacked every weak point in my argument. - Attacked literally means made a violent
attempt to defeat (somebody). - Attacked is a metaphor which means criticized (somebody)
severely. - Attacked every weak point in my argument is another metaphor which implies that
argument is war. The whole sentence means he severely criticized every weak point in my
argument. 189
44. In 1940, after the fall of France, England had no defense left but her ancient valor. The fall of
France is a metaphor which means the failure of France. England is compared to a woman who
had no defense left but her former bravery in war. This is an expression of personification. The
whole sentence means after the failure of France in 1940, England could not defend herself
against her war enemy/enemies. 45. The fire snaps (6) and crackles(7) like a whip(8) ; its
sharp(9) acrid(10) smoke stings(11) the eyes. It is the fire that drives(12) a thorn(13) of memory
in my heart.
- In the fire crackles like a whip, the sound of fire is explicitly compared to that of a whip. This
is a simile. - Smoke and fire are each given a human act: sting the eyes and drives a thorn in the
heart. These are two expressions of personification. 6 Snaps = makes sudden sharp sounds 7
Crackles = makes small cracking sounds as when dry sticks burn 8 A whip = a length of cord or
a strip of leather fastened to a handle, used especially for urging on an animal (especially a
horse) 9 Sharp (adj., usually attributive, of sounds) = shrill, piercing: a sharp cry of distress, the
sharp raucous cawing of a crow 10 Acrid (adj) = having a strong bitter smell or taste: acrid fumes
from burning rubber 11 A sting = a sharp pointed organ of some insects, e.g. bees, wasps, etc.,
used for wounding or injecting poison Stings = pricks or wounds (somebody) with or as if with a
sting; causes (somebody) to feel sharp pain: A bee stung me on the cheek. 12 Drives = forces
(something) to go in a specified direction or into a specified position: drive a nail into wood 13 A
thorn = a sharp pointed growth on the stem of a plant: The thorns on the roses scratch her hands
190 - A thorn of memory is a metaphor which means some unpleasant thing, event, situation, etc.
that one can hardly forget. The whole sentence means the fire, with its sharp acrid smoke and
small crackling sounds, reminds me of some unpleasant thing that I can hardly forget.
46. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises. Keep the brake on pay rises is a
metaphor which means control pay rises. The whole sentence means the organization is
controlling the increase in the amounts/sums of money paid for its current activities.
47. Her father is a captain of industry. This sentence consists of an idiom/a dead metaphor — a
captain of industry, which means one who manages a large industrial company.
48. I am the captain of my soul. This sentence consists of two metonymies: (1) The captain,
which is [+specific] 14, stands for the leader, which is [+generic]. (2) My soul, which is [+more
abstract], stands for my life, which is [+less abstract]. The whole sentence means I can decide
my own life or I can control myself.
49. To fall out of a tree in one’s early childhood is not a particularly reassuring experience. To
fall out of a tree is a metaphor which means to be exposed to real life. 2 (a) officer in the British
Army between the ranks of lieutenant and major; (b) officer in the British Navy between the
ranks of commander and admiral. 3 person given authority over a group or team: He was (the)
captain of the football team for five years..
50. No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent. This sentence
consists of two metonymies: (1) An island, which is [+concrete], stands for isolation, which is
[+abstract]; (2) The continent, which is [+concrete], stands for community, which is [+abstract].
The whole sentence means no one can isolate himself from the community he has been living in