Types Of Metaphor

Dead metaphor Description
A dead metaphor occurs where the once-evocative transferred image is no longer effective or even understood, perhaps being lost in the aeons of time.
Example
Fabulous was something worthy of fable. Like many other superlatives, it has lost its original edge and now just means 'good'.
Money was so called because it was first minted at the temple Juno Moneta.
The origin of 'the whole nine yards' seems unknown, even to an expert word website.
Discussion
Dead metaphors are dead in the sense that they no longer act as metaphors -- they just become plain words, with a simple functional meaning. In a sense, this is how language develops. Somebody tries to explain something by making up a word that conjures up an image, and eventually the word becomes a standard in the language, with it's original image being lost or evolved.
In the 'dumbing down' of language, the rich meaning of many words becomes lost, and thus many metaphors lose their meaning. To understand the metaphoric quality of many words requires that their origins are studied.

Active metaphor Description
An active metaphor is one which is relatively new and hence is not necessarily apparent to all listeners, although if the metaphor is well-selected, it will be easy enough to understand.
To ensure the active metaphor is understood, further contextual information may be used to hint at its meaning.
Example
Let me compare thee to an artic day, sharp and bright, forever light...
It's been a purple dinosaur of a day.
You're looking pretty rabbit -- what's up?
'Metrosexual' is a modern word for an urban heterosexual male who is overly concerned with appearance.
Discussion
Active metaphors are often used in poetry and eloquent speech to stimulate the reader or listener. When words do not fit your known patterns of meaning, you are forced to think harder about them, their use and what is intended by the author.
Their use is a sign of a fertile imagination, and this attribute of the originator may well be recognized by the audience. This makes active metaphors a particularly useful method of impressing other people. Done badly, however, active metaphors can be a sign of arrogance or someone who thinks they are more intelligent than perhaps they actually are.
The active metaphor is also known as a live metaphor.

Absolute metaphor
Description
An absolute metaphor is one where there is absolutely no connection between the subject and the metaphor.
Example
I am the dog end of every day.
That is worth less than a dead digeridoo.
We faced a scallywag of tasks.
Discussion
In a non-absolute metaphor, the basic idea and the metaphor have some resemblance, for example using 'box' as a metaphor for 'house' or 'tube' for 'train'.
A value of an absolute metaphor is in the way that it can confuse and hence make people think hard about the meaning of something. We seek always to find some meaning and hence some learning may arise.
Absolute metaphors are also useful when you are at a loss for words. They can thus communicate frustration, confusion and uncertainty.
The absolute metaphor is also known as a paralogical metaphor or antimetaphor.

Complex metaphor
Description
A complex metaphor happens where a simple metaphor is base on a secondary metaphoric element.
For example using a metaphor of 'light' for 'understanding' may be complexified by saying 'throwing light' rather than 'shining light'. 'Throwing' is thus an additional metaphor for how light arrives.
Example
That lends weight to the argument.
They stood alone, frozen statues on the plain.
The ball happily danced into the net.
Discussion
A metaphor makes people think more than ordinary words. Complexifying the metaphor with additional layers makes them think more and may make them more impressed with your linguistic abilities.
The trick is to keep them with you, as over-complexification can just lead to confusion (although sometimes this may be what you are intending to do).

Compound metaphor
Description
A compound metaphor is one where there are multiple elements in the metaphor that are used to snag the listener. These elements may be enhancement words such as adverbs, adjectives, etc.
Each element in the compound metaphor may be used to signify an additional item of meaning.
Example
She danced, a wild and gothic fairy.
Thick, primal, blind fog descended before his eyes.
The car screeched in hated anguish, its flesh laid bare in the raucous collision.
Discussion
Compound metaphors are like a multiple punch, hitting the listener repeatedly with metaphoric elements.
Whereas the complex metaphor uses stacked layers to enhance the metaphor, the compound metaphor uses sequential words.
The compound metaphor is also known as a loose metaphor.

Dormant metaphor
Description
A dormant metaphor is one where the connection between the vehicle and the subject is not clear.
Example
I was lost in thought. [How?]
She flew at him. [Why? In anger? Love?]
He was rattled. [Why? By what or whom?]
Discussion
A dormant metaphor may be formed when a sentence is incomplete in some way or shortened.
The value of a dormant metaphor may well be weak, as the insufficient connection loses the power that the metaphor can bring.

Dying metaphor
Description
A dying metaphor is one which has become so over-used, it is considered unfashionable or lacking in eloquence to use it. In effect, it is a cliché.
Example
New era business is a whole different ball game.
The President has his hand firmly on the tiller of government and it is now plain sailing.
Thanks -- that's just the ticket, old chap. I'm over the moon about it.
Discussion
Familiarity breeds contempt and the stimulating novelty of a metaphor will eventually wear off when it becomes used so often than it no longer adds variety and stimulation to language.
Clichés do, however, survive for a surprisingly long time as they pass down the pecking order of erudition. Where once a term might be used in high literature, it may at some point no longer be used in such context but transition in term down to tabloid newspapers and common speech.
The term was originally used by George Orwell in his essay Politics and the English Language.

Extended metaphor
Description
An extended metaphor is one where there is a single main subject to which additional subjects and metaphors are applied.
The extended metaphor may act as a central theme, for example where it is used as the primary vehicle of a poem and is used repeatedly and in different forms.
Example
He is the pointing gun, we are the bullets of his desire.
All the world's a stage and men and women merely players.
Let me count my loves of thee, my rose garden, my heart, my fixed mark, my beginning and my end.
Discussion
The power of an extended metaphor is in the hammer blows that it applies, demonstrating the passion and commitment of the author.
Done well, an extended metaphor drives the point home. Done badly, it either confuses people, for example through conflicting vehicles, or annoys them, for example through excessive elaboration or too many metaphors for a single subject.
An extended metaphor is sometimes called a 'conceit', for example where the metaphoric theme of a poem is called its conceit, perhaps signifying the arrogance of the poet in assuming command of the language to the point of redefinition of terms that may be beyond many readers.

Implicit metaphor
Description
In an implicit metaphor, the full subject is not explained, but is implied from the context of the sentence.
Example
Roasting today!
She had the screaming.
We were drinking the white.
Discussion
When a subject is sufficiently well-known, then we do not have to explain it in detail. Most of our communications are like this, with much being left out but the intended meaning still being communicated.
Whilst metaphors are one stage removed from concrete description, if the metaphor is sufficiently well-known then a contraction may applied here too, leaving the reader to fill in the missing detail. When the metaphor is less well understood, then implicit metaphors may still be found within colloquial contexts.

Mixed metaphor
Description
A mixed metaphor is one where the metaphor is internally inconsistent, for example where multiple metaphors are used which do not align with one another.
The metaphors used often have some connection, although this is often tenuous or inappropriate.
Example
He's a loose cannon who always goes off the deep end.
Footloose and fancy-pants.
He often shot his mouth off in the dark.
A rolling stone gathers no bird in the hand.
It was playing with fire in the belly.
Discussion
Mixed metaphors are typically a result of trying to be too elaborate in speech and perhaps careless in the selection of metaphor.
The result can be quite comic. This gives opportunity to use humor for deliberate effect.

Pataphor
Description
The pataphor is an extreme form of metaphor, taking the principle to its limit, where the basic metaphor is typically not mentioned but extensions to it are used without reference.
Example
Panting hard, he hand-braked the corner, power-sliding into the doorway. [running as driving]
Noisy twinkling in the night, the shares blew hypnotic shards of brilliance down on the hopeful investors. [Share price movement as a sky-rocket firework]
Discussion
Metaphor is used to bring novelty, interest and elucidation to writing and speech. In the extreme form, pataphors may bring greater novelty and perhaps interest, though potentially at the price of clarity and broad understanding.
The pataphor was first described by author Pablo Lopez , based on Alfred Jarry's "science" of 'pataphysics'.

Root metaphor
Description
A root metaphor is one which is so embedded within a language or culture that it is often not realized as being a metaphor.
Another definition of a root metaphor is one from which other metaphors spring. Thus, for example, the metaphor of 'mountain' as a metaphor for a problem can provide the root for 'caves' as hidden areas, 'peak' for target, 'undergrowth' as obscuring noise, etc.
Example
Winning the argument. (argument as war)
Time is money.
Life as journey.
Discussion
Unrealized metaphors can be constraining in the thinking and action that it spawns. This can be hazardous, for example where the metaphor of 'argument as war' pushes us towards the idea that a good argument is one where the other person is beaten into submission through aggressive action. 'Time as money' makes us think about how we 'spend' time and how we should be 'economic' with it.
Root metaphors can be unique to individual cultures, nations, organizations or groups. For example one culture may have a root metaphor of life as a journey, whilst another may see it as opportunity.

Simple metaphor
Description
A simple metaphor has a single link between the subject and the metaphoric vehicle. The vehicle thus has a single meaning which is transferred directly to the subject.
Example
Cool down! [Cool = temperature]
He was mad. [mad = anger]
I'll chew on it. [chew = think]
Discussion
In the simple metaphor, the cognitive effort to understand what the author or speaker intends is relatively low, and hence it may easily be used with a wider and less sophisticated audience.
The simple metaphor may be contrasted against metaphors which have multiple elements and meanings, for example in thecompound metaphor or complex metaphor.
A simple metaphor is also known as a tight metaphor.

Submerged metaphor
Description
A Submerged metaphor is one in which the metaphoric vehicle is indicated by one part of it.
Typically, the element selected to be the metaphor has particular significance for the intended meaning.
Example
Her thoughts were on the wing. [wing > bird > flight]
He legged it. [Leg > human > run]
A photon struck him; bolts were for greater men. [photon > light > small idea; bolt > lightning > big ideas]
Discussion
Our memories work largely by association, such that when we are told about a small part of something, we automatically think of the larger whole. This allows the first step of understanding of this metaphor. We then have to take the second step of linking the metaphor to the subject. This is eased when the vehicle hints at the meaning intended.

Synechdochic metaphor
Description
The synechdochic metaphor is one where a small part or element of something is used to represent the whole.
Example
I like your wheels, man! [wheels = car]
Nice bit of skirt. [skirt = woman]
Try this nib. [nib = pen]
Discussion
Our memories work in associative ways, a factor that metaphors use to the full. Thus when you are told about an element of something, then by association you quickly also think about the whole thing, of which it a part. Synechdochic metaphors thus are simple metaphors that are easily accessible by many people.