Definition of dead metaphor
: a word or phrase (such as time is running out) that has lost its metaphoric force through common usage
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
‘Metaphor’ vs. ‘Simile’
‘Metaphor’ vs. ‘Simile’
Shall we compare thee to a summer’s day? Yes, two different ways!
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“Dead metaphor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20metaphor. Accessed 3 Jul. 2022.
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Time Traveler for dead metaphor
The first known use of dead metaphor was in 1922
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