SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

dead metaphor

noun

Definition of dead metaphor

: a word or phrase (such as time is running out) that has lost its metaphoric force through common usage

First Known Use of dead metaphor

1922

Seen and Heard

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WORD OF THE DAY

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One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

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