METAPHOR AND PHRASAL VERBS
BLOOMSBURY
PHRASV
Macmillan Phrasal Verbs
PKJ
PHRASV7002
UKLS
Page
Language Study
LS 5
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METAPHOR AND PHRASAL VERBS
The meanings of phrasal verbs are often
dig, shoot, or break) and a particle (an
difficult to remember, because they
adverb like down or up, or a
seem to have no connection with the
preposition like into). When the verb
words that they consist of (the verb and
part of a phrasal verb is used in a
the particle). In fact many phrasal verbs
metaphorical way, this is usually quite
are metaphorical, and if you
obvious. But the particles may be used
understand the metaphors they use, it
metaphorically too. This is less easy to
will be easier to understand and
recognize, but in fact there is often a
remember their meanings. These pages
clear connection between the literal
look at ways in which different phrasal
meanings of the particle and its
verbs share similar metaphors.
metaphorical uses. The sections below
explain some of these connections.
What is a metaphor?
In English, like many other languages,
the basic, literal meanings of adverbs
Look at these pairs of sentences: the
and prepositions refer to direction,
phrasal verbs are shown in bold type.
position in space, distance, or extent.
● The dog dug up an old bone. o We
● up literally describes movement
dug up some interesting facts.
towards a higher position
● Two planes were shot down. o Each
● down literally describes movement
proposal was shot down.
towards a lower position
● Burglars had broken into their
● ahead literally describes a position
house while they were away. o She broke
in front of you (the house is directly
into his conversation.
ahead).
In each pair, the first phrasal verb has
The metaphorical uses of these particles
a literal meaning and refers to a
develop from these literal ones:
physical action, while the second is
metaphorical and describes an action
● up has metaphorical meanings to do
that is similar in some way to the first.
with increases in size, number, or
For example, when someone digs up
strength (prices went up)
information, they discover it, and the
● down has metaphorical meanings to
process seems similar to the way in
do with decreases in size, number, or
which dogs find bones that have been
strength (the children quietened down)
buried in the ground.
Some phrasal verbs only have
● ahead metaphorically describes a
metaphorical meanings. For example,
point in the future (many problems lies
to breeze in means to enter a place
ahead of us).
confidently, without seeming to care
This dictionary has special pages on
what other people think: perhaps the
common particles (see Contents on
attitude and action reminds us of the
page iii) that explain the meanings they
movement of a breeze (= a light wind).
have in phrasal verbs, including their
Similarly, to rope someone in means to
metaphorical meanings.
persuade someone to do something that
they do not really want to do: perhaps
Conceptual metaphors
it reminds us of the way in which people
use ropes to catch animals or to collect
Very often, the same metaphorical idea
them together.
occurs in many different words and
phrases, not just in phrasal verbs. For
example, the idea of moving upwards
Adverbs, prepositions, and
or of being in a high position is found
metaphor
in many words that metaphorically
describe increases in quantity (go up,
A phrasal verb consists of a verb (like
rise, climb, soar, peak etc), and
Butler and Tanner Ltd
02-18-2005 14:11:13
