Simile into metaphor: Her cheeks are red as blood

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi

Can you please change the given simile into metaphor?

1- Her cheeks are red as blood. (simile)

If I write:

1- Her cheeks are blood. (how is that?)

I know about some situations where they can be changed.

1- He is a lion. (He is strong as a lion.)
2- They are rats. (They are as cowardly as rats.)
3- She is a rose. (She is beautiful like a rose.)

Thanks in advance

Tom

2

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Some metaphors are happier than others. I don’t much care for this one.
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3

Thank you, Mr Micawber.

To understand it simply, could I say that some similes can not be turned into metaphors?

Please reply

Tom

4

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Well, I am not sure that it is impossible, Tom, but I think that it takes a poet to do it decently. I cannot offhand see how to change your cheeks/blood one. Perhaps another member is more talented at this.
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5

Hi Tom,

Her cheeks are blood red? It reminds me of a famous ballad :

and the opening lines are:

As this is an old Scottish ballad, you have to realise that blood is written and pronounced as blude, where becomes whare and skilful becomes skeely A skipper is a captain of a ship

Alan

6

Thank you Mr. Micawber and Sir Alan (for constantly bearing with me :smiley: )

Last question: Can the given sentence be called a metaphor?

“Her cheeks are blood red.”

Tom

7

Dear Amy

What do you think about my question? Would you discuss the burden of the topic a bit? I would love to know your opinions about the same.

Tom

8

Hi Tom

I agree with Mr. Micawber’s statements about your original question.

Some things just don’t work well as metaphors. But I think it’s also possible that, given exactly the right context, you can probably say things that would otherwise (out of context) just sound weird.

“Her cheeks are blood red”[/i] isn’t a metaphor in my opinion, it’s simply a description of the color or her cheeks.

Amy

9

Hi Amy,

Surely the simile her cheeks are as red as blood becomes metaphorical when you say her cheeks are blood red? Or am I out of order?

Alan

10

Hi Alan

Let me ask you a question. What do you consider the difference between metaphor and metaphoric to be (other than the obvious noun/adjective difference)? And aren’t similes a little different from metaphors?

Tom’s question was whether Her cheeks are blood red is a metaphor or not. And I just couldn’t see the answer to that question as yes. Particularly in light of the other examples he gave.

But, then again, maybe I’m out of order. :lol:

Tom’s sentence could also have been reworded as Her cheeks are the same color as blood. In my book, that’s not a metaphor. Is that a simile? I guess so. 8)

Amy

11

As for me,I don’t see any metaphorical sense here.It may be considered rather a simile than a metaphor.By the way,it occurred to me that it would be better to create a columh dealing with stylistics and stylistic analysis :smiley: What’s your opinion?I think it would be very useful!

12

Hi,

Without wishing to flog a dead horse (now there’s a metaphor) to me a metaphor is a non-literal use of a word and that’s how I see this wrteched woman and her cheeks. It’s like the old king drinking his blude-red wine.

Alan

13

Hi Alan

Now there’s something I agree with. :smiley:

Also not wishing to flog a dead horse, but nonetheless not being able to resist, here’s something I found (from The Black Adder):
“This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you’ve got a moment, it’s a twelve-story crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour porterage and an enormous sign on the roof saying 'This Is a Large Crisis.'”

Now, is that a metaphor or a simile? :lol:

Amy

14

Hi Amy,

Now that’s a metaphor to die for! Just think of the learning opportunities the whole of Blackadder would provide. Now I have a plan. A cunning plan …

Alan

15

Hi Amy and Alan

So “I could not see the wood for trees.”

Tom