A dead metaphor is a metaphor that through overuse has lost figurative value. Examples of dead metaphors include

• "understanding."
• "mantel ."
• "grasp an idea".
• "running out of time ".
• "foot of a hill ."
• "eye of a needle ."
• "tying up loose ends ."
• "submarine sandwich."
• "branch of government."

External links

• Metaphor and Meaning, an article by William Grey, a Reader in Philosophy at the University of Queensland

References

• Page 237 of Master the AP English Language & Composition Test, a book by Laurie Rozakis