7 Meaning and metaphor

A

B

C

D Multiple meanings

Many phrasal verbs have more than one meaning. Oft en, the basic meaning relates to some physical action, while other meanings are metaphorical (i.e. they are figurative, not literal). For example, the meanings in the grey boxes below are literal and the others are figurative.

phrasal verb definition of phrasal verb example

run over

brush

sth/sb off hit sth/sb with a moving vehicle and injure or kill them I ran over a rabbit as I was driving home. It really upset me.

go on aft er its expected time The meeting ran over so I missed my train.

read quickly to make sure something is correct

Could we just run over the schedule again to make sure it’s all going to work? use a brush (or hand) to remove something I brushed off the dust from my shoes. refuse to listen to what someone says, or refuse to think about something seriously The boss just brushed him off and told him to get back to work.

Examples of metaphors based on quick or violent actions

The price of petrol has shot up this year. [gone up rapidly and sharply] I don’t want to just dive into a new job without carefully considering it. [start doing something suddenly and energetically without thinking about it] The leader of the opposition party has hit out at the government’s new proposals on tax. [strongly criticised, typical of journalism] My success in the exam spurred me on to study even harder. [spurs are worn on the ankle and are used to make a horse go faster; here the meaning is ‘encouraged me’]

Metaphors and context

The context will usually tell you that a verb is being used in a metaphorical way. Look at these extracts from the advice column of a magazine which use phrasal verbs metaphorically rather than literally.

Don’t just stand by and let others have all the fun. It’s time to strike out on your own and do something completely different. Sweep aside all your inhibitions and start living life to the full. It all boils down to whether you are prepared to take control of life or let life control you. You must fi nd the strength to drag yourself away from your domestic responsibilities for a short while and stop feeling sandwiched between your family and your career. Doing everything singlehanded is eating into all your free time and you need time to think. You can’t be expected to soldier on on your own any longer.

More examples of phrasal verbs used metaphorically

She searched in her bag and fished out an old photograph. We wandered round the old market, just drinking in the atmosphere. He spends hours glued to his computer every evening. We found this vase when we were just nosing around in an antique shop. People were flooding into the stadium two hours before the concert.

7.1

7.2

7.3

7.4

dictionary.cambridge.org Look at A and B opposite. Read the email and then answer the questions below using your own words rather than the phrasal verbs in the email.

Reply Forward

Hi Bella Sorry to miss you this morning – the budget meeting ran over and I just couldn’t leave. We had to try to fi nd some ways to cope with the way that our transport costs have shot up over the last few months. Luke was fi nding fault with all my ideas and I had to stay and try to defend them as best I could. He always takes any opportunity to hit out at me – I don’t know why. Anyway, could we meet later today to run over the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting? My problems today have spurred me on to succeed tomorrow. We mustn’t just dive into our proposal without preparing the ground carefully. It’d be a disaster if the boss just brushed us off after all that work! Rory

1 When did the budget meeting end? 2 What has happened to transport costs recently? 3 How does Luke usually behave towards Rory? 4 What does Rory want to do with Bella this aft ernoon regarding tomorrow’s agenda? 5 Has today’s meeting made Rory more or less determined about tomorrow’s meeting? 6 What does Rory not want to do with their proposal at tomorrow’s meeting? 7 What is he afraid that the boss might do to them?

Rewrite the underlined parts of these sentences using a phrasal verb from C or D opposite.

1 It’s not good for children to spend too much time just watching a screen. 2 Choosing a university course is a matter of deciding what you want to do with your life. 3 I arrived at the stadium early and watched the other spectators entering in large numbers. 4 Laura reluctantly left the window and returned to her desk. 5 Sam was staring at Megan, listening intently to every word she said. 6 George dismissed all objections to his plan, saying they were unimportant.

Complete these sentences with a phrasal verb from the opposite page.

1 It is terrible how the world just and lets such terrible things happen! 2 Despite all his diff iculties, Douglas does his best to bravely . 3 William reached into his pocket and his passport. 4 When I go to a new town I love the back streets. 5 You mustn’t let your social life your study time. 6 The politician simply the allegations being made against him. 7 When he was 30 Mario left his uncle’s business and on his own. 8 Our little house is a bank and a supermarket.

Here are some more phrasal verbs which can be used metaphorically. How are their literal and metaphorical meanings connected? Use a dictionary if necessary.

1 I’ve left you some soup which you can warm up when you get home. A fantastic singer warmed up the audience before the main programme started. 2 The boy wasn’t looking where he was going and fell into a hole in the ground. Alexander fell into his first job as soon as he had left university. 3 The cat got up the tree but didn’t seem able to climb down. Molly always wants to win an argument – you’ll never get her to climb down.