Misused Words.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 941, 11 December 1933, Page 6

Misused Words.

“ QBVIOUS ERRORS ” writes:—Will “ Touchstone ” favour me, if it is possible, with an estimation of the height a “ mountain of horse-flesh ” would be, as I listened-in to that way of describing a large field of horses standing at the startingbarrier at Brighton on Saturday? The term is clumsy metaphor. It is to be judged on its descriptive value, which seems to be misleading. Strangely enough, there is more metaphor in use than most persons imagine. To deliver a speech, carry out a policy, recast our fiscal policy, uphold the honour of the profession, dwell on the point or throw new light on the situation are all metaphor, because the word means the transference of the relation between one set of objects to another set for the purpose of brief explanation. It is the mixed metaphor that raises a laugh nowadays, like that political speech, “ I smell a rat, I see him hovering in the air before me; but. mark my words, I will nip him in the bud.” For beautiful metaphor nothing could surpass those lines:— This royal throne of kings, this sceptred This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, Tins other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Xatu-re for herself -A pa ins t infection and the hand of war. This happy breed of men, this little world. This precious stone set in the silver sea Which serves it in the office of a wall Or as a moat defensive to a house. Against the envy of less happier lands. This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England. TOUCHSTONE.