What is the difference between “metaphorically speaking” and “so to speak”?
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Is there any difference between the following two sentences?
- "He is a parrot, so to speak."
- "He is a parrot, metaphorically speaking."
phrase-usage
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Is there any difference between the following two sentences?
- "He is a parrot, so to speak."
- "He is a parrot, metaphorically speaking."
phrase-usage
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
They are similar, but 'so to speak' is very general. He locked the door in my face, so to speak (when he actually slammed it without locking it). Would you say he locked it metaphorically?
– Yosef Baskin
May 19 '17 at 14:03
Sure. Meta-metaphor (which is what this is, unfortunately) is spontaneous, rare, and of no lasting importance -- it just points at the metaphor, which is the important thing.
– John Lawler
May 19 '17 at 15:54
add a comment |
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up vote
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down vote
favorite
Is there any difference between the following two sentences?
- "He is a parrot, so to speak."
- "He is a parrot, metaphorically speaking."
phrase-usage
Is there any difference between the following two sentences?
- "He is a parrot, so to speak."
- "He is a parrot, metaphorically speaking."
phrase-usage
phrase-usage
asked May 19 '17 at 13:57
user20865
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 mins ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
They are similar, but 'so to speak' is very general. He locked the door in my face, so to speak (when he actually slammed it without locking it). Would you say he locked it metaphorically?
– Yosef Baskin
May 19 '17 at 14:03
Sure. Meta-metaphor (which is what this is, unfortunately) is spontaneous, rare, and of no lasting importance -- it just points at the metaphor, which is the important thing.
– John Lawler
May 19 '17 at 15:54
add a comment |
They are similar, but 'so to speak' is very general. He locked the door in my face, so to speak (when he actually slammed it without locking it). Would you say he locked it metaphorically?
– Yosef Baskin
May 19 '17 at 14:03
Sure. Meta-metaphor (which is what this is, unfortunately) is spontaneous, rare, and of no lasting importance -- it just points at the metaphor, which is the important thing.
– John Lawler
May 19 '17 at 15:54
They are similar, but 'so to speak' is very general. He locked the door in my face, so to speak (when he actually slammed it without locking it). Would you say he locked it metaphorically?
– Yosef Baskin
May 19 '17 at 14:03
They are similar, but 'so to speak' is very general. He locked the door in my face, so to speak (when he actually slammed it without locking it). Would you say he locked it metaphorically?
– Yosef Baskin
May 19 '17 at 14:03
Sure. Meta-metaphor (which is what this is, unfortunately) is spontaneous, rare, and of no lasting importance -- it just points at the metaphor, which is the important thing.
– John Lawler
May 19 '17 at 15:54
Sure. Meta-metaphor (which is what this is, unfortunately) is spontaneous, rare, and of no lasting importance -- it just points at the metaphor, which is the important thing.
– John Lawler
May 19 '17 at 15:54
add a comment |
1 Answer
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"So to speak" can imply a more personal expression - refering to a common knowledge. It does not infer that the opinion of the one stating it has considered the meaning in a formal sense; as though it is classified into a group of pre-determined social or grammatical contexts.
"Metaphorically speaking" implys a relation to a group, class of analogies. This could represent a formal level of association in meanings. If I say this I may be infering that I possess the capacity to classify the meaning in a formal sense.
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
"So to speak" can imply a more personal expression - refering to a common knowledge. It does not infer that the opinion of the one stating it has considered the meaning in a formal sense; as though it is classified into a group of pre-determined social or grammatical contexts.
"Metaphorically speaking" implys a relation to a group, class of analogies. This could represent a formal level of association in meanings. If I say this I may be infering that I possess the capacity to classify the meaning in a formal sense.
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
"So to speak" can imply a more personal expression - refering to a common knowledge. It does not infer that the opinion of the one stating it has considered the meaning in a formal sense; as though it is classified into a group of pre-determined social or grammatical contexts.
"Metaphorically speaking" implys a relation to a group, class of analogies. This could represent a formal level of association in meanings. If I say this I may be infering that I possess the capacity to classify the meaning in a formal sense.
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
"So to speak" can imply a more personal expression - refering to a common knowledge. It does not infer that the opinion of the one stating it has considered the meaning in a formal sense; as though it is classified into a group of pre-determined social or grammatical contexts.
"Metaphorically speaking" implys a relation to a group, class of analogies. This could represent a formal level of association in meanings. If I say this I may be infering that I possess the capacity to classify the meaning in a formal sense.
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
"So to speak" can imply a more personal expression - refering to a common knowledge. It does not infer that the opinion of the one stating it has considered the meaning in a formal sense; as though it is classified into a group of pre-determined social or grammatical contexts.
"Metaphorically speaking" implys a relation to a group, class of analogies. This could represent a formal level of association in meanings. If I say this I may be infering that I possess the capacity to classify the meaning in a formal sense.
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
answered May 20 '17 at 15:22
Mints
193
193
add a comment |
add a comment |
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They are similar, but 'so to speak' is very general. He locked the door in my face, so to speak (when he actually slammed it without locking it). Would you say he locked it metaphorically?
– Yosef Baskin
May 19 '17 at 14:03
Sure. Meta-metaphor (which is what this is, unfortunately) is spontaneous, rare, and of no lasting importance -- it just points at the metaphor, which is the important thing.
– John Lawler
May 19 '17 at 15:54