A study on english metaphor related to the proper names

Part i: introduction
1.rationale.
Nowadays, English is the most widely used in the world
and

plays

an

important

role

together

with

the

development of society and technologies. English is not
only the effective means of communication but also show
its progressive effects in many aspects of life.
Practically, study on the similarities and differences
between the two languages and cultures English and
Vietnamese has been one of my concerns when studying
English at university. It is clear that there are many
differences between the two languages of as those in
grammar, lexicology, translation, phonetic and so on.
However there still exists plenty of similarities and
differences between English and Vietnamese that can be
demonstrated through metaphorical meaning especially

metaphor in literature and idioms expression.
This study of metaphor has been traditionally associated
with the study of literature, the use of metaphor is not
restricted to this kinds of language. A good understanding
of how metaphor is used in everyday language is not only
important

for

students

of

English

to

increase

our

vocabulary, but also to understand new and original
metaphor when we hear or speak them.
However, what I want to express here it that idioms and
proverbs are the genius of national language that is the
key

help learners know more about nation, as well as

custom and culture of each country all over the world.

1


Therefore, it is a must to me to study metaphor related to
proper names that has made a deep expression on me for
a long time because, I myself find it so interesting that
the proper names not only reflect the concepts bur also
refer the characteristic of person and places. I always
wonder why the following phenomena is, for example,
English expression: he is a Othello has an equivalent one
in Vietnamese : “h¾n ®óng lµ ho¹n th” and many cases
we cannot find any equivalent of this language’s idioms
and expression and the character in literature, clearly,
most language make use of metaphor but the way
individual words

used varies from one language to

another and each language has its own system and that
they cannot always transfer the metaphorical use of a
word from one language to another.
Importantly, metaphor help learners see the interest the
beauty as well as the culture colour of language which
help learners use and understand correctly and clearly. I
hope that learners will understand about metaphor in
English especially metaphor relating to the proper names
that is also the main reason motivating me to carry out
this research.
2. Aims of the study.

My research aims at.:
+ giving theoretical background of metaphor.
+ presenting some difficulties faced by Vietnamese
learners of English in terms of idioms in general and the
idioms related to the proper names in particular.

2


+ giving some suggested solutions to overcome these
difficulties,
+ finding the metaphorical characteristic of factors related
to the proper names in English idioms and literature.
3. Methods of the study.
The study on metaphor in not only English idioms but also
literature related to the proper names is carried out with
comparative methods with a hope that learners could see
the role of metaphor in using idioms and literature from
some linguists, typical examples and extracted from
various types of books Besides, idioms were collected
from dictionary to get valuable knowledge for this paper.
Furthermore, Information related to the research paper
from websites was also looked into in order to complete
this research successfully.
4. Scope of the study.
During

the study process, I have been attracted by

metaphor - one of the figure of speech as well as

metaphor in English idioms and expression about the
proper names.
Because of time allowance and knowledge, I cannot cover
all idioms and proverbs on these issues bur only focus on
idioms related to proper names, here is a sample of
discussing on metaphor in English idioms: typical proper
names in literature and idioms, in each kind of proper
names, I introduce some outstanding idioms to illustrate
for the research.

3


5.Design of the study.
The study consists of three parts.
Part 1: is introduction, including rationale, aims of the
study, methods of the study, scope of the study, and
design of the study.
Part 2 is development that is divided into three chapters
Chapter 1 is background knowledge on the study. It
supplies the definition characteristic, classification and
definition.
Chapter 2 is an analysis of metaphor in English related to
proper names.
Chapter 3 is metaphor related to proper names is English
comparison with Vietnamese
Part 3 is a conclusion which gives a summary of the whole
study mentioned in the previous parts.

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Part II: development
Chapter i:
theoretical background of metaphor IN ENGLISH.
Before researching to detail the use and the meaning of
metaphors related to proper names, it is important to
understand the history and the use of metaphors in daily
life.
I.1 What is metaphor
Theoretically, there are a lot of different ways to define
what is metaphor. According to Oxford Advance Learner’s
dictionary: metaphor is a word or phrase used to describe
somebody or something else, in a way that is different
from its normal use, in order to show that two things have
the same qualities and to make the description more
powerful. For example,“ she has a heart of stone”
(www.wordnet.princeton.edu/per/webn). Metaphor

in this

definition refers to the expression that has no literal
meanings and based on the similarity not to show the
literal meanings but figurative meaning, but metaphor,
according

to

Hoang

Tat

Truong

(1993:7),

can

be

understood as the transference of names based on the
association of similarity, we call one objects and find
some common features between them that is we can
liken something to something else on certain grounds.
Eg :
He is a bee
Truong (1993:81)

5


Here, the association of similarity is about the behaviour
or character of the bee and the person ( he) hardworking
character metaphor is also understood that in each
metaphor, there are two main parts: the tenor and the
vehicle(www.educationphauner.com/educationplauner/eaasy-artideaps). This can be understood that the
tenor is applied there are two parts come together to
reach a point of similarity know as ground.
Eg:
She is a fox

Truong (1993:80)
Here, the association of similarity is about the behaviour
or character of the fox and the person (she): cunning
person character.
I.2 Characteristic features.
Metaphor is the transference of names based on the
association of similarity. In other words metaphor is a
hidden comparison.
I.2.1Similarity of shape.
Take the example:
Neck of the bottle
Mouth of the cave
Truong (1993:80)
In these examples, looking at metaphorical expression
the “neck” is not a neck-part of the human body, but it is
the narrow part at the top of the bottle, also the word “
mouth” in the last one is a part of the body that is small

6


and round. Mouth is also used as a metaphor to refer the
entrance of a cave and the other example such as:
The head of a cabbage
The teeth of a saw
Truong (1993:80)
Finding many meaning of metaphors, the metaphorical
expressions are based on the identification of shape.
I.2.2Similarity of size
Look at the example:

Their daughter is quite plump but their son is positively
elephantine
English –Vietnamese –Dictionary (1993:559)
The image of “ elephantine” is used metaphorically make
hidden comparison with a big person
I.2.3 Similarity of position
Look at the following example:
The foot of a mountain
The heart of the country
Truong (1993:79)
Such expression as “ foot of the mountain” is described as
a similarity of position “ foot” is the lowest part of the
body and it is used metaphorically to refer to the foot
mountain,

the

metaphor

is

stimulated

by

the

identification of the mountain. Further one, “heart” is
used metaphorically because, it is an important part of
the body and in the center position. In such way “leg of

the table” or “tail of the procession” and so on, we is also
considered metaphors basing on the similarity of position.

7


I.2.4 Similarity of movement
Look at the example:
They had to worm their way through the
narrow tunnel
English – Vietnamese – dictionary (1993:2069)
The river snaked away into the distance
English – Vietnamese – dictionary (1993:1690)
The image of “worm” is an animal with a soft rounded or
flattened body. It is put in the real context with function
as a verb to compare with a twisting movement of a
person like a worm. The other example, the verb “snake”
is used as a metaphor based on the identification of
movement.
I.2.5 Similarity of function
Basing on the similarity of function, these examples:
Key to the mystery
Head of the class
Hand of the clock
Truong (1993:80)
We easily see that “key”, “head” and “hand” in this cases
are not a key to open clock, head- part of the body and
not a hand of the body, they also do not belong to
instrument,
meanings

success
in

these

or

clock,

examples

in
are

fact

metaphorical

applied

to

any

obstructing , this transference of meaning is based on
some common features to refer to similarity of function.
I.2.6 Similarity of colour
E.g.

8


The rose of clouds at down
English – Vietnamese –Dictionary (1993:1539)
An orange light
English – Vietnamese –Dictionary (1993:1216)
The words “ rose” and “ orange” are described as
similarity of colour,

“ the rose of clouds at down” is a

kind of flower and it is used as a metaphor to refer to the
clouds that has rose of clouds. And the second one “ an
orange light”, the word “ orange” is a kind of fruit and it is
as a metaphor to refer to the lights that has orange
colour. Therefore, the metaphorical expressions are based
on the identification of colour.
I.2.7 Similarity of behaviour and character
Look at the following example
He is a fox
He is an Othello
Truong (1993:80)
The word “fox” here is a name of animal that indicates a
big animal which is very wise and clever. Fox is used
metaphorically with the negative meaning to refer to a
person cunning character or if we say “he is an Othello”,
it refers to a person who is very jealous, that are used as
metaphor based on the similarity of character and
behaviour.

I.2.8 Similarity of sound
Taking the following example for the illustration of the
similarity of sound an metaphors
Eg

9


He roared with his children
English – Vietnamese – dictionary (2002:1533)
The verb “ roar” is the sound made by lion or tiger
people say that “ the lion roared”, in above example “
roar” does not have this meaning , but it is used
metaphorically to refer to a very angry father who sounds
loudly, we also say that “ she is bombed with lots of
questions”. It is

described what happened to someone

surprisingly, immediately and uninterruptedly. They are
the most clear-cut types of similarity. The others are hard
to defined, for many metaphor are not based on the
similarity.
Eg
You are washing my time
The dishwasher can save you time
I have invested a lot of time in the
study
Thoa (2005:9)
Clearly, there is no objective inherent similarity between

time and a commodity. But what is basis for the metaphor
or brings these two concepts together is the perception,
based in part on culture and in part on feeling that all
human beings share. It is advisable to take two following
examples for clearer illustration
Eg
She tried to avoid breaking his heart
( hurt feeling)
I am feeling down ( feel sad)

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Thoa (2005:9)
These two metaphors are resulted from the transference
of space relation upon psychological and mental notion,
i.e the relation between the concrete and obstract.
On the whole, the similarities on which metaphor are
based on so various or sometimes are not clear-cut or
present in metaphors.
I.3 Classification of metaphor
Metaphor can be classified into four main types: living
metaphor, fade metaphor and dead metaphor
I.3.1 Living metaphor
Living metaphor that can be called active metaphor is
one which relatively new and has not become part of
everyday linguistic usage. It is created and used by
individuals. Living metaphor, according to Hoang Tat
Truong (1993:81) " When a word has an unusual
metaphorical sense or the metaphor is created and used

by an individual".
E.g:
You are my sun
Perelman (1999:88)
In above example, the "sun" is used metaphorically to
refer to a person whom you respect or admire for
whatever he has done for you. This is the result from an
individual and called a living metaphor.
As for this type of metaphor, the addressee can recognize
them easily as they are new and very impressive. Also,

11


living metaphor are often created or used by individual,
poets and writers.
I.3.2 Fade metaphor
According to Hoang Tat Truong (1993:81) " fade (trite)
metaphor is one that has lost its freshness due to long
and traditional use". And it is necessary to note that the
meanings of faded metaphor are registered in dictionaries
since they are of common use. We can take the following
metaphor for example:
E.g:
Her voive is sweet
She is a snack
Truong (1993:81)
Their word " sweet" is used as metaphor to refer to a
person who has a very persuasive and skillful voice. And
the word " Snack" in the second one is also used

metaphorically to express a person (she): dangerous
character.
Faded metaphors have lost the freshness, vigor and
emotional associations they must have had. Presently,
they are sleeping and half dead metaphors which are only
aroused in special circumtances. Many metaphors have
become cliches of as " stand shouder to shouder with" or
keep one's head above water, as they now lose the
emotional associations that once went with them.
I.3.3 Dead metaphor
According to Hoang Tat Truong (1993:81) " Dead
metaphor is a metaphor which is no longer felt as a

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metaphor because the direct meaning of the word has
been completely lasr" we can look at following example
for a highlight.
E.g:
To ponder
Truong(1993:82)
In the former word, "To ponder" originally mean " to
weight" but now only means " to mediate/ to think or to
consider carefully"
Hence. we can say that dead metaphor are only used with
their indirect or figurative meaning but their direct or
literal meanings are completely lost. On the whole, each
type of metaphors can bring a different degree of
metaphorical sense to the addressee ranging from the

living, faded and to the dead metaphor.
All theoretical background mentioned above aim to
provide a theoretically fundermental basis that is a key
which helps me get more knowledge and experience in
studying metaphors about proper names in many aspects
and expressions that will be referred to in the next
chapter

13


14


Chapter Ii
A study on English metaphor related to the proper
names
English metaphor relating to the proper names are so
various and there are, of course hundreds of proper
names such as Jack, Michael. Sandwich and so on,
however, in this study I not only list some names of
person and places but also focus on studying the
metaphorical

meanings

in

English

idioms,

sayings,

proverb and expression about them.
In this part, before presenting the metaphorical meaning
of the words related to the proper names in English, all
the words relating such proper names and the history of
formation of words will be presented first.
II. Metaphor in English related

to the eponymous

words.
A number of words in English have originated from the
names of people. They contributed and devoted their life
and achievements to human. Therefore their name is
formed so that we remember their life. Their name
became

popular in daily life which is reminded us to

associate to many things and events, in order to see the
eponymous words we will analyze some metaphor related
to the proper names.
II.1 Metaphor related to Boycott.
The words “boycott” here is used to metaphorically to
refer to refuse to deal with or a refusal to deal with

15

in order to see the mean of boycott clearly, look at the
following example:
E g:
The anarchist speaker urged all citizents to boycott the
elections
O’ Dell (1995:30)
The word “ boycott” named after a land lord in Ireland
who made himself unpopular by his treatment of his
tenants and was socially isolated.

16


II.2 Metaphor related to Louis Braille.
Louis Braille was the son of a French leather worker. He
went blind at the age of three when he felt on a tool in his
father’s workshop. But Louis was brave and talented boy.
He wanted to be a musician, so he learned to play the
cello, and at the age of ten he won a scholarship to the
National Institute for Blind Children in Paris. He could play
cello but he could not read or write. In 1819 a French
solider, Charles Barbier invented “ night writing”, he used
patterns of twelve raised dots on paper so that solders
could

read in the dark. Louis Braille understood the

importance of this invention for blind people and when he

was fifteen, he began to develop it. He made it simplier
with six dots, not twelve. In 1829 he introduced it at the
Institute. By 1923 “Braillie” was in use all over the world
in many languages, but unfortunately, Louis died of
tuberculosis in 1852 and never knew of the importance of
his invention.
Liz & John Soars (1995:41)
Eg: He read this book by Braille
AS Hornby (1990:99)
II.3 Metaphor related to hooligan
The word “ hooligan” is used to metaphorically refer a
rough, lawless youth which named from the Irish family
name hooligan
E g:
Acts of vandalism committed by football hooligans
O’ Dell (1995:30)

17


II.4 Metaphor related to Machiavellion.
The word “ machiavellion” is used to metaphorically refer
to cunning, deceitful, unscrupulous in the pursuit
of a goal , so that we see the meaning of the word “
machiavellion”, we look at the following example.
E g:
He is a machiavellion person
O’ Dell (1995:30)
The

word

“

machiavellion”

named

from

Niccolo

Machiavelli, the Italian stateman who died in 1527.
II.5 Metaphor related to Pander
The word “pander” named from Pandaros, a procurer or
pimp in Ancient Greek mythology. So as to further
understand the meaning and the using of the word
“pander”, look at the following example:
E g:
Newspaper pandering to the public love
of scandal.
O’ Dell (1995:30)
The word “ pander” in this case refer to indulge
someone’s desire
II.6 Metaphor related to Tawdry.
The word “ tawdry” is used to metaphorically refer to
cheap and tasteless. Look at this example:
E g:
He is only a tawdry person
O’ Dell (1995:30)

18


The word “tawdry” named from ST Audrey, at whose
cheap gaudy scarves wore sold.
II.2. Metaphor in English idioms, proverbs and
sayings related to the proper names
Metaphor is not only used in eponymous words but also
the idioms, sayings and proverbs, and there are many
proper names using in the idioms and proverbs, in order
to see the metaphor idioms, sayings and proverbs clearly
relating to the proper names, we will research the
following situations.
II.2.1 Metaphor related to the idioms “ happy as
Larry”.
The idioms “happy as Larry” here is used to
metaphorically to refer to extremly happy. Look at the
example:
E g:
She is happy as Larry
www.usingenglish.com
This mean the degree of emotion “great happy” the word
“ Larry” was named after in Australia or New Zealand and
dated from around 1875. It has been suggested that it
comes from the name of the Australia boxer Larry Foley
though why he was particularly happy no one seems to
know he won a lot of contests.
II.2.2 Metaphor related to the proverb: Rob Peter
to pay Paul.

The idiom “ Rob Peter to pay Paul” is used to
metaphorically referring to taking away from one

19


person in order to give to another. Look at the
example.
E g:
He is a rob peter to pay Paul
www.usingenglish.com
This proverbs

express not in this sense of robbing the

rich to pay the poor but of behaving illogically or falling to
solve a problem by merely creating another Early
appearances of proverbs show the reference is to St Peter
and St Paul as two men of equal sainthood.
II.2.3 Metaphor related to the idiom: any Tom, Dick
or Harry.
The list has included other names down the centuries
such as Jack and Will- Shakespeare has Tom, Dick and
Francis in Henry IV
E g:
He won’t talk to any Tom, Dick or Harry
B J Thomas (2002:114)
This mean is person is a real snob, he’s only interested in
people who are rich or famous.
II.2.4 Metaphor related to “peeping Tom”

Eg:
They are some peeping Tom
Someone who spies on the other people, especially by
looking through their windows, is called a peeping Tom.
B J Thomas (2002:114)
II.2.5 Metaphor related to “ smart Alec”
Take an example:

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Eg:
He’s just a smart Alec
The word “ smart Alec” refers to a person being very
show-off, he always thinks he knows everything.
B J Thomas (2002:114)
II.2.6 Metaphor related to “doubting Thomas”
Eg:
There was many a doubting Thomas
When the Wright brother invented the first aeroplane
which actually flew, this means a lot of doubting Thomas
who said that air-travel would never be commercially
successful.
B J Thomas (2002:114)
II.2.7 Metaphor related to “ Jack of all trades”
Eg:
He is a Jack of all trades
It is often said that of someone who can do many
different things that means Jack of all trades.
B J Thomas (2002:114)

II.3. Metaphor in English related to the characters
in the literature.
There are a lot of characters in literature denoting

the

metaphor basing on their behaviour and characteristics,
in order to know metaphor related to proper names in the
literature, we research the following example.
II.3.1 Metaphor related to the character “ Othello”
The Tragedy of Othello, The Moore of Venice is a tragedy
by William Shakespeare written around 1603.

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The play is a concentrated, tightly-constructed domestic
tragedy with almost no sub-plot relief, revolting around
five or six central characters. Othello’s ill-placed trust in
the villain Iago results in his growing suspicion in his wife
Desdemona’s infidelity with his lieutenant Cassio, leading
to the ultimate tragedy. Othello is commonly considered
one of Shakespeare’s great tragedies, and one of his
finest works.
English people take the image of “Othello” a well- known
character in the play of Shakespeare to refer to a jealous
person.
E g:
He is a Othello
Truong (1993:80)

In this example, the character “ Othello” becomes the
common noun basing on the character’s behaviour
Othello is used to metaphorically to refer to jealous
person:
II.3.2 Metaphor related to the character “Don
Juan”
Don Juan is a character who has bad behaviour

and

always flirt beautiful girls anywhere he went. Therefore
Don Juan became a love of many women, or lady-killer.
E g:
He is a Don Juan
Truong (1993:80)
II.3.3 Metaphor related to the character “ Hitle”.

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The word “Hitle”is named of the shogun who very cruel.
He killed a lot of people in the second World War,
therefore the word “ Hitle” indicates the person who is
cruel.
Eg
He is a Hitle
Thu (2006:12)
II.3.4 Metaphor related to the character “ Vandals”
The word

“ vandal” was formed by in a story, the

character is vandal who always destroyed anything and
the word

“Vandal” indicates

the person who is

destructive people
E g:
He is a Vandal
www.usingenglish.com
II.3.5 Metaphor related to the philistine.
In the wars there are many people in many countries
being rented in order to serve the army and the word “
philistine” was formed.
E g:
He is a philistine
www.usingenglish.com
Philistine here is used to metaphorically to refer to a
mercenary person.
II.3.6 Metaphor related to “ Rip van Winkle”
Rip van Winkle is the name of the happy-go-lucky
character in a story by Washington Irving ( The Sketch
book,1820) who takes refuse from his scolding wife by

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taking a ramble in the Catskill Mountains north-west of
New York, falls asleep after drinking too much and
awakens twenty years later to find things have changed,
so if someone is a Rip van Winkle they are behind the
times and out of touch with what is happening now.
E g:
They are Rip van Winkle
www.usingenglish.com
This mean person who is very much behind the times.
II.3.7 Metaphor related to “ a paint Jane”
E g:
She is a paint Jane
www.usingenglish.com.
This mean a woman who isn’t particularly attractive.
II.3.8 Metaphor related to “ painted Jezebel”
Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, king of Israel, whom she
introduced to the worship of Baal, the god of the
Phoenicians, while persecuting the prophets of the
Hebrew god, Jehovah and drawing down upon herself the
denunciation of Elijah. In II Kings, 9, she is referred to in
connection with whored one’s and witchcrafts and her use
of cosmetics (verse 30) has given risen to the expression
a painted Jezebel for a woman who flaunts herself
provocatively.
E g:
She is a painted Jezebel
www.usingenglish.com
This mean shameless, immoral, scheming woman.

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II.3.9 Metaphor related to “mud”
If someone’s name is mud, then they have a bad
reputation.
E g:
He is a mud
www.usingenglish.com
II.3.10 Metaphor related to “Billy Bunter”
Look at the example
Eg:
I think Alan should go on a diet and get more exercise. He
is beginning to look like Billy Bunter
B J Thomas (2002:113)
Billy Bunter is

used to metaphorically refer to fat

schoolboy who always eat something. He is a character in
stories Frank Richards.
II.3.10 Metaphor related to “ Scrooge”
Eg:
Come on! I’ve never met anyone so reluctant to spend
money, you Scrooge.
B J Thomas (2002:113)
Scrooge

is used to metaphorically refer to very mean

person who is a character in Christmas Carol by Charles

Dickens.
II.3.11 Metaphor related to “ Jekyll and Hyde”
Eg:
He’s got a Jekyll and Hyde
B J Thomas (2002:113)

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