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A mixed metaphor is a literary device that occurs when two or more dissimilar metaphors are fused to forge a comparison, typically creating a ludicrous effect. A mixed metaphor is not a common literary device that we often find in poetry or literature.
Jun 21, 2022 · Mixed Metaphors Explained: 8 Examples of Mixed Metaphors. A well-crafted metaphor uses consistent imagery ("hitting the nail on the head”); when you start mixing imagery ("hitting the nail on the nose"), you can create a type of malapropism known as a mixed metaphor.
Instead of saying someone’s heart is as hard and cold as a stone, you could simply say they have a heart of stone. You can immediately see the difference: a metaphor acts as though the two things are literally the same for literary or rhetorical effect. 1. William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18.
What are Mixed Metaphors? A mixed metaphor is a mixture of two or more dissimilar, figurative elements, like metaphors, similes, and idioms, which in turn, lead to the silly or even confusing effect. This is likely to occur when you are creative and borrow ideas from various quarters or contexts potentially rendering your statement nonsensical ...
May 30, 2019 · As defined in our glossary, a mixed metaphor is a succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons. When two or more metaphors (or cliches) are jumbled together, often illogically, we say that these comparisons are "mixed."
- Richard Nordquist
Jun 6, 2019 · A mixed metaphor is a succession of incongruous or ludicrous comparisons. Also known—playfully—as a mixaphor. Although many style guides condemn the use of mixed metaphors, in practice most of the objectionable combinations (as in the examples below) are actually clichés or dead metaphors.
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Aug 16, 2024 · Poetry, with its inherent focus on language and expression, frequently employs metaphors to evoke emotion or illustrate a theme. Mixed metaphors in poems can intensify the imagery or introduce a jarring or humorous element.