That is not cynicism—unless it is cynical to recognise that we are dealing with human beings and not simply with figures of speech.
We use these figures of speech as though we were pot boilers.
We have had figures of speech about contracts and masters and servants and about horses and the momentum of cars going uphill.
He finished with a splendid mixture of figures of speech and figures of arithmetic.
He should show some respect and not use such figures of speech.
Such figures of speech are part and parcel of the machinery of the language and seldom cause problems of understanding; nor do they usually disturb the basic meanings of words.
Chap. 4 analyzes figures of speech that are often found in literary texts, such as metaphors, metonyms, idioms, and hyperbole.
This expression refers to figures of speech, that is, literary devices that embellish and beautify ordinary language.
