6. Metaphor

cast light on

Phrase

To help people understand or explain something by making it clearer

to […] […] […] something

cast light on

The new evidence helped to […] […] […] the cause of the accident.

Meaning: make clearer or easier to understand

face the facts

Phrase (body)

To accept and deal with an unpleasant or difficult truth

to […] […] […]

face the facts

It’s time to […] […] […] we can’t afford a vacation this year.

Meaning: accept the difficult truth

shoulder the blame

Phrase (body)

To accept responsibility for a mistake or problem, even if it is difficult or unfair

to […] [..] […]

shoulder the blame

The manager had to […] [..] […] for the project’s failure.

Meaning: accept responsibility

foot the bill

Phrase (body)

To pay for something, especially when it is expensive or not expected

to […] [..] […]

foot the bill

He agreed to […] [..] […] for dinner since it was my birthday.

Meaning: pay for the cost

head a team

Phrase (body)

To be in charge of a group of people working together on a task or project

to […] [..] […]

head a team

She was asked to […] [..] […] responsible for launching the new product.

Meaning: lead a group

keep someone on their toes

Phrase (body)

To make someone stay alert, focused, and ready for anything

to […] someone [..] […] […]

keep someone on their toes

Good teachers always […] their students [..] […] […] with interesting lessons.

Meaning: make them stay alert

have an eye for

Phrase (body)

To be good at noticing or recognizing something, especially something important or valuable

to […] [..] […] […] something

have an eye for

She […] [..] […] […] detail, so her work is always very accurate.

Meaning: is good at spotting important details

go hand in hand with

Phrase (body)

To happen together or be closely connected

to […] […] [..] […] […] something

go hand in hand with

Unemployment […] […] [..] […] […] social unrest.

Meaning: happens at the same time or as a result of

burden

Something heavy or difficult that you have to carry or deal with, often a problem or responsibility

burden

The little donkey struggled under its heavy […]

Meaning: a heavy load it is carrying

heavy burden

Metaphor based on weight

A big or very difficult problem, responsibility, or worry

a […] […]

heavy burden

He carries a […] […] of guilt after the accident.

Meaning: a lot of guilt or worry

tome

A large, heavy book, often serious or scholarly

tome

She carried a ___ filled with detailed scientific research to the library.

Meaning: big, important book

weighty tome

Metaphor based on weight

A large, important, and often serious or heavy book (mainly serious or difficult content)

a [adj] + [noun]

weighty tome

She struggled to carry the [adj] [noun] filled with ancient manuscripts.

Meaning: a big, serious book

matters

Important subjects, topics, or issues that need attention or consideration

[plural]

matters

We need to discuss some serious ___ during the meeting.

Meaning: important issues

weighty matters

Metaphor based on weight

Important, serious, or significant issues or subjects that require careful thought

[adj] + [noun]

weighty matters

The jury knew their decision was a [adj] + [noun] with profound implications.
Meaning: serious and important issue

weighty problems

Metaphor based on weight

Serious, important, or difficult problems

[…] problems

weighty problems

She faced […] problems at work that demanded urgent solutions.

Meaning: significant problems requiring attention

light reading

Metaphor based on weight

Reading something that is easy, fun, and not serious or difficult

[adj] reading

light reading

The book is perfect for ___ reading on the beach because it’s simple and entertaining.

Meaning: easy and enjoyable reading

light heart

Metaphor based on weight

Feeling happy, relaxed, and free from worry or sadness

to be with a […] […]

light heart

She walked into the room with a […] […] after hearing the good news.

Meaning: happy and carefree feeling

slim chance

Metaphor based on weight

A very small chance that something will happen.

____ chance

slim chance

With so many people applying, there’s only a ___ ____ of getting the job.

Meaning: little hope or possibility

fat chance

Metaphor based on weight

A very small or impossible chance that something will happen (often sarcastic)

_____ chance

fat chance

You want me to lend you money? ___ _____ of that happening!

Meaning: very unlikely or not going to happen

run into difficulties

Metaphor based on movement

To suddenly experience problems or challenges, often unexpected

run into difficulties

We […] […] […] while trying to set up the new software.

Meaning: experienced unexpected problems

hopping mad

Metaphors based on movement

Be very angry or extremely furious about something

She was […] […]

hopping mad

She was […] […] when she found out someone had scratched her car.

Meaning: extremely angry

walk straight into a job

Metaphors based on movement

To get a job very easily, without much effort

to […] […] […] [..] […]

walk straight into a job

With his experience, he […] […] […] […] at a top company.

Meaning: easily got hired

jump to a conclusion

Metaphors based on movement

To make a decision or form an opinion quickly, without having all the facts

to […] [..] [..] […]

jump to a conclusion

She […] [..] [..] […] that he was lying, but later found out the truth.

Meaning: decided too quickly

hit the rocks

Metaphors based on movement

To fail suddenly or come to an end, especially a relationship, plan, or business

to […] […] […]

hit the rocks

Their business partnership […] […] […] after they disagreed on important decisions.

Meaning: failed or ended suddenly

run into trouble

Metaphors based on movement

To suddenly experience difficulty or problems, often unexpected

to […] […] […]

run into trouble

The team […] […] […] during the project because of poor planning.

Meaning: began to have problems

a night out

Going out in the evening for fun, like to a party, restaurant, or other social activity

a […] […]

night out

We planned a […] […] to celebrate her birthday at a nice restaurant.

Meaning: an evening spent doing something fun outside

heavy burden to

My elderly mother worries that she is a […] […] [..] me.

Meaning: an unpleasant problem I have to deal with

heavy burden on

We need to avoid putting a […] […] [..] taxpayers with this project.

Meaning: an unpleasant obligation to pay taxes

put a burden on

to cause them to have a difficult responsibility, problem, or worry.

Don’t […] [..] […] [..] your friends by always asking for help.

put heavy burdens on the

By raising taxes you inevitably […] […] […] [..] the middle class first.

Meaning: make middle class pay more than others

inevitably

Adverb: in a way that cannot be avoided

inevitably

Such a large investment […] entails some risk.

Meaning: in a way a risk cannot be avoided

back

to give support to someone or something with money or words

backed

A poll indicated that 77% of Americans […] the president's plan, with only 6 percent in opposition.

Meaning: expressed support

draw a/the conclusion

to consider the facts of a situation and make a decision about what is true, correct, likely to happen

to […] a/the […]

draw the conclusion

I'd seen them together so often, I […] the logical […] that they were husband and wife.

Meaning: come to a conclusion

despondent

unhappy and with no hope or enthusiasm

despondent

She started to feel […] about ever finding a job.

Meaning: hopeless, unhappy

heading the list

[…] […] […] means being at the top or first position on a list, usually because you are most important or most popular.

heading the list

She is […] […] […] of candidates for the promotion.

Meaning: she is the first candidate to get a promotion

shoulder the burden

Metaphor based on body

to accept that you are responsible for something difficult

to […] the […] of smth

hop

If a small animal, bird, or insect ___s, it moves by jumping on all or two of its feet at the same time

hopped

The rabbit/bird […] across the grass.

hop

to jump on one foot or to move about in this way

hop

I tried to […] on my good foot while holding onto Jim.