Is the phrase “bled our country dry” a metaphor? Or some other figure of speech?

Question

Is the phrase "bled our country dry" a metaphor? Or some other figure of speech?

lbf · Accepted Answer · 2019-03-18 14:23:45Z

1

bleed someone white and bleed someone dry. TFD

to take all of someone's money; to extort money from someone.

It is metaphorical, a country does not bleed. It can though be bled dry of treasure and life.

answered Mar 18 at 14:23

lbf

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And the metaphor "bleed dry" almost certainly derives from the practice of hanging a slaughtered animal head-down until all the blood drains out. – Hot Licks Mar 18 at 17:32

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