Questions tagged [analogy]

An analogy compares two subjects to focus on the similarities

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
-1 votes
2 answers
118 views

Why was "type" the correct answer in "Often : frequently :: kind : _____"? [closed]

The question is: Often : frequently :: kind : _____ or, Often is to frequently as kind is to _____ And the options given were kindly type The correct answer was type. But why isn't kindly also ...
0 votes
0 answers
19 views

flying 'monkeys', organ grinder's 'monkey' - animal descriptors

How can I describe to someone what the term is for using a specific animal (in this example, the word 'monkey') when used with other words: e.g. flying monkeys e.g. organ grinder's monkey Is this an ...
0 votes
1 answer
30 views

Looking for an analogy to describe a place as your playground?

I saw a line in writing that said “Google is my playground.” Essentially a place that gives them the reins to excersize their passions. Does anyone know of a similar analogy?
  • 1
0 votes
0 answers
43 views

What is a phrase or analogy for something that has both fixed and customizable parts?

I am looking for a way to describe to my students that some of their courses must be taken at a certain time while others can be taken whenever. Therefore, I am trying to give an example or phrase ...
  • 1
0 votes
0 answers
22 views

Use "which" or "what" in a sentence with a metaphor/analogy [duplicate]

I'm currently trying to translate a text in English, that I wrote in French. It is a bit complicating when it comes to my writing style, as in French we tend (I do) to use a lot of analogies and ...
  • 49
0 votes
2 answers
69 views

Enter is to entrant as exit is to * [closed]

A person who enters something is called an entrant. What is a person who exits something called?
  • 915
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

word analogy - accelerate is to velocity as [closed]

Accelerate is to Velocity as sound is to decibels incarcerate is to prison levitate is to elevation commiserate is to weight denigrate is to reputation Please choose one option.
  • 113
-3 votes
1 answer
832 views

Word analogy - terrify is to frighten as [closed]

Terrify is to frighten as... demand is to request explore is to ignore brag is to scold predator is to prey chase is to capture Please choose the closest option.
  • 113
2 votes
2 answers
960 views

What is the cold version of spicy?

My boyfriend recently told me that my new mouthwash was "spicy". Is that the right word to describe a strong minty flavour? Example sentence: Hot sauce is to "spicy" as mint is to....
  • 494
2 votes
2 answers
217 views

How do I call a word for audible equivalent of visualize? [duplicate]

I was looking for a word that would convey a similar meaning for "audio" as it is for "visualize." I ran into several suggestions, but as a former musician, I personally prefer the ...
  • 21
0 votes
1 answer
408 views

Is there a word or frequently-used analogy for something that everyone does but nobody talks about?

There's a common saying that goes like this: XYZ is like sex in high school, everyone's talking about it but nobody does it. Is there a frequently-used analogy or word for the opposite of that? ...
  • 3
1 vote
4 answers
602 views

What is a synonym for the phrase 'at odds' with someone or something?

I am writing a book and looking for some kind of figurative language to describe two people that are 'at odds' with each other. When I say, 'at odds,' the context of my writing is: two characters that ...
1 vote
2 answers
81 views

Parable for an impossible idea or business plan

[Edit: I have asked the wrong question—my apologies. What I am looking for is not a single word, expression, or idiom. I am looking for a parable or an example of an analogy. Maybe a one-sentence, ...
1 vote
1 answer
54 views

Analogy of people observing something from different viewpoints without recognizing it's the same thing

I'm seeking to find this analogy which I vaguely recall. A group of four or five different people are blindfolded and touch different parts of... something. I seem to recall that it was an animal, ...
  • 141
5 votes
3 answers
655 views

What is the opposite of the "green thumb" but for technology/electronics?

As having a green thumb is someone who is good with plants, jokingly, the brown thumb could be used for someone who is bad with plants. Is there an equivalent pair for being good/bad with technology/...
  • 213
1 vote
2 answers
172 views

Irregular shape with projections and recesses that interlock with other shapes

What might be a word for the shape with a lot of random projections and recesses? I would like to describe the shape of countries in Europe where countries have interlocking shapes like distorted ...
0 votes
2 answers
896 views

Is this an analogy or metaphor or what? [duplicate]

From mathematics: "Tensors eat vectors and spit out numbers." Is this an analogy, metaphor or other named figure of speech?
  • 493
-1 votes
1 answer
179 views

Confusion in analogy Hailstorm : Destruction :: Brainstorm :? [closed]

I am solving some problems in an analogy. At one point I have got the following analogy. Hailstorm : Destruction :: Brainstorm : ? a ) Construction b ) Innovation c) Neuroticism d) Disorientation ...
0 votes
2 answers
591 views

Is there another way to say, "drive the point in further?" or belabor the point?"

In a work I am writing, two characters are having a discussion that becomes quite heated. The man makes an observation about the woman that is less than flattering and then while she's still ...
1 vote
0 answers
237 views

What's the word for "expressing something completely unfamiliar in familiar terms"?

When a speaker is trying to express something that does not have the right representation is his language or even environment, they use something resembling an analogy or a metaphor. For example, ...
0 votes
2 answers
156 views

Opposite of "the league of extraordinary gentlemen"? [closed]

If "the league of extraordinary gentlemen" consists of good guys what do we call the analogue group consisting of bad (but not necessarily uncultivated) guys? I am thinking of members like Prof. ...
  • 227
2 votes
3 answers
3k views

Are analogies and metaphors both forms of comparison, with analogies being analytical thinking and metaphors being creative or lateral thinking?

Apologies for this one (I know it's been discussed quite a lot) but I've read quite a few of the responses on the difference between an analogy and a metaphor and just wanted to make sure I was on the ...
  • 21
1 vote
7 answers
1k views

Metaphor for conflict of interest

I'd like a metaphor/allegory which depicts a situation where one is compelled to not act. As an example (of such a situation), a company CEO, surrounded by and probably partial towards protecting ...
19 votes
6 answers
2k views

Puzzling verbal analogy

I have two questions about this analogy from an SSAT practice test: Silk is to worm as A. honey is to bee B. corn is to pop C. bread is to wheat D. egg is to chicken E. ...
  • 1,032
-2 votes
2 answers
541 views

Metaphor / Analogy for something that has both many ancestors and many offspring?

By ancestors, I mean entities and things that affected it and what it is. By offspring, I mean the opposite - things that it affected and molded. I thought of "spiderweb," but this would be referring ...
1 vote
0 answers
701 views

Analogy in and of itself (not metaphor or simile)

In the accepted answer to: The difference between an analogy and a metaphor? an insightful conclusion was reached that the analogy is what is expressed and the metaphor/simile are how it is expressed. ...
-1 votes
1 answer
544 views

Jump is to vault as jog is to ____ ?

This is a “verbal analogies” question, in case it is not clear of what it is, review the first two words and determine how they are related, select the word from the available answers that has the ...
1 vote
0 answers
2k views

Which word best describes a story made up of analogies, metaphors and perhaps parables?

Which word (if any) best describes a complete story that is made up of analogies, metaphors and possibly some parables? For example, if I was writing a story about someone's life journey, but writing ...
  • 1,135
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

word or phrase for describing one that has much opportunities

Take "folly" for example, there is the term "fool" or "foolish" for the individual that does that folly, and the term "foolishness" that is the quality of being foolish or doing folly. I am looking ...
7 votes
4 answers
542 views

'Patriotism' is to 'Country' as ______ is to 'Language'

I have been looking for a word to describe a group of people that are very loyal and passionate about their (native) language.
  • 219
9 votes
4 answers
1k views

Word for a shadow's owner

In our workflow, we sometimes have someone do duplicate work for someone else, and we call the duplicate work the "shadow" job. This led to a need for a term for the original work in the database, so ...
  • 328
1 vote
2 answers
125 views

What do you say when referring to labor for an adverb?

Analogy: Education : academically :: Labor : ? I'm trying to fit in something to go here: ... not only do I have to do well academically, but also _____ (in my labor) Parentheses not ...
  • 1,418
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

Word to describe rule of nepotism

If a rule of competence is meritocracy, is there a single word to denote a rule of nepotism, such as nepocracy?
  • 2,862
1 vote
2 answers
167 views

Child is to parent as referent is to what?

The referent of a word or phrase in a sentence is the thing to which that word refers, e.g. in "The businessman greeted me," the referent of 'the businessman' is the person who said hello, and the ...
2 votes
2 answers
128 views

"Parent" is to "child" as "source" is to what?

I have a work question. In our attempt to give names to fields on a repair card we are now using the phrase "Source card" and "Child card". My opinion is that it would be more logical to use "Parent ...
  • 21
37 votes
8 answers
10k views

"President" is to "presidential" as "moderator" is to what?

What word, if any, best completes the analogy? Example usage (feel free to fiddle with this context/setting as desired): Behavior was unbecoming of all participants in last night's prime-time [...
  • 3,496
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

How to make a comparative analogy sentence [closed]

Is it correct to make an analogy like this? "It's like throwing yourself into a lion's den!" I'm not looking for any kind of idioms. In fact, I'm emphasizing on the usage of the first part of my ...
  • 155
-1 votes
2 answers
106 views

"Perception" is to "recognition" as "execution" is to what?

I may not be using the right words for this analogy. "Perception" and "execution" are intended to have contrasting meanings. By "perception" I mean the reception of data. By "recognition" I mean the ...
  • 9
3 votes
4 answers
419 views

Is there a SPORTS PHRASE [in particular, one relating to “soccer”] similar to "make sure all our bases are covered"?

The expression mentioned in my question’s title is a baseball reference, of course, which I fear could potentially limit its understandability to only those English speakers who are familiar with that ...
  • 551
3 votes
2 answers
278 views

Single analogous word to "pedagogy" for learning

Merriam-Webster defines pedagogy as "the art, science, or profession of teaching." The concepts don't seem to map very well, but is there a word such that: pedagogy : teaching :: _____ : learning
1 vote
1 answer
149 views

“Mathematics” is to “mathematical” as “programming” is to what?

I thought of programmatic but that doesn't seem right because it puts too much stress on the automation side and not on the actual development and logical side of it. A place to collect your ...
  • 219
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Is there a word or expression for extrapolating an analogy way beyond the point where it makes sense?

An analogy is used to explain some concepts, and the points of comparison are limited and contextual. What if I am extending that analogy way beyond the point where it makes sense. What is the word or ...
  • 123
-2 votes
3 answers
493 views

A town is to a county as a place is to a what? [closed]

I'm trying to find a generic term for the container of a place. E.G. a county contains a town or a country contains a state. So, what contains a place? EDIT: To add context to the question, I'm ...
2 votes
1 answer
424 views

Local : Global :: Localite :?

Context: I want to indicate people who keep travelling around the world (sometimes as part of their jobs and sometimes to volunteer during a crisis) without settling down at a single country. I came ...
  • 13.4k
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

What's the meaning of "staring into the Ark of the Covenant" as a analogy?

Like in here, to describe something horribly ugly? So Microsoft purchased a bit of middleware and fashioned it into Direct3D Version 3. It was universally reviled. And with good reason; looking ...
28 votes
7 answers
8k views

"Country" is to "national" as "city" is to…

How would I say something on a city level in comparison to a provincial level or national level? Elections are held nationally every four years, and _________ every two years.
  • 1,418
0 votes
1 answer
397 views

Analogy Question [closed]

I need help completing the following analogy: I've only tried Treasure and Jewelry for the blanks but it doesn't seem to make sense. Pirates:Earrings:____ Pimps:____:Bail ???
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

Meteor & Meteorite is to Meteoroid as A & B is to Asteroid?

In astronomy, A meteoroid is what it is called before it enters a planet's atmosphere, A meteor is what it is called after it enters a planet's atmosphere but before it hits the surface, and A ...
5 votes
2 answers
2k views

Horizontal analog of a meridian?

The lines going from pole to pole of the earth are meridians. I know that the horizontal lines of latitude can be called "parallels." Is there another word for these?
  • 1,920
3 votes
1 answer
963 views

Who's synonymous with lack of choice?

I'm trying to find a well-known person who was/is famous for not allowing any choices. Eg, Henry Ford going "you can have any color as long as it's black." Ideas welcome!
  • 31