Metaphorical Language

verb to administer the Christian rite of baptism by sprinkling or immersion in water.

• The priest will baptize the newborn baby during the Sunday service.
• I heard Sarah's parents are going to baptize her baby next month.
• Yo, did you see that video of the guy trying to baptize his friend in the pool?
• The artist felt like the rain was baptizing her soul, giving her a renewed sense of inspiration.

noun a person or thing that is closely associated or connected with another

• It is important to carefully consider potential bedfellows before entering into a business partnership.
• I never expected to become bedfellows with my neighbor, but now we carpool to work together.
• Who would have thought that the two rival gangs would end up as bedfellows in this operation?
• In politics, it is not uncommon for strange bedfellows to come together to achieve a common goal.

noun a large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The idea of starting a business without a solid plan is like building a castle in the air.
• Thinking about becoming a millionaire overnight is just like building a castle in the air.
• Dreaming about winning the lottery is like building a castle in the air.
• His plans for a lavish vacation seemed like a castle in the air, considering his limited budget.

noun the husks of grains and grasses that are separated during threshing

verb to separate the chaff from the grain

• The farmer separated the wheat from the chaff using a winnowing machine.
• I don't have time for chaff, I need to focus on what's important.
• Don't listen to him, he's just full of chaff.
• Her harsh words were like chaff in the wind, easily blown away and forgotten.

verb to form into crystals or take on a crystalline form

• The process of cooling the solution allowed the minerals to crystallize and form beautiful gemstones.
• I left my drink out too long and now the ice has started to crystallize.
• The plan finally crystallized after weeks of brainstorming.
• The idea began to crystallize in her mind as she thought more about it.

adjective relating to or resembling an elephant in size, shape, or characteristics

• The elephantine creature lumbered through the dense jungle, its massive size commanding attention.
• Dang, that elephantine sandwich you made is huge!
• I can't believe how elephantine that guy's car is, it's like a tank!
• The elephantine task of organizing the event seemed daunting at first, but with teamwork, we managed to pull it off.

adjective having a hard, unyielding, or stern nature

adverb in a stern or unyielding manner

• The flinty expression on his face revealed his stern demeanor.
• She gave me a flinty look when I asked for a favor.
• Don't mess with him, he's got a flinty attitude.
• Her flinty personality made it hard for others to get close to her.

noun a castrated animal, especially a castrated horse or bull

• The company's revenue is calculated in terms of geld received.
• I need to make some more geld before I can go on vacation.
• I made some quick geld selling my old clothes online.
• His words carried more weight than any amount of geld could.

noun the passage by which food passes from the mouth to the stomach; the esophagus

• The food traveled down his gullet and into his stomach.
• He swallowed the whole sandwich in one go, straight down the gullet.
• I can't believe you actually ate that, you have a bottomless gullet!
• The politician's lies went down the public's gullet without question.

noun a substance, typically yeast, that is added to dough to make it ferment and rise

verb to add leaven to dough in order to make it rise

• Bakers use leaven to help dough rise during the fermentation process.
• I added some leaven to the bread dough to make it fluffy.
• Throw in a little leaven to make the bread extra tasty.
• A good sense of humor can leaven even the most serious conversations.

adjective a term used to describe something that is affected by leprosy, a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin and nerves

• The doctor diagnosed the patient with leprous lesions on his skin.
• She was shocked to see the leprous sores on her friend's arms.
• I heard that old abandoned house is leprous with mold and mildew.
• The corruption within the government was like a leprous disease spreading throughout the country.

verb to compare or liken one thing to another, to see a resemblance between two things

• Many critics likened the author's writing style to that of a modern-day Shakespeare.
• I would liken her cooking skills to that of a professional chef.
• I'd liken his dance moves to a funky chicken trying to fly.
• She likened his heart to a stone, cold and unfeeling.

adjective describing a quality of brightness, light, or brilliance

• The luminous chandelier cast a soft glow over the elegant ballroom.
• Her luminous smile lit up the room.
• That new highlighter is so luminous, it's blinding!
• The artist's words were as luminous as the colors on his canvas.

noun a place or situation where someone expects to find happiness or fulfillment, often used in a religious or metaphorical sense

• The ancient Israelites believed that the promised land was a gift from God.
• We finally made it to the promised land after a long journey.
• I can't wait to reach the promised land and relax on the beach.
• For many, achieving success in their career is like reaching the promised land.

noun the action of moving stealthily or with predatory intent

verb to move around stealthily or with predatory intent

• The lioness went on a nightly prowl to hunt for food.
• The cat likes to prowl around the neighborhood at night.
• The thief was caught on a prowl in the city.
• His mind was on a prowl for new ideas and inspiration.

noun a watery fluid that circulates through a plant, carrying nutrients and water

verb to drain the energy or vitality from someone or something

• The sap of the maple tree is used to make syrup.
• Don't be a sap and fall for his tricks.
• I can't believe he sapped all my energy with his constant talking.
• Her kind words acted as a sap, rejuvenating my spirits.

noun a place where a particular cause or belief is strongly defended or upheld

• The castle served as a stronghold for the king during times of war.
• The old fort up on the hill is now just a tourist attraction, but it used to be a stronghold for soldiers.
• The biker gang's clubhouse is their stronghold in this part of town.
• Her beliefs were a stronghold that kept her grounded in difficult times.

noun a red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body

• The athlete was so dedicated to his training that he would sweat blood to achieve his goals.
• I'm willing to sweat blood to make sure this party is a success.
• I swear I'll sweat blood if it means getting that promotion.
• She was so stressed about the presentation that it felt like she was sweating blood.

noun an act of throwing something lightly or casually

verb to throw something lightly or casually

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The chef demonstrated the proper technique to toss a salad.
• Hey, can you toss me the remote?
• Let's toss some ideas around and see what sticks.
• She decided to toss her worries aside and focus on the present moment.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• The scientist carefully turned the test tube upside down to observe the reaction.
• I accidentally turned my phone upside down and couldn't find it for a while.
• He turned the whole situation upside down with his unexpected decision.
• The new manager's arrival turned the company upside down, bringing in many changes.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• As the sun rose, a sense of realization began to dawn upon the researchers.
• It finally dawned upon me that I had forgotten to set my alarm last night.
• The truth didn't really dawn upon him until he saw the evidence with his own eyes.
• It wasn't until years later that the significance of her words began to dawn upon him.

verb A verb is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. In this case, 'cuckooed' is a verb indicating the action of making the sound of a cuckoo bird.

• The cuckooed bird perched on the branch, calling out its distinctive song.
• We knew it was morning when we heard the cuckooed bird outside our window.
• I swear that bird cuckooed so loud, it woke me up from a deep sleep.
• Her laugh cuckooed through the room, bringing joy to everyone who heard it.

adjective describing something covered in barnacles

• The hull of the ship was completely barnacled, requiring a thorough cleaning.
• The old pier was so barnacled, it was hard to walk on without slipping.
• That old boat is so barnacled, it looks like it's been sitting in the ocean for years.
• Her mind was barnacled with memories of the past, making it hard for her to move forward.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to specify a noun

• The storage room is often referred to as the place where something goes to die.
• That closet is where something goes to die, we really need to clean it out.
• The garage is like where something goes to die, it's so cluttered.
• The old abandoned amusement park is like where something goes to die, it's eerie and desolate.