metaphor identification

Metaphor identification is the process of recognizing when a word or phrase is being used to imply a comparison, rather than its literal meaning. It involves analyzing context to determine if a term is functioning metaphorically—suggesting similarities between two different things—rather than literally describing something. For example, saying "time is a thief" uses metaphor to suggest time can take things away unexpectedly. Identifying these metaphors helps us understand deeper meanings in language, as they often reveal emotional or conceptual insights that literal words alone might miss.