BS: Pundits and Metaphors

Subject: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 03:50 AM

Like many people I am looking forward to the six nations rugby championship starting this weekend. However, I cower in trepidation at the impending barrage of metaphors curtesy of the many pundits that will be lining up to express their opinions.

The one that makes me cringe is " .... will be asking ...... questions this weekend" or words to that effect. What are the questions? Are the inquisitors planning to score lots of points while the full-ack is puzzling over what the capital of Tibet is?

Also I cring when I hear someone say " ..... is literally ***** " where ***** is a metaphor. For example: The manager is literally over the moon at the result today.   Does that mean that the manager has commissioned the building of a Saturn 5, got it built, flew over to Cape Canaveral, and got to the moon in five minutes after the result? How would he literally do this??????

I am sure that therre are many evren better examples of use of literal metaphors.

Subject: RE: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 05:55 AM

What's a meta for?

Subject: RE: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 06:39 AM

It isn't only metaphors, but clichés. Every time a soccer ball bounces off a post or crossbar and the commentator tells us that 'he has hit the woodwork', I wish he might hit the French or the Applied Mathematics or the Religious Education for a change. I don't think, anyhow, that the goals have actually been made of wood for years.

A metaphor that greatly irritates my wife Emma is the information that a player or team has/have "put in a good shift".

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 07:44 AM

Not rugby, but in this years Africa Cup of Nations football Tournament, the teams (being African!) perform the most excellent dances of joy when a goal is scored. One (British) commentator the other night said "And now, look, they're doing a dance!" I almost expected his next remark to be "The drums, the damned drums Carruthers!"

Subject: RE: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: A Wandering Minstrel
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 08:35 AM

Well no doubt "our boys" from all six nations will be "making the hard yards", "showing 110% commitment" and "putting in a good day at the office", Hoping the ball will "sit up just right" for them and that they won't be "just missing touch" or being "well forward" on the pass. That we will enjoy "breaking through on the blind-side" and "crashing through the centre" and that "very high tackles", "collapsing the scrum" and "truck-n-trailer" tactics won't mar the games. I intend to thoroughly enjoy the whole spectacle even though I suspect my favoured team may "not go the whole distance"

Subject: RE: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 06:12 PM

When I watch sports, I like to turn the volume down so I can hear the thrum of the crowd but don't have to listen to the announcers' inane remarks.

It makes it seem more as if I'm there.

Subject: RE: BS: Pundits and Metaphors
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 11:58 PM

Indeed, leeneia. I always think it a pity there isn't an alternative setting available which would keep the sound of the crowd but eliminate the commentary. The other night we were watching a match but didn't want to hear the scores from the other games going on simultaneously, so we muted the set. We agreed that so much of the atmosphere was lost in just watching the game without any sound as seriously to impair the experience.

~M~