News of massive cuts in much-needed road and rail infrastructure projects will send a shiver down the spine of an industry that forms the backbone of business in the country
A shiver down the spine... the backbone of business... is this an extended metaphor or just a mixed one?
3 comments:
It's a mixed metaphor in the sense that the author fails to be aware of the imagery involved in a metaphor; which is the cause of mixed metaphors.
In this case the sentence proposes that a backbone has its own spine.
I suppose journalists are constantly under pressure, to the extent that they don't use metaphors at all, just clichés that once, in less frantic days, were still metaphors.
Vincent, yes, I agree with you.
While many journalists do rely on clichés, this particular quote came from a trade association spokesman. I probably should have said that in my post...
I appreciate the labor you have put in developing this blog. Nice and informative.
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