Metaphors which have the community's seal of approval roll off the tongue so readily that by any yardstick they are invariably thick on the ground. A person in the pink who plays his cards right and who takes up the cudgels for the cause will, without going overboard or changing tack, find an avalanche of metaphors under his very nose. Unless he puts a foot wrong or goes off half-cocked he will take the bull by the horns, bite the bullet and regard them all as useful tools and as grist to his mill. He will already be in the picture and will not need to engage in a witchhunt or rely on the grapevine in order to put his finger on them. Without matters getting out of hand or losing any momentum it stands out a mile that metaphors are in the blood of every Tom, Dick and Harry worth his salt and willing to show the flag. Many expressions have been gathering dust for donkey's years and are so much a hallmark of our society that their down-to-earth use at the drop of a hat does not ring a bell or cause any eyebrows to be raised. |