Difference between metaphors and idiomatic expressions

Defections from one side of the political divide to another have been witnessed in recent times. Some individuals have switched sides, purporting to move over with large sections of an electorate that rejected them on August 8, 2017.

It is in the human nature to seek justification for our actions, especially where conscience troubles one over the right or wrong of them. What the larger public knows, however, is the `carrot and stick’ approach that any political party in power, and seeking to entrench that power, would employ. The expression ‘carrot and stick’ is alternately an idiomatic expression and a metaphor. ‘Alternately’ is sometimes confused with ‘alternatively’, but they have different meanings. To alternate is to take turns at doing something.  ‘Alternative’ is an ‘option’, sometimes used in place of ‘otherwise’.

Aptness

An earlier column discussed idiomatic expressions, but to recap, Idiomatic expressions have a meaning different from the meaning of the words used in the statement. As such, the real meaning is not readily apparent. A metaphor on the other hand is defined as a figure of speech or phrase, a symbolism applied to an object to which it is not directly applicable. Unlike the complicated idiomatic expressions, metaphors are easy to understand.

Common metaphors include; ‘iron lady’ (a lady with a character as tough as iron), ‘it is raining men’ (too many men out there) ‘drowning in a sea of grief’, ‘the apple of my eye’ and so forth. Such references serve to give effect to words that would easily sound bland. While simply saying ‘so and so is sad’ captures the situation, the extent of the sadness is captured more aptly in the comparison made to the vastness and depth of the sea in the expression ‘drowning in a sea of grief’.

It is possible that not many people know the origin of the ‘carrot and stick’ metaphor. In short, it was coined from the practice of enticing, sometimes punishing a stubborn horse or donkey by dangling a carrot suspended on a stick ahead of the animal. Unthinkingly, while trying to get at the carrot, the rider would get movement out of the stubborn animal. That is why, as a simile, it fits the shameless, unprincipled Kenyan politician well. Hapless politicians susceptible to the ‘carrot and stick’ ploy wake up to reality after serving their purpose. Only then do they realise they had actually just been beasts of burden; that they did not count much in the scheme of things.

Perceptions

Besides those who have switched political camps, what would one say of the presidential candidates, excluding Cyrus Jirongo (declared bankrupt, hence unfit to run for public office), Dr Ekuru Aukot, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, regarding their attitude to repeat presidential polls? Two words come to mind: ‘Disinterested’ and ‘uninterested’. A disinterested person is one who shows impartiality; not taking sides.

When in early 2008 the panel of eminent African persons led by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan came to persuade Kenyans to stop the madness that had engulfed us after the disputed December 2007 general elections, they were ‘disinterested’ parties. To be ‘uninterested’ is to ‘care less’ (not ‘careless’) or fail to show concern. NASA’s stand is that the party is uninterested in the repeat presidential poll coming up on October 26, 2017, but they will continue with protests against IEBC.

While watching television sometime last week, I was surprised when two anchors stated with a touch of finality that it was improper to say ‘peaceful protests’. Their argument was that protests, like riots, were invariably violent, hence, one would rather say ‘peaceful demonstrations’. They couldn’t have been more wrong because a ‘protest’ is simply a statement or action showing disapproval or objection. Often, we hear of envoys or governments sending ‘protest’ notes over some diplomatic misdemeanour. Would the notes then be considered violent?

However, individuals sometimes create their own perceptions of certain words; attaching wrong meanings. Take, for example, the word ‘virgin’. To many it means a woman or man who has never been sexually involved. It also means a naive or inexperienced person. There are too many ‘legal’ virgins on TV nowadays. A TV show turned sour because the word ‘demagogue’ meant different things to those on the show.

 Mr Chagema is a correspondent at The [email protected]