metaphorical question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "metaphorical question" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a question asked with the intent of making an implicit comparison, but not expecting a literal answer. For example, "Is the glass half empty or half full?" is a metaphorical question often used to explore a person's attitude and outlook on life.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is a metaphorical question.

The New York Times - Books

"O death, where is thy sting?" may be a searching metaphorical question, but such queries can only confuse the biologist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Indeed, on occasion, one would have welcomed a few more metaphorical exclamation and question marks from the author.

Independent

Whether a person feels it's necessary to believe in the stories as being literally true or, on the other hand, full of metaphorical wisdom, the question to ask is: what do the stories mean?

Huffington Post

Ms. Vendler acutely observes that the deaths of Mr. Heaney's mother in 1984 and his father in 1986 "caused a tear in the fabric of Heaney's verse," and the poems in "The Haw Lantern" (1987) tend to focus on absences, rather than presences, on virtual, metaphorical and metaphysical questions rather than material realities.

The New York Times - Books

AS IT bombards Serbia, the Clinton administration is sustaining a metaphorical bombardment over the question of the use of ground troops to back up the air war in Kosovo.

The Economist

With each hexagram is a brief symbolic anecdote, which can be read as a metaphorical response to the question you're meditating on.

WikiHow

Just this week, Lily Allen threw the very notion of the word under a metaphorical bus when she questioned why 'there was still a conversation about feminism' in the year 2014.

Independent

Nevertheless, by shining a real light into the brains of their mice, they have shone a metaphorical one onto the whole, vexed question of why it is that some people so firmly believe in things that actually did not happen.

The Economist

The question remains if conceptual metaphorical mapping is indeed uniquely human or if it appears in other primates and thus describes a conceptual metaphorical mapping that predates language.

eLife

Every name and detail is as metaphorical and weighty as the bowl; questions about flaws and judgment and betrayal abound.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "metaphorical question", ensure that the context clearly indicates that the question is intended to evoke a deeper meaning or comparison, rather than a literal answer.

Common error

Avoid using "metaphorical question" when a literal question is more appropriate. Ensure that the question's purpose is to create an implicit comparison and not to seek concrete information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "metaphorical question" functions as a noun phrase modifier, where the adjective "metaphorical" qualifies the noun "question". This indicates that the question is not meant to be taken literally but rather as a figurative or symbolic expression. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is deemed grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "metaphorical question" describes a question intended to evoke a deeper meaning or comparison rather than a literal response. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, though its usage is relatively rare. Predominantly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, the phrase serves to prompt reflection through figurative language. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the question's intention to avoid misinterpretation. Alternatives like "figurative inquiry" or "symbolic question" can offer nuanced expressions of the same concept. A "metaphorical question" is not merely a question; it's an invitation to explore beyond the surface, leveraging language's symbolic power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

figurative inquiry

Replaces "metaphorical" with "figurative", emphasizing the non-literal nature of the question.

symbolic question

Emphasizes the use of symbols in the question rather than a direct meaning.

rhetorical question employed metaphorically

Specifies that the rhetorical question is used metaphorically.

allegorical question

Highlights the allegorical nature of the question, suggesting a deeper, hidden meaning.

figurative line of inquiry

Replaces "question" with "line of inquiry", changing the noun but retaining the figurative aspect.

question framed metaphorically

Focuses on how the question is constructed rather than its inherent nature.

question used as a metaphor

Directly states that the question is being used as a metaphor.

question with symbolic meaning

Highlights that the question carries a symbolic meaning.

question intended figuratively

Focuses on the intention behind the question, that it is meant to be understood figuratively.

non-literal question

Simplifies the concept by directly stating that the question is not meant to be taken literally.

FAQs

How can I use "metaphorical question" in a sentence?

You can use "metaphorical question" to describe a question that's not meant to be answered literally but to provoke thought or illustrate a point. For example, "'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' is a classic "metaphorical question" used in Zen Buddhism".

What's the difference between a "metaphorical question" and a rhetorical question?

A rhetorical question is asked for effect and doesn't require an answer, while a "metaphorical question" uses figurative language to explore a concept. A question can be both rhetorical and metaphorical. It is rhetorical when you don't expect an answer, and "metaphorical question", when it uses figurative language.

Can you give an example of a "metaphorical question"?

An example of a "metaphorical question" is "Is the glass half empty or half full?" This question isn't about the actual liquid in the glass but about one's outlook on life. It is a classic example of a "metaphorical question".

What can I say instead of "metaphorical question"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "figurative inquiry", "symbolic question", or "question used as a metaphor" to convey a similar meaning. These phrases can provide a nuanced way to describe a "metaphorical question".