Metonymy

Content

• Types of metonymy
• Examples of metonymy

The metonymy it is a literary figure that consists of naming a term with the name of another associated term. It is a substitution mechanism based on a relationship of contiguity, which can occur by causality, provenance, succession, etc. For example: They stole a Rembrandt. (A painting by Rembrandt was stolen)

This literary figure, similar to the synecdoche, is used mostly in colloquial language. For the receiver to understand the meaning of the sentence, it is necessary to share certain codes of communication with the sender.

• See also: Rhetorical figures

Types of metonymy

• Container by content. When it comes to food or beverages, it is often not necessary to say "the content of", but simply by saying "I had a glass" it is understood that what was drunk was the inside of that glass. For example: Do you want a glass of Coca-Cola?
• Instrument by artist. Criticism of different disciplines of art relies heavily on this resource, useful to avoid repetition. Instead of mentioning that it is who uses the instrument, evaluations of the object are directly given, understanding that they fall on who executes it. For example: They played Beethovens all night.
• Concrete for abstract (or vice versa). Some expressions make use of this, exchanging words for others of another characteristic. For example: Has a good head (to speak of someone with good intelligence).
• Place for the object it produces. When it comes to typical products of a place, such as a coffee, a chocolate or a wine, it is frequent that with saying the place where it was produced reaches so that the recipient understands what it is about. For example: They gave me a Luis Vuitton.

Examples of metonymy

1. When there were only a few meters left, he managed to get the gold.
2. Have you seen Marcelo's ego this week? Bought a Lamborghini.
3. While all the musicians were fabulous, the concert stood out metals.
4. Excuse me boy, we will finally order a Sherry.
5. It is not so important to have good head how to study.
6. The White House already made statements about it.
7. For our anniversary, I will buy a Tiffany.
8. For his latest films, this actor has won two goyas.
9. Apparently it has good lungs toyes he will dedicate himself to sport.
10. Don't feel like having one Cup?
11. First he said he wasn't hungry but then he ate two dishes.
12. We must visit the contemporary museum because there is a Frida Kahlo.
13. Leave me your telephone and I will call you anything.
14. Although it seems very old, I like to read Shakespeare.
15. The day before yesterday I saw a man smoking a pipe, I found it strange at this time.
16. Paris and berlin they make the most important decisions about the euro.
17. At only ten years old, he already swore allegiance to the flag.
18. At the age of three, he already inherited the throne.
19. The best pen in world literature is Cervantes.
20. I want to meet him at the exit sax, is a teacher.

Follow with:

• Metaphor
• Allusion