Metonymy: Definition and Examples

Metonymy is a literary device wherein you refer to an idea or object by using another idea or object closely associated with that word. In the literal sense, metonymy means “a change of name.”

For example, a metonymy for the movies is “silver screen,” a term that was coined because movies were traditionally shown on a theater screen. The word “silver” was tagged to it to refer to the original black and white color of films in the old days, as well as the glitter of Hollywood.

Common Examples of Metonymy

Here are some of the most common examples of metonymy used in daily conversation:

I’ll make it big someday in Hollywood! (Hollywood is a metonymy for anything related to the movie industry.)
You can ask her all about web design, that’s clearly her turf. (Turf refers to one’s area of residence or area of expertise.)
The Feds are here! (Feds is a metonymy for government law enforcement agencies.)
Make room for the press. (This refers to publications or news organizations.)
Sure, setting up a YouTube channel is a breeze. (This metonymy refers to something that’s easy or simple.)
They’re still out on the coast with the family. (Coast is a metonymy for ocean, the seaside, or any land areas near water.)
Will there be booze at the party? (Booze is a metonymy for liquor or alcoholic drinks.)
Think carefully about whether you want to go Greek when you head off to college. (Greek is a metonymy for fraternities and sororities, owing to their Greek names and origins.)
Can we go for a spin in your new Packard? (Spin is a metonymy for a car ride.)
I hate it when my dog steals my covers during a cold night. (Covers is associated with blankets, bed linens, quilts, and other bed coverings.)
Drink plenty of fluids and you’ll surely feel better soon. (Fluids refers to taking in substances to hydrate.)
Would you care for a cup? (Cup can be a metonymy for beverages, such as coffee or tea.)

Difference Between Metonymy and Synecdoche

Metonymy and synecdoche are two literary devices that are often confused with each other. One key to differentiate them is this:

Synecdoche uses a part of something to refer to the whole;
Metonymy uses a word that may not be a part of the object in question.

For example, asking for someone’s “hand” in marriage uses a part of the person receiving the proposal. Therefore, it’s an example of synecdoche, and not metonymy.

How about the following sentence:

I’m not looking forward to tackling the mountain of laundry this weekend.

The word “mountain” is related or similar to the word “pile.” This makes the above example metonymy.

Why Do Writers Use Metonymy?

The change of terms lets you vary your expression and also stir up different images for your reader. Using metonymy allows writers to do the following:

1. Avoid repetition.

Generally, we don’t want to repeat the same term within the same sentence or paragraph. An exception would be when you are deliberately using anaphora, which is an intentional repetition of terms. The use of alternative terms allows you to avoid being monotonous in your writing.

2. Demonstrate your communication skills.

Not all words may be used successfully as a metonymy, and being able to find one that works is a sign of strong communication skills.

For example, if you want to talk about playing music on the radio or a music player, you can use the common metonymy “play some tunes.” If you were talking to a group of keyboardists, you can use the term “play some keys,” making it even more related to the subject at hand. But using “play some keys” for a general audience will likely fall flat, so knowing which metonymy to use is vital in being an effective communicator.

3. Create imagery.

Lastly, using metonymy helps you create imagery in the minds of your readers. For example, in, “I was breathless after our spin on the dance floor,” using the word “spin” as a metonymy for dance lets your readers imagine a very fast number instead of the very general term “dance.”

Examples of Metonymy in Literature

Because metonymy is a powerful tool, many writers use it in their works.

**Example #1. From All’s Well that Ends Well by William Shakespeare**

I know a man that had this trick of melancholy sold a goodly manor for a song.

The word “song” in this line is a metonymy referring to something cheap or inexpensive. The use of this word means that the person he was referring to sold his manor at a very cheap price.

**Example #2. From Moby Dick by Herman Melville**

You must know that in a settled and civilized ocean like our Atlantic, for example, some skippers think little of pumping their whole way across it; though of a still, sleepy night, should the officer of the deck happen to forget his duty in that respect, the probability would be that he and his shipmates would never again remember it, on account of all hands gently subsiding to the bottom.

The words “our Atlantic” is used as a metonymy for “the Atlantic Ocean,” whereas the term “all hands” is a metonymy referring to all the men in the ship’s crew. This is also used in the conversational phrase “all hands on deck,” which means to have everyone helping out.

**Example #3. From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald**

The party preserved a dignified homogeneity, and assumed to itself the function of representing the staid nobility of the countryside—East Egg condescending to West Egg, and carefully on guard against its spectroscopic gayety.

The metonymy in this example is using the places “East Egg” and “West Egg” to denote the difference in social standing between Nick Carraway, the narrator who lives in West Egg, and Jay Gasby and his friends, who live in the higher-class East Egg.

Using Metonymy

Now that you understand the benefits of using metonymy in your writing, try your hand at it and make your words shine on the page.

Also, take time to learn about other figures of speech and literary devices to breathe more life into your writing and be a more effective communicator.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

The post Metonymy: Definition and Examples appeared first on TCK Publishing.

Search This Blog

TCK Publishing Videos