Metaphoric bits and bites

As George Lakoff wrote, “Metaphor is for most people a device of the poetic imagination and the rhetorical flourish- a matter of extraordinary rather than ordinary language.” Lakoff’s separation of Structural and Orientational metaphors was fascinating- the division from conceptual metaphors, which are far more common to notice in terminology, as opposed to the metaphors resting on location, which are seem to be more frequent in conversation, but not in recognition. After reading his understanding of the global use of metaphors, I realized how common, food-based metaphors are in my own lexicon. From digesting information and mulling over ideas to filling up my plate or biting off more than I can chew. Gossip can be juicy, people can be burned, starving for knowledge indicates a desire to learn, and being fried is a tern of anger. Metaphors surround us, they are stirred into our speech patterns, mixed into conversation, and consumed with enthusiasm.

A few of my own favorite edible metaphors include:

Icing on the Cake
While this could imply be considered an idiom, according to Lakoff’s definition of a metaphor, “understanding and experiencing one thing in terms of another” the concept of something being icing on the cake is both understandable and experiential. Icing on the Cake refers to a second coming of positive action. Icing is what follows (or tops) something great (ie. The cake).

Morsel (or Tidbit) of Information
People who are hungry for information or who adore juicy gossip, might be alleviated by a morsel of information- the morsel is a measure of size, often associated with a small bite. By understanding the size/measurement of a Morsel (or tidbit) it is easy to recognize the amount of information procured.

Delicious
Delicious is a multi-useful term that relates something that is “highly pleasing” (ie. Chocolate cake, chocolate soufflé, crème caramel etc.) to almost any essence of life. An event can qualify as delicious, an object can be delicious, a person (ala Caitlin Hines) can be classified as delicious, even a situation can be delicious. But delicious, as Lakoff’s definition requires, returns to it’s foodie beginnings allowing for universal understanding of other concepts through food inspired vocabulary.