Iron (metaphor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Iron, when used metaphorically, refers to certain traits of the metal iron. Used as an adjective and sometimes as a noun, it refers to something stern, harsh, unyielding, inflexible, rigid, sturdy, strong, robust. It is sometimes used for something technological (iron lung) or not technologically advanced (iron bomb).

Contents 1 List of iron metaphors 1.1 Persons and characters 1.2 Animals and plants 1.3 Body parts 1.4 Geography 1.5 Other iron metaphors 2 Iron gallery 3 See also 4 References

[edit] List of iron metaphors

This list is categorized superficially, rather than by the actual meanings of the expressions, to stress the metaphorical usage.

[edit] Persons and characters

• The name Timur, meaning iron in Turkic languages, has been a widespread name in Western and Central Asia since the days of the Mongol Empire.
• Iron Lady
• Iron Queen
• Iron Chancellor
• Iron Duke
• Iron Felix
• Iron Man
• Iron John
• Iron Mike
• Iron Sheik
• Iron Heroes
• Iron Eyes Cody, an actor.
• Iron Shell, a Brule Sioux chief.
• Iron Tail, an Oglala Sioux warrior.
• Iron Eye, an Omaha chief
• Iron Kid
• Iron Lad
• Iron Fan Princess
• Iron Maniac
• Iron Chef
• Iron Tail

[edit] Animals and plants

• Iron Monkey
• Iron Wolf
• Iron Bird
• Iron condor
• Iron Eagle
• Iron Butterfly
• Iron Dragon
• Iron cobra
• Iron Horse
• Iron Kong
• Iron bamboo
• Ironwood

[edit] Body parts

• Iron Eye
• Iron Fist
• Iron Hands
• Iron Heel
• Iron Knuckle
• Iron lung
• Iron Palm

[edit] Geography

• Iron Cities
• Iron Mountains
• Iron Range
• Iron Rivers

[edit] Other iron metaphors

• Iron bomb
• Iron Brigade
• Iron cage
• Iron Curtain
• Iron Fire
• Iron Guard
• Iron harvest
• Iron Helix
• Iron Seed
• Iron Shirt
• Iron Sunrise
• Iron Triangle
• Iron Will

[edit] Iron gallery

Iron Lady	Iron Felix	Timur ("Iron")	Iron Tail
The Iron Heel	Iron lung	"Big iron": an IBM z800 2066 mainframe	"Big Iron": Colt Python
Iron Range, Minnesota	Iron Curtain, Germany

[edit] See also

• Iron (disambiguation)
• Big Iron
• Wikipedia articles starting with the word "Iron"

[edit] References

• Random House Unabridged Dictionary
• The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
• Theodore Wertime and James Muhly, eds., The Coming of the Age of Iron (Yale, 1980, ISBN 0-300-02425-8 (hardcover))
• "Iron, Master of Them All", University of Iowa Museum of Art and PASALA - Project for the Advanced Study of Art and Life in Africa. The article discusses various metaphors associated with iron in African cultures.
• "Iron: The man in the mask", a BBC News article (6 November 1999)