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).

List of iron metaphors

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

Persons and characters

Animals and plants

Body parts

Geography

Other iron metaphors

Iron gallery

See also

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)
  • Image of Margaret Thatcher provided by the Margaret Thatcher Foundation
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