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Maple Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

What figure of speech is this, metaphor?

Sentence:

I teach because, being around people who are beginning to breathe, I occasionally find myself catching my breath with them.

Question:

What does catching my breath with them mean? I sense some special effect has been made, but what figure of speech is it, metaphor?

A lot of thanks!
  

Top answer

I suppose the meaning is that when we discover something new and surprising, we often gasp ('catch our breath') in astonishment or delight. A good teacher, of course, often discovers new things, or new views of things, along with his/her students. I wouldn't call this a metaphor.

— Mister Micawber

  • I suppose the meaning is that when we discover something new and surprising, we often gasp ('catch our breath') in astonishment or delight.
  • A good teacher, of course, often discovers new things, or new views of things, along with his/her students.
  • I wouldn't call this a metaphor.
  • I'm sure it has another name-- the use of one characteristic to represent the whole experience-- but I have a mind like a sieve, sorry.
  • Maybe another member will know.
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7 Answers
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I suppose the meaning is that when we discover something new and surprising, we often gasp ('catch our breath') in astonishment or delight. A good teacher, of course, often discovers new things, or new views of things, along with his/her students.

I wouldn't call this a metaphor. I'm sure it has another name-- the use of one characteristic to represent the whole experience-- but
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If your mind is like a sieve, then my mind would just be a waterfall! Emotion: big smile[C]

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This paragr
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Mister MicawberI suppose the meaning is that when we discover something new and surprising, we often gasp ('catch our breath') in astonishment or delight. A good teacher, of course, often discovers new things, or new views of things, along with his/her students.

I wouldn't call this a metaphor. I'm sure it has another name-- the use of one characteristic
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So it's synecdocheEmotion: rolleyes


found in google:

Synecdoche (???)

  • A form of metaphor in which
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Thanks all for the research, but now I don't think it's synecdoche. With the context:

These are the real reasons I teach, these people who grow and change in front of me. Being a teacher is being present at the creation, when the clay begins to breathe. I teach because, being around people who are beginning to breathe, I occasionally find myself catching my br
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Hmmmm, now I sense "catching my breath" here means "exulting". It's very vivid. And the figure of speech is metaphor.Emotion: rolleyes
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Catching my breath is not a metaphor because a metaphor uses like or as. I am pretty sure it is personification.
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