Paint a picture

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me75

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I am at a loss for a word. I am looking for a word that describes a phrase that paints a picture (not always a pretty one). For example "raining cats and dogs" "She's the spit out of your mouth" "I paid an arm and a leg". The closest I came was idiom but I feel like there is a better, more specific word out there. Any advice?
 
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twostep

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me75 said:
I am at a loss for a word. I am looking for a word that describes a phrase that paints a picture (not always a pretty one). For example "raining cats and dogs" "She's the spit out of your mouth" "I paid an arm and a leg". The closest I came was idiom but I feel like there is a better, more specific word out there. Any advice?
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Can you be more specific? What kind of picture do you want to paint?
 
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Susie Smith

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twostep said:
Francois said:
"Look up vivid and pictorial" was addressed to me75.

FRC
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You lost me completely - waht is me75?
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Me75 is the user who began this topic. All the examples he gave us are idioms. Me75, could you be a little more specific? Could you give us some more examples of what you really want?

For instance, are you talking about metaphors? (implied comparison)
Your words are razors to my wounded heart.

Similes? (direct comparison)
As for man, his days are as grass.

Or are you looking for vivid adjectives, as FRC supposed?
:)
 
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twostep

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Francois said:
Who has started this thread?

FRC
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Be gentle! I am posting during business calls! And I still do not know what he wants to describe wiht an idiom. Mercy!
 
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Francois

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Gentle is my second name.

I think he was looking for words expressing that a saying/idiom can conjure up strong images to the listener. Vivid and pictorial may be among the words he was looking for.

FRC
 
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twostep

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Francois said:
Gentle is my second name. Do you remember the Neil Diamond? I am a believer.........

I think he was looking for words expressing that a saying/idiom can conjure up strong images to the listener. Vivid and pictorial may be among the words he was looking for.

FRC
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If he wants idioms we need more detail in reagrds to the situation.
 
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Francois

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He does not want idioms (if I got him right), he wants words to describe some traits of them.

FRC
 
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twostep

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Francois said:
He does not want idioms (if I got him right), he wants words to describe some traits of them.

FRC
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Mea culpa! I am a bit slow today. Maybe slower then usual. Old age creeping up?
 
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me75

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Clarification (I hope)

Francois said:
Gentle is my second name.

I think he was looking for words expressing that a saying/idiom can conjure up strong images to the listener. Vivid and pictorial may be among the words he was looking for.

FRC
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EXACTLY! Sorry about the confusion. I will try to clarify but I'm not sure it will make sense. I was going to make a verb out of this word. The specific sentence I ended up using (but I still think there is a better word): "She is the spit out of your mouth", her mother idiomized.

Before you say anything, I realize idiomize is not a word. I knew from the beginning that I would be inventing a verb from this noun.

I still think, though, that there is a better word to describe such a descriptive (if gross) phrase.

Thanks for all of your help and sorry again for the confusion.
 
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twostep

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Re: Clarification (I hope)

me75 said:
Francois said:
Gentle is my second name.

I think he was looking for words expressing that a saying/idiom can conjure up strong images to the listener. Vivid and pictorial may be among the words he was looking for.

FRC
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EXACTLY! Sorry about the confusion. I will try to clarify but I'm not sure it will make sense. I was going to make a verb out of this word. The specific sentence I ended up using (but I still think there is a better word): "She is the spit out of your mouth", her mother idiomized.

Before you say anything, I realize idiomize is not a word. I knew from the beginning that I would be inventing a verb from this noun.

I still think, though, that there is a better word to describe such a descriptive (if gross) phrase.

Thanks for all of your help and sorry again for the confusion.
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I do not remember hearing that. Did you mean she is your spitting image?
 
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Francois

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Yeah, the "spit out of your mouth" sounds weird out of context. Looks like "spitting image" indeed. Anyway, English being a wonderfully dynamic language, you can always coin new verbs, like idiomize, but you must know what you're doing, because the listener will think you made a mistake or may not understand you. Specifically, "idiomize" doesn't look terrific to me. I would suggest sticking to an existing verb and using an adverb instead.

FRC
 
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twostep

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Francois said:
Yeah, the "spit out of your mouth" sounds weird out of context. Looks like "spitting image" indeed. Anyway, English being a wonderfully dynamic language, you can always coin new verbs, like idiomize, but you must know what you're doing, because the listener will think you made a mistake or may not understand you. Specifically, "idiomize" doesn't look terrific to me. I would suggest sticking to an existing verb and using an adverb instead.

FRC
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Christmas and New Years on one day! Francois agrees with me on something.
 
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