What is an idea-as-commodity metaphor?

What is an idea-as-commodity metaphor?

Definition
	A conventional metaphor in which an idea is represented as an object with a value, that can be bought and sold, and for which there is a market.

Examples
	Here are some examples in English:
	It's important how you package your ideas. He won't buy that. There is always a market for good ideas. That's a worthless idea.

Generic
	An idea-as-commodity metaphor is a kind of
	What is a metaphor for rational processes?

Source
	Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980

Context for this page:

Concept module: idea-as-commodity metaphor
In modular book: Metaphors in English, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H. Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Lexicon

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 18 September 1998