For three thousand years, great thinkers and writers have relied on metaphor to articulate profound thoughts, give voice to powerful emotions, and creatively explain complex ideas. But metaphorical language is not the sole province of poets, philosophers, and playwrights. If you’ve ever tried to describe what it’s like to have a broken heart, a thankless child, or a glorious triumph, you know how valuable—and compelling—the perfect metaphor can be.

Essential for writers, readers, and language aficionados, this remarkable sourcebook breaks new ground by using QR Codes to digitally integrate it with Dr. Mardy’s Dictionary of Metaphorical Quotations (DMDMQ), the world’s largest online database of metaphorical quotations. The elegant synergy between print and technology provides detailed source information for all quotations, innumerable “Error Alerts,” and countless quotation backstories for curious readers to further their knowledge and deepen their understanding of favorite quotations.

Sourced from more than five million observations from literature, politics, philosophy, religion, history, pop culture, and more, Dr. Mardy’s meticulously curated compendium is as delightful to read as it is invaluable to own—and sure to inspire with the perfect metaphor every time.

"This thoughtfully compiled collection of metaphors is a rich resource for writers and a pleasant diversion for lovers of language."