🌬️ Just discovered the term Catachresis yesterday and I am so glad there is a word for one of my favorite literary devices. It is when someone uses a metaphor but stretches it out so it’s wrong on actual level, but in it’s wrongness it is right. It’s a very extreme metaphor that is working in both directions!!
EX: Deafening silence We know this is impossible, but what the deafening modifier does is adds a new layer on the type of silence. Only language can do this. 🙃
Shakespeare uses this so often: “Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon’s purse” (a season being shoved in a purse jumps over the use of a standard metaphor because it’s talking about finance trouble)