The Johnny Denovo Mysteries

Summer is approaching, and the first heat waves have raced across the United States, causing tornadoes, thunderstorms, and human discomfort.

Heat travels in waves, but cold snaps. These simple differences point to the way in which we capture metaphors in our daily language. Weather is abundant with these small but important linguistic differences, captured both in how we describe weather and how we use weather terms to describe other concepts.

Cold weather attacks more than warmer weather. It snaps, bites, claws, and penetrates, reflecting the experience of losing body heat and being depleted of energy by cold weather. Frostbite, cold snaps, and frost heaves are all attacking or violent metaphors.

Warm weather tends to be either languid (waves) or viewed as punishment (hotter than Hades, hotter than Hell). While cold attacks us, heat is harder to avoid, and therefore feels like justice or perdition.

People use weather metaphors in daily conversation (“a chilly reception” or “a foggy memory”) to bring visual or perceptual reality to reflect an emotion. Weather is a common experience, so it provides a metaphor set that is universal.

As you move into the warm seasons, may your outlook be bright, and the clouds part before you.