Figures of Speech/Figuras de Estilo: Metonymy/Metonímia

Literary Devices wrote:Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. We can come across examples of metonymy both from literature and in everyday life.

We use metonymy frequently in our everyday life. For a better understanding, let us observe a few metonymy examples:

“England decides to keep check on immigration.” (England refers to the government.)
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Pen refers to written words, and sword to military force.)
“The Oval Office was busy in work.” (The Oval Office is a metonymy, as it stands for people who work in the office.)
“Let me give you a hand.” (Hand means help.)

Priberam wrote:me·to·ní·mi·a
(latim metonymia, -ae)
substantivo feminino
Figura de retórica que consiste no emprego de uma palavra por outra com a qual se liga por uma relação lógica ou de proximidade.


"metonímia", in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa [em linha], 2008-2013, https://dicionario.priberam.org/meton%C3%ADmia [consultado em 22-09-2018].