A dead metaphor is

Analyze the question: You are asked to define a "dead metaphor", a figure of speech term in Literature in English.

Explain the concept: A metaphor is a comparison made by saying one thing is another, without using "like" or "as". A dead metaphor is one that has been used so often over time that it has lost its original imaginative force. People no longer picture the comparison; the expression has become an ordinary part of everyday language.

Examples:

• "The leg of the table": we no longer imagine a human or animal leg.
• "The foot of the mountain"
• "The mouth of the river"
• "A brainstorm of ideas" or "running a business"

Solution, option by option:

• A. overused and ineffective: Matches the definition. The metaphor is worn out from overuse, so it no longer creates a vivid image.
• B. implied and not funny: Metaphors are implied comparisons, but "not funny" has nothing to do with what makes a metaphor dead.
• C. implied and underused: A dead metaphor is overused, not underused, so this is wrong.
• D. overused and funny: Overuse is right, but humour is irrelevant. The problem is a loss of impact, not a lack of comedy.

Answer: Option A.

Exam tip: Remember that a dead metaphor is a "worn-out coin": it is still in circulation, but its original image has faded. In a WASSCE Literature question, look for the option that links "overused" with "lost effect". Don't be distracted by "funny" or "underused".