Ontological Metaphor

Definition:
An ontological metaphor is a metaphor in which an abstraction, such as an activity, emotion, or idea, is
represented as something concrete, such as an object, substance, container, or person.
Kinds:

 Container Metaphor
 Entity Metaphor
 Substance Metaphor

Container Metaphor
Definition:
A containment metaphor is an ontological metaphor in which some concept is represented as:

 having an inside and outside, and

 capable of holding something else.

Examples:
(English)
I’ve had a full life.
Life is empty for him.
Her life is crammed with activities.
Get the most out of life.
Source:
Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980
29–30, 51

Entity Metaphor
Definition:
An entity metaphor is an ontological metaphor in which an abstraction is represented as a concrete
physical object.
Kinds:

 Personification

Examples:
(English)
In the following sentences, the mind is represented as a machine or a brittle object:
  We're still trying to grind out the solution to this equation.
 My mind just isn’t operating today.
 Her ego is very fragile.
 You have to handle him with care since his wife’s death.

Source:
Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980
25, 27–28

Substance Metaphor
Definition:
A substance metaphor is an ontological metaphor in which an abstraction, such as an event, activity,
emotion, or idea, is represented as material.
Examples:
(English)

 Here are some examples of the activity-as-substance metaphor:

o There was a lot of good sprinting in the race.
o I couldn’t do much sprinting until the end.

Source:
Lakoff, G. and Johnson 1980
25, 31

https://glossary.sil.org/term/substance-metaphor