What is a lovers-as-doves metaphor?

What is a lovers-as-doves metaphor?

Definition
	A conventional metaphor in which lovers are represented as doves, thus highlighting the gentleness of the lovers, in keeping with the dove's association with peacefulness.

Examples
	Here are some examples in English:
	They sat there billing and cooing till after midnight. It was all lovey-dovey. Look at those two lovebirds on the bench over there! Their love nest has been discovered.

Generic
	A lovers-as-doves metaphor is a kind of
	What is a metaphor for lovers?

Source
	Kovecses 1986

Context for this page:

Concept module: lovers-as-doves metaphor
In modular book: Metaphors in English, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H. Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Lexicon

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 18 September 1998

© 1999 SIL International