'The traffic was a nightmare today'; 'you're a star'; 'he's an early bird'; 'we need to get our ducks in a row'. Metaphors like these are so enmeshed within our language that we barely realise we are using them. This book, written by world-renowned expert, provides a clear, comprehensive discussion of how we understand and use metaphor, with a focus on ordinary conversation. It begins by defining metaphors, moving on to explore their communicative role in a range of settings across regular and professional life, and finishing with an overview of the main theoretical approaches to metaphor. Drawing on current research findings, each chapter concludes with a brief discussion of how the topics covered are useful in everyday communication. Ideas are explained in non-technical language, using examples from real-life conversation - making it ideal for students of Communication, Linguistics and Psychology, or anyone interested in the fascinating world of metaphor.