Iron (metaphor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iron, when used metaphorically, refers to certain traits of the metal iron. Used as an adjective, it refers to something stern, harsh, unyielding, inflexible, rigid, sturdy, strong, robust.
Today many other things are known which are stronger, sturdier than iron, such as steel or diamond. Still, the "iron" metaphor rooted in the Iron Age, when Iron defeated Bronze, persists among many cultures. For example, the name Timur, meaning iron in Turkic languages, has been a widespread name in Western and Central Asia since the days of the Mongol Empire.
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[edit] List of things iron
The list of iron things below is categorized superficially, rather than by the actual meanings of the expressions, to stress the metaphorical usage.
[edit] Iron persons and characters
- Iron Lady
- Iron maiden
- Iron Virgin
- Iron Queen
- Iron Chancellor
- Iron Duke
- Iron Felix
- Iron Man
- Iron John
- Iron Mike
- Iron Giant
- Iron Sheik
- Iron Heroes
- Iron Eyes Cody, an actor.
- Iron Shell, a Brule Sioux chief.
- Iron Tail, an Oglala Sioux warrior.
- Iron Eye, an Omaha chief
- Iron Savior
- Iron Angel
- Iron Monger
- Iron Kid
- Iron Lad
- Iron Fan Princess
- Iron Maniac
- Iron Chef
- Iron Warrior
[edit] Iron animals, creatures and plants
- Iron Monkey
- Iron Wolf
- Iron Bird
- Iron condor
- Iron Eagle
- Iron Butterfly
- Iron Dragon
- Iron cobra
- Iron Horse
- Iron Kong
- Iron bamboo
[edit] Iron body parts
[edit] Iron geography
[edit] Other iron things
- Iron Age
- Iron Brigade
- Iron cage
- Iron Cross
- Iron Curtain
- Iron Fire
- Iron harvest
- Iron Helix
- Iron Seed
- Iron Shirt
- Iron Sunrise
- Iron Triangle
- Iron Will
[edit] Iron gallery
 The Iron maiden of Nuremberg |
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 "Big iron": Colt Python |
 1813 Iron Cross |
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 Timur ("Iron") |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Random House Unabridged Dictionary
- The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
- Theodore Wertime and James Muhly, eds., The Coming of the Age of Iron (Yale, 1980, ISBN 0300024258 (hardcover))
- "Iron, Master of Them All", University of Iowa Museum of Art and PASALA - Project for the Advanced Study of Art and Life in Africa. The article discusses various metaphors associated with iron in African cultures.
- "Iron: The man in the mask", a BBC News article (6 November 1999)
