The charm and beauty of much literature is based on this effect. For communication and education purposes, metaphors may be briefly used to help people to understand an idea. The aim being that people should discard the metaphor once they have got the idea. The cognitive value of the metaphor is as a temporary piece of conceptual scaffolding. Similarly in any creative endeavour, insight may come through use of metaphor to help give form to an idea.
People tend to be trapped in root metaphors of which they are unconscious.
The use of military and sporting metaphor in management tends to be unconscious and its cognitive consequences are implicit, as in the use of any language. This section is primarily concerned with the use of metaphor in an extended manner, whether for creative or communication purposes, but especially by design, when used consciously. Using a clothing metaphor, it is rather like making a point by flashing a handkerchief. Using a clothing metaphor, it is rather like briefly trying on an outlandish garb as an expression of an unexplored aspect of one's personality. Using a clothing metaphor, it is like wearing a favourite jacket to make a statement.