Overblown metaphor: a long or developed metaphor that is frequently implausible, odd, startling, and/or ingenious. Contrary points of view are often expressed through the use of exaggerated metaphors to make a point. Examples include: "He's a lion in bedding" (Othello), "She's a cobra ready to strike" (Milton), "He's a volcano waiting to erupt" (Shakespeare), "She's a tornado!" (The Wizard of Oz), and "He's a jackal looking for blood" (Joseph Conrad). Such metaphors can be useful tools for expressing ideas that might not otherwise be possible to put into words. However, they should not be used without consideration of their impact. For example, although violence is a central theme in many of these texts, some audiences may find certain metaphors used to describe people who do such things as shocking or offensive. As with other types of imagery, overused metaphors can become tired and outdated. This is particularly true of metaphors that have been used too often where no new information is being conveyed by them. For example, it was not unusual several decades ago for there to be references to violence against women; now this topic has become so common that it does not cause much interest anymore.