The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word METAPHOR
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
M
E
T
A
P
H
O
R
More clues leading to the result METAPHOR
- A figure of speech matched a figure of speech
- Mother upset about father backing image
- Bumped into Harpo transformed as a figure of speech
- Satisfied a number picked up analogy
- A figure of speech satisfied a figure in speech
- A figure of speech to hamper translation
- Image Homer modified to describe bug
- Satisfied with top mark for speaking? Don’t take that literally
- Shooting star swapping energy for a boozer’s figure of speech
- Rhetorical device encountered once before in speech
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "A figure of speech" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a figure of speech = metaphor.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does METAPHOR mean?
METAPHOR noun- The use of a word or phrase to refer to something that it is not, invoking a direct similarity between the word or phrase used and the thing described (but in the case of English without the words like or as, since use of those words would imply a simile); the word or phrase used in this way; an implied comparison.
- The use of an everyday object or concept to represent an underlying facet of the computer and thus aid users in performing tasks.
- To use a metaphor.
- To describe by means of a metaphor.