Metaphor — memory alpha

Multiple realities

(covers information from several alternate timelines)

"And enough with the metaphors, all right? That's an order."

– James T. Kirk to Leonard McCoy, 2259 (Star Trek Into Darkness)

A metaphor is a specific term, phrase, or often idiom, that is used to make a comparison between two common things that are not alike. These types of comparisons are often tools used to create an analogy.

Some species had languages that were heavily dependent on, or even based on, metaphors to provide clear communication within the species, such as the use of story-based metaphors in the Tamarian language (TNG: "Darmok") and the use of culinary-based metaphors in the Klowahkan language (LD: "A Farewell To Farms"). The universal translator tended to initially translate these metaphors improperly, which could impede communications with outsiders by obfuscating what the speaker was trying to say to varying degrees. When the universal translator was translating their speech literally, a Klowahkan could be generally understood but come across as overtly and annoyingly obsessed with food and give strange advice like cooking paella as an outlet for rage, while a Tamarian would be unintelligible to anyone not familiar with their culture's mythology. (TNG: "Darmok", LD: "Crisis Point")

Discussing the interruption in the USS Enterprise sensors caused by the red bursts detected in 2257, Commander Michael Burnham described the interruption as "like a compass at the north pole." Evan Connolly indicated he found the "metaphor" simplistic, though Burnham corrected him that her statement was more accurately described as a simile. Captain Christopher Pike admired her correction, noting: "He said you were smart." (DIS: "Brother")

In 2258 of the alternate reality, after hearing Leonard McCoy compare Hikaru Sulu's assignment in the captain's chair to a poker game, James T. Kirk responded, "And enough with the metaphors, all right? That's an order." (Star Trek Into Darkness)

According to McCoy actor Karl Urban, the line was inspired by his observation: when I read the script, I did say to J.J. that every line seemed to be a metaphor, and maybe we should cut some of these down, so he turned around to Chris [Pine] said, "hey, why don't you tell him to give it a rest with the metaphors?" [1]

William T. Riker referred to the Earth nursery rhyme, "What Are Little Boys Made Of?", which stated: "Girls are made from sugar and spice, boys are made from snips and snails... and puppy dog tails," to describe the "old-fashioned way of looking at the sexes" to the androgynous Soren. He later clarified that "physically, men are bigger, stronger" and that they "have different sexual organs." He also noted that "men can't bear young." (TNG: "The Outcast")

Upon his retirement from being the Grand Nagus, Zek appointed Rom to be his successor, explaining the role metaphorically as "It's a great responsibility to stand at the bow of the Ferengi ship of state. A Nagus has to navigate the waters of the Great Material Continuum, avoid the shoals of bankruptcy and seek the strong winds of prosperity." (DS9: "The Dogs of War")

Metaphors

"A mother hen"

When Major J. Hayes returned to duty, despite Doctor Phlox's concerns, Malcolm Reed explained to Hayes that "I'm afraid [the Doctor's] a bit of a mother hen." (ENT: "Countdown")
Captain Jean-Luc Picard accused Commander Riker of being a mother hen, by first stating "Oh, cluck, cluck, Number One," when the commander disapproved of the captain beaming down to Ramatis III along with Riva in 2365. (TNG: "Loud As A Whisper")
When Captain Benjamin Sisko and Odo were about to depart Earth, Sisko began to remind his father, Joseph to not forget to take his medicine, before the elder Sisko interrupted him and asked Odo if his son was "always such a mother hen?" Odo simply replied that "he means well." (DS9: "Paradise Lost")

"A princess in a very high tower."

In a holodeck recreation, Commander William T. Riker referred to Manua Apgar who was living isolated with her husband, Tanugan scientist Doctor Nel Apgar on the Tanuga IV science station as "a princess in a very high tower." (TNG: "A Matter of Perspective")

This might be a metaphor referring to the Earth fairy tale Rapunzel.

"A stack of books with legs"

Gary Mitchell so remembered James Kirk when both were in the Starfleet Academy's Presidio Campus, quoting other midshippersonnel as having warned him, "Watch out for Lieutenant Kirk! In his class you either think--or sink." (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")

"A stitch in time saves nine"

Jean-Luc Picard once stated that he wanted Data to "put a stitch in time and, er, save much more than nine." (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")

"A trail of breadcrumbs" / "(A) trail of energy crumbs"

TNG: "When The Bough Breaks", "Cost Of Living"; DS9: "The Alternate", "The Visitor"; VOY: "Faces"

"A trail of broken hearts"

VOY: "The Disease"

"A walking calculator"

Gosheven about Data to Ard'rian McKenzie. (TNG: "The Ensigns of Command")

"A walking database"

VOY: "Nothing Human"

"A walking medical encyclopedia"

The Doctor, stating his strengths. (VOY: "Nothing Human")

"A walking powder keg"

James T. Kirk about Lazarus. (TOS: "The Alternative Factor")

"A walking tin can with circuits for intestines"

Ira Graves as Data, about Data. (TNG: "The Schizoid Man")

"A walking pile of circuitry and memory cells"

Geordi La Forge about Data and his accomplishment. (TNG: "The Most Toys")

"Achilles' heel"

Any single and potentially devastating vulnerability in an otherwise invincible enemy.

During the Neutral Zone Incursion of 2266, Captain James T. Kirk identified the Achilles heel of a Romulan Bird-of-Prey that had been attacking the USS Enterprise as their need to disengage their cloaking device in order to launch their weapon, as it consumed all their energy. He planned to fire phasers at them when they dropped it. (TOS: "Balance of Terror")

In 2367, Beverly Crusher described the Borg's interdependence as their Achilles' heel. She suggested that removing Jean-Luc Picard from their collective consciousness was akin to asking someone to disconnect one of their own limbs. (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II")

Later that year, Q was delighted to discover Picard's Achilles heel; the Human emotion of love. He told Picard that if he'd known about this vulnerability which Vash had managed to unearth, he'd have appeared to the captain as a female instead. (TNG: "Qpid")

In the novelization of What You Leave Behind, Commander Kira Nerys calls the cargo bay doors of Dominion Headquarters the Dominion's "Achilles hell." Although she is corrected by Elim Garak, she is sure her pronunciation is correct.

"(Someone is) all thumbs"

According to an injured Enrique Muniz, "The nurses around here are all thumbs." (DS9: "The Ship")

"(A) battle of wits"

DS9: "One Little Ship"

"Battle of the sexes"

TNG: "The Outcast"

"Beat the hell out of (someone)" / "Kick the hell out of (someone)"

DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars"
Trip Tucker (ENT: "The Xindi")

"Beat the tar out of (someone)"

James T. Kirk (TOS: "Shore Leave")

"Break (someones) heart" (TOS: "Who Mourns for Adonais?"; TNG: "The Last Outpost");

"Broke(n) (someones) heart" (TNG: "Haven", "The Hunted", "Brothers"; DS9: "The Muse", "A Simple Investigation", "Ferengi Love Songs"; VOY: "The Q and the Grey", "The Disease", "Fair Haven", "Inside Man")

"(a) breeze"

A task that is very easy to do.

Wesley Crusher thought that Starfleet Academy would be "a breeze" after his time on the USS Enterprise-D, but found there was more to learn than just starship operations. (TNG: "The Game")

Learning that Vendome got a field promotion, Sam Rutherford said that he "breezed up" the ranks. (LD: "The Least Dangerous Game")

Lieutenant Commander Yor was a time soldier and the only known individual to travel across time and between universes before Philippa Georgiou did, as well. Because Georgiou was to travel across a much greater span of time as well as across universes constantly drifting apart, his excruciating experience would be considered "a breeze" compared to Georgiou's. (DIS: "Terra Firma, Part 1")

"(to) breeze in"

Quickly enter a room with ease and confidence.

Despite never studying, Beckett Mariner "breezed in here" already knowing relevant information about plants and alien identification. (LD: "Envoys")

"Cabin fever"

VOY: "Eye of the Needle"

"(The) cat's out of the bag"

TNG: "In Theory"; VOY: "Worst Case Scenario"

"Character assassination"

TNG: "Time's Arrow"

"Chicken and the egg"

The "chicken and the egg" was a paradox, usually posed as the question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

In an alternate anti-time future created by Q, retired captain Jean-Luc Picard, used the question of the chicken the egg as a metaphor to explain the paradox of the anti-time anomaly to Geordi La Forge, Beverly Picard, Data, and William Riker aboard the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG: "All Good Things...")
In 2372, Torres described establishing communication with a duplicate of the USS Voyager by getting them to recalibrate their comm frequency carrier wave before they'd first made contact as "the chicken and the egg." (VOY: "Deadlock")
In the 31st century, Jonathan Archer described Daniels' urgent need to restore the original timeline by returning the captain to the 22nd century while lacking the technology to do so as "a chicken or the egg problem." (ENT: "Shockwave, Part II")
Archer again said "Chicken or the egg" after Daniels had sent Enterprise NX-01 back in time to 1944 to stop Vosk's temporal incursions, and it became apparent that the timeline had changed prior to the 1940s, with Lenin's death in 1916. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")

"Cold feet"

TNG: "Data's Day"; DS9: "Indiscretion", "A Time to Stand"; VOY: "Timeless"

"Friendly vessel"

TOS: "Mudd's Women"

"I burn [...]. My eyes are flame. My heart is flame."

Quoted by Spock to T'Pau during his pon farr in 2267. (TOS: "Amok Time")

"I dream of a galaxy where your eyes are stars and the universe worships the night."

William T. Riker to Guinan. (TNG: "The Dauphin", "Shades of Gray")

"If you're going to ride in the Kentucky Derby, you don't leave your prized stallion in the stable."

Said to be used where Leonard McCoy was from, however, Spock found it to be "a curious metaphor, doctor, as a stallion must first be broken before it can reach its potential." (Star Trek)

"In a nutshell" (VOY: "Unforgettable", "One", "Drone")

"Life is an endless stream of choices"

Cyrus Redblock (TNG: "The Big Goodbye")

"Life is but a dream"

From "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)

"Moral compass"

TNG: "Face Of The Enemy"; VOY: "Prime Factors"

"(The) mouth of that chasm."

(ENT: "Breaking the Ice")

"(The) mouth of the cave."

(VOY: "State of Flux"; ENT: "Strange New World")

"(The) mouth of the wormhole."

(DS9: "Emissary", "Past Prologue", "Battle Lines", "The Siege", "Call to Arms")

"Music to my ears"

Quark on the increased decibels of his bar. (DS9: "The Way of the Warrior")
Kasidy Yates after Benjamin Sisko surprised her and welcomed her home. (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite")
Vic Fontaine regarding Julian Bashir's comment, "pop open the champagne". (DS9: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang")

"My ears are better than the average dog's."

TNG: "The Schizoid Man"

"My eyes are as mysterious as the stars."

TNG: "Qpid"

"My love is a fever, longing still for that which longer nurseth the disease."

From William Shakespeare, as quoted by Jean-Luc Picard. (TNG: "Ménage à Troi")

"My mind is floating between two places.

Stated by Paul Manheim, adding "It is difficult to know which is which." (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")

"Nerves of steel"

TNG: "The Schizoid Man"

"Never judge a fruit by its skin"

"(Eating out of) / (in the) palm of her hand(s)."

TOS: "A Private Little War"; VOY: "Someone to Watch Over Me"

"Put out to pasture."

A phrase used in Starfleet to describe a very senior officer who no longer had a real purpose or the ability to command. As such, "being put out to pasture" usually implied be given a meaningless assignment to finish one's tenure. James T. Kirk observed this with General Korrd on Nimbus III, and hoped that when Kirk was put out to pasture he fared better than Koord. (Star Trek V: The Final Frontier)

"Saber rattling" (VOY: "Body and Soul"; "Rattle his saber" (DS9: "Broken Link")

"(A) savage thrust into the very heart of the Dominion."

Jake Sisko's description of the upcoming first Battle of Chin'toka to his father, Benjamin Sisko. Jake saw that his father didn't exactly approve of the verbiage, cause Jake to quickly add, "That's not how I would write it", leaving Ben to respond, "That's a relief". (DS9: "Tears of the Prophets")

"Shell of a man"

Following the accident that claimed the independence of Christopher Pike, James T. Kirk described his current condition to being that of "a shell of a man", who was unable to speak or move. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part II")