Asperger’s Experiences & Personal Growth: Stephen’s Evolution

Mastering the Art of Figurative Language for the Autistic Mind

• Stephen McHugh • Episode 32

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Do you find idioms and metaphors become more puzzling than a Rubik's Cube at a Mensa meeting? If so, why not embark on an adventure through the whimsical world of language with me as your guide, where I aim to unravel the mysteries of "piece of cake" and "thrown in the deep end" with a dash of wit and a heap of understanding. For those on the autism spectrum, and frankly anyone who's ever scratched their head at a confusing turn of phrase, this episode can guide you to mastering the art of figurative language. Discover the joy of "Short Idiom Stories" from my blog, where I spin yarns that transform baffling idioms into crystal-clear narratives.

Armed with personal anecdotes and a treasure trove of strategies, I open up the conversation to you, my listeners, to share your idiom escapades and victories over vexing vocabulary. Whether you've faced challenges or championed clarity in the realm of idioms, your stories and experiences can be the lifeblood of this linguistic odyssey. And if you're eager for more than just anecdotes, fret not! Tips galore await on how to craft your own idiom-loaded stories, sketch out visual aids, and peel back the layers of context behind these colourful expressions. So tune in, connect, and let's paint the town red with the vibrant brushstrokes of language.

Send me your comments and questions


Thanks for listening. You can find me on my website stephensevolution.com, or on twitter here. You can sign up to receive news of new episodes when they're released here.


Artwork produced by Elena Designe
Music composed by Nela Ruiz

Stephen McHugh:

Hello and welcome to the Stephen's Evolution podcast. I'm Stephen McHugh, your host, and I make fortnightly episodes based on my lived experiences on the autism spectrum. I'm thrilled to have you with me for this episode, to have you with me for this episode. In this particular episode, I'm going to dive into the fascinating world of creativity and language, with a special focus on idioms and metaphors. The inspiration for this episode came from two sources that have resonated deeply with me and may even resonate with you too. Firstly, my popular episode From Literal to Figurative Navigating Language on the Spectrum language on the spectrum. It is on this episode where I shared personal experiences and insights into my journey from a literal understanding of language, particularly idioms, to appreciating their figurative nuances. And secondly, my blog post titled Short Idiom Stories is where I've written a number of short stories based on various idioms, aiming to make it easier for those with autism to understand idioms more easily. According to my website Analytics, it appears to have captivated readers with its creative approach to explaining the idioms themselves. Understanding language, especially its figurative forms, can be uniquely challenging for many people, including autistic individuals. As someone who has navigated these challenges firsthand, I know how confusing idioms and metaphors can be, know how confusing idioms and metaphors can be. In this episode, I aim to explore how idioms and metaphors can enrich our conversations and also provide practical tips for making these concepts more accessible for everyone, including those on the autism spectrum. For me, language is a powerful tool and by embracing its creative aspects, we can open up new ways of thinking and communicating. Whether you're a language enthusiast, a learner or just simply curious about the magic of words, this episode is for you, and if you're someone who finds figurative language particularly tricky, or if you support someone who finds the figurative language difficult, I hope you will find this discussion helpful and reassuring. So let's get ready to embark on this journey together and discover the beauty and complexity of language, making it accessible and enjoyable for all. Stay tuned.

Stephen McHugh:

Firstly, I'm going to dive into a summary of the key points from one of my most popular episodes, the one where I talk about navigating language on the spectrum. It is during this episode where I explored my personal journey and experiences with understanding and using figurative language. Language is a beautiful and complex system. By exploring its intricacies, what we can do is connect with its beauty and artistry. What I found was this exploration is not only intellectually stimulating but also emotionally enriching. It can allow us to appreciate the subtle shades of meaning that words can convey, enhancing our communication skills and deepening our understanding of the world around us.

Stephen McHugh:

It's crucial in my eyes to understand both literal and figurative language to navigate social interactions more effectively and avoid misunderstanding. For instance, at school, a student in a class who takes things literally where the teacher says get your thinking caps on. This phrase is not meant to be taken literally, but is a figurative expression meant to encourage focus. This understanding can help avoid miscommunication and ensure that one responds appropriately.

Stephen McHugh:

In various contexts, idioms can be particularly challenging yet amusing to decode. For instance, imagine writing a story which features a literal detective who leaves no stone unturned in their investigations. While this may sound thorough in the story, the detective's literal approach may lead to poor results because they may miss the figurative meaning behind clues. What they might do in the story is turn over stones on a beach and waste a lot of time which could otherwise be spent doing their investigations. Another example is the idiom on a different wavelength. On a different wavelength. Taking this literally could be confusing, but figuratively it means someone may be saying something irrelevant to a particular conversation. And now to my popular blog post, short Idiom Stories. I have chosen three idioms from this to highlight amusing and sometimes confusing nature of figurative language.

Stephen McHugh:

Piece of cake the literal meaning here can be something was actually a piece of cake. The literal meaning here can be something was actually a piece of cake. The figurative meaning, however, can mean something that was very easy to do. A story here could be to imagine being told that your maths homework should be a piece of cake, and here one might be expecting an actual dessert. The surprise and confusion here can give way to the realisation that it simply means the homework is easy, which in some ways can be quite relieving.

Stephen McHugh:

Idiom two thrown in the deep end. The literal meaning here is being put in the deep end, as in a swimming pool, like in the case of a weak swimmer. The figurative meaning to this is being given a difficult task to do as a novice or with little or no preparation, or with little or no preparation To do a story on this, you could picture someone who is afraid of swimming being asked to go into the deep end of a pool, as you can imagine. Here you can like Picture an image capturing the essence of being given a challenging task without preparation, something that can feel equally overwhelming in real-life situations. And idiom number three a needle in a haystack. The literal meaning could be actually looking for a needle in a haystack. The figurative meaning to this is something that's going to be very difficult to find. Visualise the frustration of searching for a tiny needle hidden in a massive pile of hay. Now you can see how this idiom perfectly describes any task that seems nearly impossible to do due to its difficulty, like finding a single file in a disorganised office.

Stephen McHugh:

I first came across this idiom when I was out shopping with my family. We were going to meet up with the rest of them later at an arranged meeting point. Otherwise it'd be like finding a needle in a haystack, because if you're out shopping in a big town or city, you're going to be in like a big area. You could spend a lot of time trying to find each other. Now, as I have just shown, stories like these can highlight how idioms, when misunderstood, can lead to humorous yet instructive situations of learning to navigate the figurative language that is so prevalent in everyday communication. By understanding and appreciating both the literal and figurative aspects of language, we can not only enhance our communication skills, but also open ourselves up to the rich tapestry of human expression. This journey, for me, from literal interpretations to a more nuanced understanding is a testament to the transformative power of language itself. So as we continue this episode, we'll delve deeper into how creativity can play a role in understanding and using language and how we can all benefit from exploring its figurative dimensions.

Stephen McHugh:

Now, in the next section, let's explore the role of creativity in language. The way I see it is that creativity can not only enhance our comprehension and usage of language, but also make communication more engaging and expressive. By tapping into our creative thinking, we can learn and use language in more dynamic and effective ways. Creative thinking can involve using imagination, visualization and innovative approaches to understand and convey our ideas. In the case of language learning and communication, this can mean going beyond the literal meanings of words to explore their figurative and contextual nuances. We're going to look at some ways now of how you can creatively enhance understanding of language.

Stephen McHugh:

One effective method I found is by visualization. This can be where we can create vivid mental images in order to try and grasp the meaning of certain expressions. Imagine a delighted character jumping for joy at something, and they're jumping so high it may seem like they're jumping over the moon. Such playful visualisation here can help us to understand the idiom over the moon more easily, showing one character being extremely happy. Another example is the idiom kick up the backside. Now, as you can imagine, this is not a nice thing to do to someone. The visual image it conjures here can help us to grasp its figurative meaning. It can mean to give someone strong encouragement to do something or take a certain action. Similarly, crack a book might sound destructive if taken literally, but what it actually means is to start studying or reading. Picturing the action of opening a book, rather than damaging it, can help clarify this particular expression. And lastly, the idiom raining cats and dogs can be understood through observation and by listening too. Imagine looking outside and seeing it raining heavily, with the raindrops making loud noises against the windows and roof. Such a dramatic scenery here can help to convey the idea of very heavy rain.

Stephen McHugh:

And now I'm going to move on to how idioms and metaphors can add colour and depth to our everyday conversations. I'm going to talk about some examples here. Barking up the wrong tree, imagine you have a dog. You take it out for a walk to a local park. When you're there in the park, your dog may chase a squirrel. The squirrel may escape up a tree close to another one, but your dog mistakenly barks up the other tree closest to it. Now, as you can probably work out more easily, this idiom can mean pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.

Stephen McHugh:

The visual scene here can help us to understand its metaphorical meaning. Imagine you're baking a cake and you accomplish the task quite easily, and then you're told by someone that was a piece of cake, wasn't it? This idiom means the task was very easy. By visualising and seeing that the baking process may have been easy, you can grasp the figurative meaning more clearly. Life is a rollercoaster ride. Think about being at a funfair where you may experience the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. I've been on one in my time. This metaphor can vividly describe the emotional highs and lows of life. Relating it to personal lived experiences of ups and downs can make it even more relatable.

Stephen McHugh:

By using creative methods like visualization and imaginative thinking, you can see how we can deepen our understanding of idioms and metaphors and make our language skills richer and more expressive and interesting and more expressive and interesting. This creative approach can not only enhance our comprehension but also make our communication more engaging and enjoyable. Idioms and metaphors are different ways of using language. You can compare all the variety of colours and shapes on a painting and picture it making an attractive painting. As we continue this episode, stay with me as we keep exploring this fascinating intersection of creativity and language. Stay tuned, of creativity and language. Stay tuned.

Stephen McHugh:

And now, here in the next section, I'm going to let it be about you, my wonderful listeners. I want to hear your stories, your experiences and your insights, so I want to encourage you to share your own idiom stories or experiences with figurative language. I want to hear about any successes or struggles and ways you used to overcome any struggles, and if you've supported someone in understanding idioms, helping them to overcome the difficulties they may have had with them, you're welcome to share your stories and experiences as well. Your stories have the potential to inspire and help others who may be on similar journeys. You can share your stories with me on social media via a link to me on Twitter at the footer of my website, stephensevolutioncom, which is where my blog is. You can tell me about a time when an idiom may have confused you or how you used creative means to figure out its meaning. You may even have a funny or insightful experience related to understanding figurative language.

Stephen McHugh:

Whatever it is you have to tell your story can be very useful In the case of you having any success in understanding and using idioms. Why not share what worked for you? Did a particular visualization technique help? There may have been a memorable moment for you when a metaphor finally clicked for you. Such successes for me can offer great encouragement and practical tips to others. On the other hand, if you struggled with certain idioms or metaphors, you're welcome to share those too.

Stephen McHugh:

Struggles, the way I see them, can be a natural part of learning, and discussing them openly can go a long way to finding solutions and support. We can all learn from one another, and your story might just be the key to helping someone else overcome a similar challenge. Overcome a similar challenge. If you want to connect with me on social media, such as on Twitter, just use the hashtag using a hash then and then creative language journey all one word. This way, we can all follow along and engage with each other's experiences. On the other hand, if you prefer, you can leave a comment on my blog post dedicated to this episode. I'll be looking for any comments to respond to, and I might even feature some of your stories in future episodes or blog posts. So let's get the conversation started.

Stephen McHugh:

Why not share your idiom stories and experiences with figurative language? By doing this, we can build a supportive and inspiring community together. Any input, no matter how small, can be incredibly valuable. I look forward to hearing such stories and experiences from you. Remember, language is a journey filled with creativity and discovery. By exploring and sharing our unique experiences, it is through this that we can all become better communicators and appreciate the richness of language even more. And here in the next section, I'll be giving some practical tips of my own for using figurative language. Using figurative language effectively can enhance your writing and speaking skills and make any narratives more vivid and engaging. Here are some of my practical tips for incorporating figurative language into your writing.

Stephen McHugh:

Tip number one writing short stories based on idioms. Writing short stories based on idioms Idioms, for me, can be a great starting point for creative writing. You can try writing short stories centred around certain idioms. For instance, take the idiom clutching at straws. With this particular idiom, you can build a narrative around a character who may be desperately trying to solve an insurmountable problem. This exercise could help you to understand the underlying meaning of this idiom and idioms in general, and how they can add depth to your stories.

Stephen McHugh:

Tip number two recognising figurative language. Whenever someone uses a phrase that sounds unusual or doesn't make sense literally uses a phrase that sounds unusual or doesn't make sense literally, we've all been there this can often be a sign of a figurative expression. Going back to the expression, clutching at straws, and realise it's not meant to be taken literally, this can indicate a figurative meaning. Becoming familiar with common idioms and metaphors can help us to identify and use them more effectively, and if you realize it's not meant to be taken literally, this can be a sure sign of a figurative meaning. Tip number three creating visual representations. By visualizing idioms, you can make them more memorable and easier to understand and easier to understand. One example I found this was by imagining an overjoyed character literally jumping over the moon to represent extreme happiness. By drawing or simply visualizing this idiom and other idioms, we can enhance our ability to use them more creatively in our writing and everyday conversations.

Stephen McHugh:

Tip number four contextual relevance of idioms. Think about the context in which a certain idiom may be used. For example, you may be watching a tennis match, and if a player is in a strong position, you might use the idiom the ball is in their court now to refer to their advantage in their current match. Conversely, if a player is losing significantly, the idiom a mountain to climb could be relevant here, as you could use this to illustrate their difficult situation in their match their difficult situation in their match. As you might be able to see here now and work out, applying idioms in relevant contexts and situations can make our descriptions more relatable and impactful. More relatable and impactful.

Stephen McHugh:

Tip number five simplifying. When necessary. If you notice that an idiom is causing somebody confusion, don't hesitate to simplify it. Use straightforward language to convey the same meaning. For instance, instead of saying barking up the wrong tree, you might simply say you're making a mistake. If the figurative language isn't clear to a particular person, you're talking to.

Stephen McHugh:

Tip number six thinking about the origin of idioms. An example here making a beeline for which means to take the quickest route and which is the most direct route to somewhere, to somewhere. The origin of this idiom is believed to have originated from the behaviour of bees, one bee from a hive which searches for food like nectar or pollen, and once they get it. They make what's known as a beeline back to the hive, where the rest of the bees are. They do this rather than having to take multiple deviations back, which would otherwise be a longer journey back for them. Think about it here. As you can imagine, whenever we're traveling by road or rail, we're likely not traveling in a straight line to destinations, but via deviations along the way. Now think about it here Going via multiple deviations makes a journey longer, whereas if you make what's known as a beeline, you go via a route that is as quick and as direct as possible.

Stephen McHugh:

By following these tips, you can effectively incorporate figurative language into your writing and everyday conversations, making your stories and conversations more engaging and vivid for readers and listeners alike. And now, as I wrap up this episode, let's recap the key points discussed. Together, we've delved into the practical tips for using figurative language, including thinking up and writing short stories based on idioms, recognizing figurative expressions, creating visual representations, contextual relevance, an example of an idiom's origin and simplifying language as and when necessary. You can subscribe to this podcast via the Stay in the Loop link found at the footer of the homepage of my website, stephensevolution. com. By signing up here, you'll receive news regarding the latest podcast news, including announcements of forthcoming and newly released episodes.

Stephen McHugh:

Stay tuned for my next episode, where I aim to explore the art of making inferences in storytelling and how to recognize them. The aim of this will be to try and help you to understand how to imply meaning and engage readers more deeply. If you enjoyed this episode, why not consider leaving a review and rating on platforms like Apple Podcasts, spotify Podchaser and Podcast Addict? Any feedback can help me to reach a wider audience and provide valuable content to even more people who may be on similar paths. For more updates and to connect with me, you can find the links to me on Twitter via a link at the footer of my website, stephensevolution. com, or you can use the contact page on my website. I'd love to hear from you so that I can continue the conversation, or any other related one, for that matter. Thanks very much for tuning in. If you've made it this far, I look forward to sharing more insights with you in future upcoming episodes. Thank you.