METONYMIC AND METAPHORIC EXTENSIONS OF THE EXPRESSION “KEEP AN EYE ON SOMEBODY/SOMETHING”
METONYMIC AND METAPHORIC EXTENSIONS OF THE EXPRESSION “KEEP AN EYE ON SOMEBODY/SOMETHING”

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the expression “keep an eye on” in COCA data base with the intention to find out what the extended constructions are. The example analysis shows that the metonymy concept eye for watching is present in the sentences where an animate noun is the object. In the examples with inanimate nouns an additional metonymy concept watching is attention is observed. This semi-fixed expression can be extended by a modifier. If it is an adjective (“keep + an + adjective + eye + on”) a blend of metonymy and metaphor (metaphtonymy) may be noted. However, this is not the case in the examples where the modifier is a noun. This is in agreement with the findings of other linguists.

• Details
• Contents