there is almost a kind of metaphorical play between what he's describing and the sounds with which he is doing the describing.

这里有一个比喻,在他描述的东西和,他即将描述的声音。

耶鲁公开课 - 现代诗歌课程节选

It's already entered a sort of metaphorical register, religious register, in the way this book is packaged.

这本书的封面已经有一种隐喻的记号，一种宗教的记号。

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

But in fact, in his own way, he's talking about his inability ; to keep his child alive there; in a kind of metaphorical way, speaking of his failure to build a fence to last.

但事实上，以他自己的方式，他在诉说自己的无能,不能让孩子活下来;,以一种象征性的方式，谈论自己不能制作出一个一直在那的栅栏。

耶鲁公开课 - 现代诗歌课程节选