Collocations for metaphor - noun

appropriate, apt, good, perfect
powerful, striking
useful
central
one of the central metaphors in the book

extended
an extended metaphor for human existence

musical, spatial, visual
mixed

employ, invoke, use
He uses the metaphor of fire to represent hatred.

mix
develop, extend

describe sth, represent sth
imply sth, suggest sth
work
The ladder metaphor works in several ways.

metaphor for
‘This vale of tears’ is a metaphor for the human condition.

metaphor of
the metaphor of life as a journey