Sometimes, people talk about difficult topics using special phrases. These phrases help them share their thoughts without using harsh or direct words. One topic that people often talk about in this way is abortion. Instead of saying it directly, they might use a word picture, called a metaphor. These word pictures can show how someone feels or what they think about the situation.
In this article, we will look at different metaphors for abortion. These metaphors are not always easy, but they help us understand how people view a very personal choice. You might hear these phrases in books, in movies, or even during news stories. Learning about them can help you better understand what people mean, even when they don’t say something clearly.
Metaphors for Abortion
1. Closing a chapter
Meaning: Ending something before it continues
Give an Instance: She said ending the pregnancy felt like closing a chapter. / For her, it was closing a chapter that hadn’t fully started.
Substitute Meaning: Letting go / Moving on
2. Blowing out a candle
Meaning: Stopping life before it grows
Give an Instance: He felt like they had to blow out the candle before it could burn. / It was like a soft light going out.
Substitute Meaning: Ending early / Quietly stopping
3. Pulling the plug
Meaning: Making a choice to stop something
Give an Instance: The couple decided to pull the plug before it became too hard. / She explained it as pulling the plug on a hard journey.
Substitute Meaning: Choosing to stop / Halting a process
4. Hitting the brakes
Meaning: Stopping a process quickly
Give an Instance: It felt like hitting the brakes on a fast-moving car. / She said she had to stop everything before going too far.
Substitute Meaning: Bringing things to a stop / Ending something
5. Letting the balloon go
Meaning: Releasing hopes or dreams
Give an Instance: They let the balloon go, even though it was hard. / It floated away, just like the idea of a future plan.
Substitute Meaning: Letting go of plans / Saying goodbye
6. Ending the story early
Meaning: Finishing something before it’s complete
Give an Instance: She said it was like closing the book before the story was told. / It was an early ending to something new.
Substitute Meaning: Cutting short / Not continuing
7. Stopping the clock
Meaning: Pausing time on something
Give an Instance: It felt like stopping the clock before the moment grew. / She wanted to freeze things before they changed too much.
Substitute Meaning: Taking control / Ending before a shift
8. Taking a different road
Meaning: Making a new choice
Give an Instance: They took a different road, one without parenting. / It wasn’t the path expected, but it was theirs.
Substitute Meaning: Choosing another way / Going in a new direction
9. Cutting the thread
Meaning: Ending a connection
Give an Instance: She felt like she cut the thread before it tied them together. / It was like breaking a tiny link.
Substitute Meaning: Breaking a tie / Disconnecting
10. Putting the seed back
Meaning: Undoing the start of life
Give an Instance: It was like putting the seed back in the ground. / They chose not to let it grow.
Substitute Meaning: Reversing the start / Letting it stay undeveloped
11. Turning the page
Meaning: Moving past something
Give an Instance: After the procedure, she said she turned the page. / It was a new part of her life.
Substitute Meaning: Leaving it behind / Starting fresh
12. Dropping the anchor early
Meaning: Stopping before settling
Give an Instance: They dropped the anchor early and didn’t move forward. / It was like stopping before landing.
Substitute Meaning: Halting progress / Choosing not to continue
13. Putting the brakes on fate
Meaning: Changing the expected path
Give an Instance: She put the brakes on what felt like fate. / It wasn’t the future she wanted.
Substitute Meaning: Stopping destiny / Altering the outcome
14. Freezing the moment
Meaning: Holding back change
Give an Instance: The decision froze the moment in time. / It was like stopping a movie right at the beginning.
Substitute Meaning: Pausing life / Holding time still
15. Stopping the train
Meaning: Stopping a journey before it begins
Give an Instance: It was like halting a train at the first stop. / They never let it leave the station.
Substitute Meaning: Not going ahead / Preventing the start
16. Blurring the picture
Meaning: Hiding or softening the image
Give an Instance: For her, the future became a blurred picture. / She didn’t want to keep seeing that image.
Substitute Meaning: Changing the view / Dimming the vision
17. Locking the door
Meaning: Keeping something from happening
Give an Instance: She locked the door to that part of life. / It was her way of keeping things safe.
Substitute Meaning: Keeping out / Protecting herself
18. Turning off the music
Meaning: Ending something before it fully plays
Give an Instance: The music stopped before it reached the chorus. / It was her way of keeping peace.
Substitute Meaning: Silencing the noise / Finding quiet
19. Letting go of the kite
Meaning: Releasing something that could grow
Give an Instance: She let go of the kite string. / The dream flew away.
Substitute Meaning: Giving up / Letting something pass
20. Stepping off the stage
Meaning: Leaving a role early
Give an Instance: She stepped off the stage before her part started. / She didn’t want the spotlight.
Substitute Meaning: Ending a part / Exiting early
21. Folding the map
Meaning: Choosing not to go on a journey
Give an Instance: She folded the map and put it away. / They didn’t want to take that route.
Substitute Meaning: Canceling a plan / Deciding not to go
22. Quieting the echo
Meaning: Silencing a lasting sound
Give an Instance: It felt like quieting the echo before it got louder. / She didn’t want the noise to stay.
Substitute Meaning: Ending future effects / Stopping a lasting feeling
23. Snipping the bud
Meaning: Ending something before it blooms
Give an Instance: She snipped the bud early. / The flower didn’t get a chance to grow.
Substitute Meaning: Stopping growth / Removing early
24. Shutting the window
Meaning: Closing off opportunity
Give an Instance: She shut the window before the wind came in. / It was a choice to stay still.
Substitute Meaning: Saying no / Keeping things out
25. Skipping a song
Meaning: Not choosing a path
Give an Instance: It was like skipping a song you weren’t ready to hear. / She didn’t feel ready for that tune.
Substitute Meaning: Moving on / Choosing to pass
26. Shelving the plan
Meaning: Putting away an idea
Give an Instance: They shelved the plan for later. / It wasn’t the right time.
Substitute Meaning: Holding off / Stopping now
27. Pressing pause
Meaning: Pausing life for a while
Give an Instance: She pressed pause on something she couldn’t handle. / It was a moment of stillness.
Substitute Meaning: Taking a break / Delaying
28. Washing the canvas
Meaning: Clearing away to start over
Give an Instance: It felt like wiping a painting clean. / She wasn’t ready to add colors yet.
Substitute Meaning: Resetting / Starting fresh
29. Erasing the drawing
Meaning: Removing something before it’s done
Give an Instance: It was like erasing a drawing you weren’t ready to finish. / The lines didn’t feel right.
Substitute Meaning: Undoing / Taking it away
30. Leaving the gate closed
Meaning: Not starting something
Give an Instance: They left the gate closed and didn’t step through. / It was safer for them.
Substitute Meaning: Not beginning / Holding back
31. Canceling the ticket
Meaning: Backing out of a future plan
Give an Instance: She canceled the ticket before boarding. / The trip was never taken.
Substitute Meaning: Not following through / Refusing the path
32. Quieting the storm
Meaning: Stopping a strong wave of feelings or changes
Give an Instance: She quieted the storm before it grew. / There was too much ahead.
Substitute Meaning: Calming things down / Avoiding chaos
33. Dimming the light
Meaning: Lowering the brightness of something ahead
Give an Instance: She dimmed the light before it became too strong. / She needed peace.
Substitute Meaning: Reducing / Letting things fade
34. Walking away from the fire
Meaning: Leaving something powerful or risky
Give an Instance: It was like walking away from a fire she didn’t start. / She didn’t want to get burned.
Substitute Meaning: Avoiding harm / Leaving early
35. Closing the curtain
Meaning: Ending before the show begins
Give an Instance: The curtain closed before anyone came on stage. / The scene never started.
Substitute Meaning: Finishing / Not continuing
36. Covering the soil
Meaning: Stopping something from growing
Give an Instance: She covered the soil so nothing would bloom. / It wasn’t planting season.
Substitute Meaning: Hiding growth / Ending development
37. Burning the blueprint
Meaning: Destroying a plan before it starts
Give an Instance: The blueprint was burned before it became real. / She didn’t want to build it.
Substitute Meaning: Giving up a plan / Erasing the future
38. Locking the gate
Meaning: Not letting life continue
Give an Instance: She locked the gate to keep things as they were. / It was her decision to protect herself.
Substitute Meaning: Holding off / Not letting it happen
39. Unplugging the cord
Meaning: Disconnecting a source of life or power
Give an Instance: It was like unplugging a cord that had just started working. / She made that choice herself.
Substitute Meaning: Turning off / Separating
40. Deleting the file
Meaning: Erasing something from the record
Give an Instance: She deleted the file before it saved. / It was a clean slate.
Substitute Meaning: Clearing away / Removing
41. Snapping the twig
Meaning: Breaking something fragile
Give an Instance: She snapped the twig before it grew into a branch. / It was a small break but a big choice.
Substitute Meaning: Ending a small start / Cutting off early
42. Canceling the recipe
Meaning: Not following the steps to make something
Give an Instance: She canceled the recipe before mixing anything. / The kitchen stayed clean.
Substitute Meaning: Skipping / Avoiding
43. Wiping the board clean
Meaning: Clearing a message or plan
Give an Instance: She wiped the board clean before writing more. / It was time to clear space.
Substitute Meaning: Starting over / Resetting
44. Taking off the backpack
Meaning: Dropping a heavy load before carrying it
Give an Instance: It felt like putting down a full backpack before the hike. / She didn’t feel ready to carry it.
Substitute Meaning: Letting go / Lifting a burden
45. Unplanting the flower
Meaning: Removing what was just placed
Give an Instance: The flower hadn’t grown yet. She unplanted it gently. / It was her garden, her choice.
Substitute Meaning: Undoing / Reversing a start
Find the “Metaphors for Abortion”
Reading Passage
Last week in Ms. Carter’s fifth-grade class, the students had a writing assignment about life choices. The topic was serious, but she reminded everyone to respect each other’s stories. Mia chose to write about a hard choice her cousin made last year. She explained it was like folding a map before going on a trip. Her cousin had dreams that needed attention first.
Ben listened and thought of his aunt, who had said she walked away from the fire before things got too hot. Later, Ava shared that her sister had said it felt like blowing out a candle quiet, but heavy. Liam raised his hand and said his neighbor described it as canceling a ticket to a place she wasn’t ready to visit.
Ms. Carter nodded and said sometimes people use pictures in words to explain things. She mentioned a friend who said it was like cutting the thread before a knot could form. Others shared ideas they’d heard, like putting the brakes on fate or shutting the window.
At the end, Jalen said his cousin told him it was like snipping a bud before the flower grew. Zoe shared one she heard on a podcast: pressing pause on something that might be too much.
Directions for Students
Read the story again. Underline or list all the metaphors used.
Answer Key
- Folding a map
- Walking away from the fire
- Blowing out a candle
- Canceling a ticket
- Cutting the thread
- Putting the brakes on fate
- Shutting the window
- Snipping a bud
- Pressing pause
Conclusion
People use metaphors to explain ideas and feelings in a simple way. When the topic is hard, like abortion, these word pictures can help people talk without using direct words. They may not say what happened clearly, but they help share the feeling.
By learning these metaphors, we understand how others might feel when they make tough choices. Some sound soft, others sound final, but each one carries meaning. These phrases give people a way to speak about personal things in a way that feels safe.
