metaphorical and figurative
Could you tell me the diffrence between "Metaphorically speaking" and "Figuratively speaking"?
I sometimes listen the Native speaker of English use both expressions to explain some sentences and am puzzled.
Any difinition?

Question

metaphorical and figurative
Could you tell me the diffrence between  "Metaphorically speaking" and "Figuratively speaking"?
I sometimes listen the Native speaker of English use both expressions to explain some sentences and am puzzled.
Any difinition?

Answer

There probably is a difference, but most people use them both the same way.  It's used to explain a sentence like, "Time flies when you're having fun." because time doesn't literally fly.

Anyone could say "metaphorically speaking" or "figuratively speaking" before this sentence and it would mean the same thing.

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