Table 1.
List of preliminary structural metaphors identified in the initial coding
| Rank | Metaphor | Frequency (%) | Rank | Metaphor | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sport | 74 (54.8) | 11 | Soap opera | 2 (1.4) |
| 2 | Market | 48 (35.5) | 12 | Officiating a game | 2 (1.4) |
| 3 | Act of love | 29 (21.4) | 13 | Having an argument | 2 (1.4) |
| 4 | Natural environment | 27 (20) | 14 | Cooking | 1 (0.7) |
| 5 | Shared language | 6 (4.4) | 15 | Giving birth | 1 (0.7) |
| 6 | Conquest | 5 (3.7) | 16 | Creating a work of art | 1 (0.7) |
| 7 | Luxury item | 4 (2.9) | 17 | Learning | 1 (0.7) |
| 8 | Robbery | 3 (2.2) | 18 | Chatting with friends | 1 (0.7) |
| 9 | Military discipline | 3 (2.2) | 19 | Driving | 1 (0.7) |
| 10 | Planet discovery | 2 (1.4) | 20 | Awakening | 1 (0.7) |