Abstract
AbstractThe chapter is concerned with the metonymic use ofhitin expressions such ashit the road. The metonymic nature underlying these expressions has already been noticed byRuhl (1989)andHirtle (2013). The present study focuses on the mapping of the literal use ofhitas the metonymic source to its target. The metonymic source is characterized by the use ofhitas an Achievement verb in sentences such asThe ball hit the window. The metonymic target inhit the roadcomprises two events, motion to a goal and a subsequent action. The relevant part of meaning resides in the unexpressed action. The action is inferred from the close relationship between a type of thing and potential actions afforded by the thing. InLet’s hit the road, the type nounroadaffords metonymic “routes” to three motivated kinds of actions: ‘travelling’, ‘beginning a journey’ and ‘leaving’.
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