: How to incorporate figurative language into a simple statement Suppose you have a simple statement like: We should not run away from problems but face them and overcome them What, in general,

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You've already done it.

Figurative writing is so common that it often slips under the radar - for example the phrase you've given. Most problems won't require or benefit from anyone literally taking to their heels, or standing and glowering at them - they're figurative descriptions.

It's possible to pull back to a simpler version :

We shouldn't avoid problems but try to resolve them

Becoming more figurative from there will depend on the approach taken by the character (or, in your case, the narrator of the essay) when they "avoid" and "try". They might hide, consciously ignore it, or redefine the problem so it looks less of a problem. Or they might adapt, tackle the problem obliquely, or confront someone who appears to represent the problem or to have a solution.

From there it should be easier to find an appropriate metaphor for how the character is reacting.

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In general, metaphorical language illuminates aspects of something by comparing it to something else. To borrow advice from (Writing SE user) @MarkBaker , what you're really doing is telling a little story about the situation. So, you look for something vivid and memorable that can represent the thing you are talking about. For example:

Don't think of your problems as an ocean that wants to drown us, but as a river that we can cross.

Here are two linked metaphors, both about water. One tells a little story about being overwhelmed, the other tells a story about overcoming an obstacle to achieve success. It gives a vivid, visceral image that makes the abstract immediate.

HOWEVER, your tags indicate that you're doing academic writing. Academics often prefer direct language, because it is more precise. Highly metaphorical language actually tends to be avoided in this kind of context (depending on your discipline). Given that, maybe what you really need to do with this sentence is make it less abstract, by giving some concrete examples of what you are talking about. In academic writing, citing evidence with a reputable source always helps as well.

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