But that doesn't work, because it requires changing the meaning/imagery of the metaphor beyond what regular people would recognize. You know, what actually happened in the situation of the original post.
Yes, I can change "straight man" to "spaceship" and "jokes" to "launch into space", but it'd be almost as nonsensical.
> By the way, have you tried just looking up the word "metaphor?"
Yes. Note you misunderstand the definition you quoted. Let me say it once more, then we're done: the CONTEXT of a metaphor is not ITS LITERAL MEANING, so quit yapping about literalness. Context matters. "Straight man" doesn't have the required context, "devil's advocate" does.
I don't expect you to acknowledge what I'm saying. At this point I must assume your ego won't let you budge an inch. Have a nice day! (which is not a metaphor, by the way).
All you have to do is change "comedy duo" to "coworker pair" and "jokes" to "explanation of architecture."
> devils advocate: the popular title of the person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to challenge a proposed beatification or canonization, or the verification of a miracle
All you have to do is change "person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church" to "coworker" and "challenge a proposed beatification or canonization" to "challenge another person's ideas."
> purposefully obtuse
Is that worse than being unintentionally obtuse, like you're doing?
By the way, have you tried just looking up the word "metaphor?"
> a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
Do you see the words at the end? "Not literally applicable."