is literal.We talk about arguments that way because we conceive of them that way-and we act according to the way we conceive of things. (61) The most important claim we have made so far is that metaphor is not just a matter of language,that is,of mere words.We shall argue that,on the contrary,human thought processes are largely metaphorical.This is what we mean when we say that the human conceptual system is metaphorically structured and defined.Metaphors as linguistic expressions are possible precisely because there are metaphors in a person's conceptual system.Therefore,whenever in this book we speak of metaphors,such as ARGUMENT IS WAR,it should be understood that metaphor means metaphorical concept. (7)is literal. We talk about arguments that way because we conceive of them that way—and we act according to the way we conceive of things. ((6)) The most important claim we have made so far is that metaphor is not just a matter of language, that is, of mere words. We shall argue that, on the contrary, human thought processes are largely metaphorical. This is what we mean when we say that the human conceptual system is metaphorically structured and defined. Metaphors as linguistic expressions are possible precisely because there are metaphors in a person's conceptual system. Therefore, whenever in this book we speak of metaphors, such as ARGUMENT IS WAR, it should be understood that metaphor means metaphorical concept. ((7))