Abstract
This study represents an attempt to explore the function of metaphor in achieving semantic displacement, with the sayings of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib as the practical focus. Metaphor was both a concealed and explicit carrier of meaning, and therefore the study focused on eliciting the lexicographic meaning that presents the original meaning that the term was created for. The study then moved on to uncover the hidden semantic meaning behind the lexicographic one, which retains a high degree of significance that is suitable for carrying the two meanings. In this way, metaphor becomes an effective tool in unlocking the secrets of discourse and revealing its hidden meanings.
Key words: Aesthetics, Metaphorical Imagery, Nahj al-Balaghah, Wisdom and Sermons, Arabic Literature.