رأيت أسدًا يرمي
I saw a lion shooting arrows.
The noun “lion” ordinarily names an animal, but “shooting arrows” functions here as an indicator that a brave human is intended. The crucial fact is not merely the presence of bravery; the literal referent of the noun is excluded in this use. Resemblance in courage therefore grounds an explicit metaphor (istiʿārah taṣrīḥiyyah).
Compare “a brave man like a lion”: the word “lion” can retain its ordinary referent and the comparison marker establishes an explicit simile. Assigning the same label to both constructions would ignore the distinct roles of wording and context.