طَوِيلُ النِّجَادِ
One whose sword strap is long.
The phrase suggests tall stature through a related property, while an actually long sword strap remains possible. A comparison phrase, “he is tall,” states the intended property directly but loses some indirectness and imagery.
Explicit wording can be preferable in measurement or technical description; indirect expression may enrich praise. Neither form is superior in every setting: evaluation must specify audience and purpose, and the possibility of a literal reading distinguishes this case from a metaphor with a blocking clue.