In kināyah, an utterance is formulated so that it has an immediate image or statement, yet the speaker’s main purpose is to lead the hearer toward an associated quality or consequence. The transition may depend on ordinary social custom or on an intelligible logical connection.
For example, saying that someone’s door is always open to guests can communicate hospitality rather than a technical report about the door hinges. The image prompts recognition of the intended character trait.
Good interpretation therefore distinguishes the immediate expression from the intended implication and explains the connection between them. The mere label “figurative” is less informative than showing why the expression conveys the further meaning in this context.