Injustice is a concept that many people face, and it can take many forms, from unfair treatment to unequal opportunities. To explain what injustice feels like or how it impacts people’s lives, we often use metaphors. These metaphors help us understand the emotions and experiences linked to unfairness by comparing them to something we already know. By using metaphors, we can talk about complex feelings of injustice in a way that is easier to understand.
In this article, we’ll explore various metaphors that describe injustice. These expressions show how it feels to be treated unfairly, to face discrimination, or to live in an unjust world. By using metaphors, we can explain injustice in ways that are clear and relatable, helping others see the harsh reality of those who experience it.
Metaphors for Injustice
1. A Broken Scale
Meaning: A system that is unfair or unbalanced, favoring one side over the other.
Samples: The justice system is like a broken scale, where some always get lighter sentences. / The wealth distribution feels like a broken scale, with the rich getting more than they deserve.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to weigh something but the scale is rigged. / The balance of fairness is completely off.
2. A Closed Door
Meaning: An opportunity that is unavailable or inaccessible, often due to injustice.
Samples: For many underprivileged groups, the door to success is always closed. / His dreams of higher education were blocked by a closed door of financial injustice.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like standing outside, unable to get in. / No matter how hard they try, they can never get through.
3. A Rigged Game
Meaning: A situation where the rules are unfair, and the outcome is predetermined.
Samples: The hiring process was a rigged game, where connections mattered more than skills. / Life can feel like a rigged game, where the odds are always stacked against you.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like playing a game where the outcome is already decided. / The system is set up to make sure some people never win.
4. A Widening Gap
Meaning: A growing difference between two groups, often due to inequality and injustice.
Samples: The gap between the rich and poor is a widening gap that keeps getting bigger. / The widening gap between communities with access to healthcare and those without is a clear sign of injustice.
To Put it Another Way: The divide between the privileged and the oppressed keeps growing. / The separation is getting larger with each passing day.
5. A Closed Circle
Meaning: A situation where a select group of people have power, excluding others.
Samples: The corporate world often feels like a closed circle, where only certain people can get ahead. / For people in marginalized communities, access to the decision-making circle is closed.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like a club that only allows certain people in. / The opportunities are limited to a small, exclusive group.
6. A Locked Gate
Meaning: A barrier that prevents some people from accessing opportunities or justice.
Samples: The job market feels like a locked gate for those without the right connections. / Discriminatory practices in the workplace are like locked gates keeping people out.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like standing in front of a door with no way to open it. / The system is keeping people from moving forward by locking them out.
7. A Shaky Foundation
Meaning: A system or structure that is unstable and prone to injustice.
Samples: The education system is built on a shaky foundation, where some students get better resources than others. / The justice system has a shaky foundation, making it difficult for marginalized groups to get fair treatment.
To Put it Another Way: The system is built on weak ground and it’s bound to collapse. / The foundation is broken, and it can’t support those who need it most.
8. A Stumbling Block
Meaning: An obstacle or challenge that is caused by injustice, stopping progress.
Samples: Racism is a constant stumbling block in many people’s lives. / Lack of access to affordable healthcare is a stumbling block for many who need it most.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like constantly tripping over something that’s in your way. / Every step forward is met with an unfair barrier.
9. A Broken Promise
Meaning: A commitment or agreement that is not kept, often due to unfair treatment.
Samples: The promise of equality was broken long ago, leaving many behind. / Many feel like the government has broken its promises of justice for all.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like being promised something but never receiving it. / The fairness that was promised never materialized.
10. A Bitter Pill
Meaning: A difficult or unpleasant truth, often related to injustice.
Samples: The bitter pill of knowing that some people face injustice every day is hard to swallow. / Learning about the inequality in education was a bitter pill for him.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like being forced to accept something that’s hard to accept. / The truth about injustice is painful to realize.
11. A Stacked Deck
Meaning: A situation where the odds are unfairly in favor of one side.
Samples: The legal system often has a stacked deck, with wealthier people able to buy better defense. / The deck is stacked against those from underprivileged communities when it comes to job opportunities.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like playing a card game with marked cards that give some an unfair advantage. / The system is built to favor some and disadvantage others.
12. A Heavy Hand
Meaning: A situation where power is used unfairly or harshly.
Samples: The government often deals with protestors with a heavy hand, denying their right to speak. / The heavy hand of the law came down unfairly on the innocent.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like being struck down by an overwhelming force. / The power dynamics make it difficult for people to get fair treatment.
13. A Tight Fist
Meaning: A situation where resources or opportunities are controlled unfairly, restricting access.
Samples: The tight fist of power kept the resources in the hands of the few. / Access to the best education is often held in a tight fist by those in power.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to grab something from someone who won’t let go. / The resources are kept from the people who need them most.
14. A Blinded Eye
Meaning: A situation where people refuse to see or acknowledge injustice.
Samples: The government turned a blinded eye to the needs of the homeless. / The school system has a blinded eye to the inequality faced by students from poorer backgrounds.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like ignoring a problem that’s right in front of you. / People refuse to see the unfairness, even when it’s obvious.
15. A Dark Cloud
Meaning: A negative or oppressive feeling that comes from injustice.
Samples: The shadow of inequality hung over the city like a dark cloud. / The dark cloud of racial injustice continues to affect communities across the nation.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like walking under a sky that’s always stormy. / The weight of injustice hangs heavily over everyone.
16. A Tightrope Walk
Meaning: A situation where people must carefully balance or navigate through unjust conditions.
Samples: For minorities in the workplace, getting ahead often feels like a tightrope walk. / Living in an unjust society means walking a tightrope between success and failure.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to walk across a rope without falling off. / People are forced to live in constant fear of being knocked off course by injustice.
17. A Broken Record
Meaning: A repetitive issue that continues without resolution, often due to injustice.
Samples: The broken record of racial injustice keeps playing in society, but no real change happens. / We’ve heard the same promises about equality, but it feels like a broken record.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like hearing the same thing over and over, with no progress. / The injustice never seems to end.
18. A Smokescreen
Meaning: A tactic used to hide the real issues, often used to avoid confronting injustice.
Samples: The media used a smokescreen to divert attention from the real issues of police brutality. / Politicians often use a smokescreen to hide the systemic inequality in their policies.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like a fog that hides the truth from view. / The real problems are covered up by distractions.
19. A Blank Slate
Meaning: A situation where injustice erases or ignores a person’s identity or history.
Samples: The history of slavery is often treated like a blank slate, with no acknowledgment of the past. / The blank slate of opportunity that should exist often fails to recognize people’s backgrounds.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like erasing someone’s history or story to avoid dealing with the truth. / The past injustices are swept away as if they never happened.
20. A Poisoned Well
Meaning: A situation where something that should be beneficial is tainted or corrupted by injustice.
Samples: The well of trust in the system is poisoned by corruption and inequality. / The poisoned well of injustice has made it difficult for many to believe in fairness.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to drink from a well that’s full of toxins. / The fairness that should be available is tainted by corruption.
21. A Heavy Chain
Meaning: A weight that keeps someone bound or stuck, often due to injustice.
Samples: For many, the heavy chain of poverty keeps them from advancing in life. / The heavy chain of discrimination restricts their movement in the workplace.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like being held back by something that drags you down. / No matter how hard you try, the injustice weighs you down.
22. A Cracked Mirror
Meaning: A distorted reflection of reality, often caused by unfair systems.
Samples: The media’s portrayal of certain communities is like a cracked mirror, showing a false image. / Society’s view of the poor is like looking through a cracked mirror, full of misrepresentation.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like seeing a broken image that doesn’t tell the full truth. / The view of injustice is distorted and incomplete.
23. A False Promise
Meaning: An illusion of fairness or equality that turns out to be untrue.
Samples: The promise of equal rights often feels like a false promise, with no real change. / His career felt like a false promise, where opportunities were never truly equal.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like being told something that doesn’t come true. / What was promised never materialized.
24. A Blazing Fire
Meaning: A situation of overwhelming injustice that can’t be ignored.
Samples: The injustice in the community was like a blazing fire, burning through every part of society. / The fight for civil rights became a blazing fire that couldn’t be put out.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like a fire that rages out of control. / The injustice is so intense that it burns everything in its path.
25. A Clogged Drain
Meaning: A situation where progress is slowed or blocked due to injustice.
Samples: The path to equality is often a clogged drain, where progress is hindered at every turn. / The clogged drain of corruption prevents justice from flowing freely.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to move forward but being stuck in a blocked system. / The flow of fairness is stopped at every attempt.
26. A Narrow Path
Meaning: A difficult journey or limited options due to injustice.
Samples: For many, the path to success is a narrow path, full of obstacles that are difficult to overcome. / The narrow path of justice seems impossible to walk for those facing discrimination.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to walk through a narrow opening, with little room for movement. / The journey is full of barriers that make progress nearly impossible.
27. A Shattered Dream
Meaning: A broken hope or aspiration caused by injustice.
Samples: The dream of equality was shattered for many who were left behind by the system. / His hopes for a fair trial were shattered when the judge showed bias.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like seeing your dreams broken into pieces. / The future seems impossible when dreams are destroyed by injustice.
28. A Unseen Hand
Meaning: A force that controls things behind the scenes, often causing injustice.
Samples: The unseen hand of corruption shapes many decisions in politics. / The unfair policies are often guided by an unseen hand, keeping certain groups at a disadvantage.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like someone controlling things from behind the curtain. / The injustice is being orchestrated by forces you can’t see.
29. A Hidden Trap
Meaning: A situation where injustice is subtle but still causes harm.
Samples: The hidden trap of systemic inequality makes it hard for many to get ahead. / He fell into the hidden trap of discrimination, unable to escape the unfair treatment.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like walking into a trap without even knowing it. / The injustice catches people unaware, making it harder to escape.
30. A Distant Dream
Meaning: An unattainable or far-off hope due to injustice.
Samples: For many, the dream of equality feels like a distant dream, too far away to reach. / The promise of fairness is a distant dream for those stuck in poverty.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like chasing something you can never reach. / The hope for a better future feels out of touch and unreachable.
31. A Broken Bridge
Meaning: A connection or opportunity that has been ruined or made inaccessible due to injustice.
Samples: The path to success is often a broken bridge for those without resources. / Many people find their chances blocked by the broken bridges of unequal treatment.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to cross a bridge that’s been destroyed. / The opportunity to move forward is blocked by barriers that can’t be crossed.
32. A Closed Window
Meaning: A missed or inaccessible opportunity due to injustice.
Samples: The closed window of opportunity left many talented people stuck in their current situations. / His career opportunities were blocked by a closed window of discrimination.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to look through a window that’s shut tight. / The chance to advance is closed off.
33. A Fading Light
Meaning: A diminishing chance for fairness or equality due to injustice.
Samples: The light of hope for justice began to fade as the years went by without change. / The fading light of opportunity makes it hard to believe in equality.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like watching the light slowly dim and fade away. / The dream of fairness becomes harder to see.
34. A Broken Chain
Meaning: A broken connection or system that causes people to be held back by injustice.
Samples: The broken chain of support left many people stranded in an unjust world. / His dreams were held back by the broken chain of opportunities.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like trying to move forward, but your chain is broken. / The connections that should have helped are lost or broken.
35. A Crumbling Wall
Meaning: A situation where barriers built by injustice are breaking down, but the damage has already been done.
Samples: The crumbling wall of discrimination made it harder for communities to find peace. / Despite progress, the crumbling wall of inequality still affects many.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like watching a wall fall apart, but it’s too late to rebuild it. / The damage is done, but there’s still work to be done to fix the cracks.
36. A Silent Scream
Meaning: A feeling of anguish or frustration caused by injustice that can’t be expressed or heard.
Samples: The silent scream of the oppressed goes unheard by those in power. / His fight for justice felt like a silent scream, never reaching the ears of those who could help.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like crying out in pain, but no one can hear you. / The injustice is so deep, it feels like you can’t express it.
37. A Stagnant Pool
Meaning: A situation where progress is halted due to ongoing injustice.
Samples: The pool of opportunity is stagnant for those who face systemic discrimination. / The efforts for change feel like a stagnant pool, with little to no progress.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like being stuck in a pool with no movement. / The system prevents growth, leaving things still and unchanged.
38. A Muffled Voice
Meaning: A voice or opinion that is silenced or not heard due to injustice.
Samples: The voices of those who suffer from inequality are often muffled by those in power. / Her concerns about workplace inequality were dismissed, her voice muffled by the system.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like speaking, but no one can hear you. / The injustice silences people, making their struggles go unnoticed.
39. A Shadow on the Soul
Meaning: The lasting emotional impact of injustice on an individual.
Samples: The shadow on his soul from years of mistreatment never left him. / The emotional scars of injustice are like a shadow on the soul, always lingering.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like carrying a heavy burden on your heart that never goes away. / The effects of injustice stay with you, weighing on your spirit.
40. A Warped Mirror
Meaning: A distorted reflection of reality caused by injustice, leading to misperception or misunderstanding.
Samples: Society’s view of the poor is like a warped mirror, full of stereotypes and false perceptions. / The injustice of the system was reflected in a warped mirror that made things appear differently.
To Put it Another Way: It’s like looking into a mirror that doesn’t show the truth. / The reality is twisted by unfair treatment and distortion.
Find the Topics: Metaphors for Injustice
Activity: “The Battle for Equality”
In a small town, the battle for justice felt like an uphill battle for many of the residents. Maria had always been passionate about changing the way things were, but every time she took a step forward, it seemed like she hit a rigged wall. No matter how hard she tried, the system was built against her.
One evening, while discussing with her friend, Mark, she said, “It feels like I’m constantly standing in front of a closed door to opportunity.” Mark agreed, adding, “It’s like the deck is stacked in favor of the rich and powerful, leaving us to struggle with no chance of winning.”
After the protest, Maria walked home, feeling the weight of a broken record in her mind. The injustice she and others faced kept repeating itself, and no real change ever happened. She wondered if she was up against a broken scale, where the laws and rules didn’t really work for everyone.
The next morning, Maria heard the news about a new government policy. “It’s like a closed circle, where only a select few benefit,” she said with frustration. “How is that fair?” Mark replied, “It’s like a locked gate, no matter how many people try to climb, there’s no way to get through.”
Later that week, Maria went to a community meeting, but she felt like she was walking on a tightrope. Every decision seemed so precarious, as if any mistake would make everything worse. The weight of the injustice kept dragging her down, like a heavy chain around her heart.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 10 metaphors for injustice you found in the passage.
Answer Key
- Uphill battle
- Rigged game
- Closed door
- Deck is stacked
- Broken record
- Broken scale
- Closed circle
- Locked gate
- Tightrope
- Heavy chain
Conclusion
Metaphors can help us understand injustice more clearly. They allow us to express the complex feelings and experiences that come with unfair treatment. By recognizing metaphors like a rigged game or a closed circle, we can begin to understand the real-life struggles of those facing injustice. These metaphors help us talk about the world in a way that makes the challenges more relatable and shows how important it is to fight for fairness and equality.
