I like the notion that we are all, to some degree, synaesthetes. Hence the colourful similes and metaphors that add spice to speech. See? Can similes be colour

I like the notion that we are all, to some degree, synaesthetes. Hence the colourful similes and metaphors that add spice to speech. See? Can similes be colourful? Can speech be spicy? To me this chimes with human brains being pattern seeking/matching machines. Enough meaning leaks across discrete word definitions that we can freely use phrases such as "an icy stare", "a prickly relationship" to appeal to senses that are not directly involved in stares or relationships. I have heard language theorists suggest that this appeal to multi-sensory communication may have influenced the evolution of language among early humans. Unfortunately I have no memory of who said this. Still. I enjoy the theory.