Full Idea
According to the substitution view of metaphors, a word used metaphorically is merely a substitute for another word or phrase that expresses the same meaning literally. Thus 'John is an ice-cube' is a substitute for 'John is cruel and unemotional'.
Gist of Idea
Maybe a metaphor is just a substitute for what is intended literally, like 'icy' for 'unemotional'
Source
Ofra Magidor (Category Mistakes [2013], 3.5)
Book Reference
Magidor,Ofra: 'Category Mistakes' [OUP 2013], p.69
A Reaction
This seems to capture the denotation but miss the connotation. Whoever came up with this theory didn't read much poetry.
Related Idea
Idea 18027 Metaphors as substitutes for the literal misses one predicate varying with context [Magidor]