An example of simile drawing upon a scientific concept in public discourse:
"[Chinese Empress] Cixi used the opportunities that she had, she essentially used the very, very complex and in some ways internecine nature of the court to be able to push her way upwards in the court structure. But at the same time she also learnt quickly and skilfully how to essentially operate amongst the various characters at court, the eunuchs who were a very important part of the wider court structure, they were a recognised part of the court structure and also understanding how the family relationship between different parts of the royal family operated. So she learnt the ropes, you know the kind of the circuit board of the Qing court, quickly and effectively."
Prof. Rana Mitter
Rana Mitter (The S.T. Lee Professor of US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School) was speaking on an episode (Empress Dowager Cixi) of BBC's In Our Time.
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