The Interplay of Synonymy and Polysemy

a la
cara.
(CdE:19-F, El peldaño gris) 
‘without delay they 
THREW
the truth 
in my face
’
(169) 
…
le 
TIRÓ
el refresco 
a la
cara… 
(CdE:19-F, Novios de antaño (1930-1940))
‘S/he 
THREW
the soda 
in his/her face
’
These examples illustrate (165-169) the fuzzy line between some types of idiomatic 
fixed phrases and non-idiomatic metaphorical phrases. For example, 
echar en cara 
is 
included in the DDFH as a fixed phrase, but there is no entry for 
tirar a la cara. 
Still, the 
metaphor that gives 
tirar a la cara
‘throw to the face’ the meaning of reproaching is the same 
metaphor that exists in 
echar en cara
‘to reproach’.
The remaining nouns in table 14(E-M), involve physical meanings for each of the 
verbs. In other words, in all cases there is literal motion directed to a physical place. The 

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following discussion will focus solely on these literal uses. 
Arrojar
attracts all the nouns 
except 
basura
‘garbage’. 
Arrojar
can be used to throw towards the ground or floor (14E-F), 
up in the air (14G), in the water and in the sea (14H-I), on the bed (14J), to the side (14K) and 
into someone’s arms (14L). The most attracted nouns are 
mar
‘sea’ (14I) and 
cama 
‘bed’ 
(14J). The first of these (
mar 
‘sea’) is in fact only attracted to 
arrojar
. The preferred verb to 
express throwing something/one to the sea is 
arrojar
.
(CdE:19-F, Destello del Trueno, El) 
(170) …sin bañarme me 
ARROJO