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By: [ Admin ] Asked from Denmark

Can sparring be used figuratively?

Consider:

I very much enjoy professional sparring and knowledge sharing with colleagues.

Can sparring be used in this context or is it only for describing something boxers do? And what about professional sparring?

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donald remero [ Moderator ]

Quite commonly used as a metaphor for intellectual banter or debate.

"Joust" can work the same way. ...as do other "fighting" words.

"That is, my good sir, a fine point! But consider this argument! It packs a lot of punch! It will cut you to the quick, I dare say!"

"Ah, yes, you said it, a heavy blow, indeed! I, however, certainly do not mind wrestling with it awhile to discover its true worth!

(All with mock 19th century intonation.)

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peter mortensen
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Remero: it may not be incorrect, but would one normally use it in this context? I could not find any examples. Translation from one language to another can lead to strange things.

donald remero
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Mortensen: I suppose that ultimately it is a slightly elevated form of usage (“spar” itself I would not place, for example, in a 500-word essential vocabulary), but among even the moderately educated, there would be no ambiguity or awkwardness whatsoever. The word “wrestle” is also common in this context. The sentence you quoted is perfectly proper and idiomatically matched the concept of professionally focused banter, debate, controversy, and so on.

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