Conceptual Metaphor Theory: in defence or on the fence?

Conceptual Metaphor Theory is a promising model that despite its deficiencies can be used to account for a number of phenomena in figurative language use. The paper reviews the arguments in favour of and against Conceptual Metaphor Theory in terms of the data, methodology and content. Since the model focuses on regularities, it is less useful in the study of idioms, where irregularities are also found. It has, however, enormous potential as it integrates corpus- and discourse-driven findings