Language tip of the week: tolerance

In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips we look at how metaphor is used to express some common concepts in English. This week’s tip looks at metaphors used to talk about tolerance and intolerance:

Having an attitude of tolerance is like being in a broad, open space. Being intolerant is like being in a small, closed, and narrow space.

My parents are very broad-minded.
Anyone who works with young people needs to be open-minded.
The scheme shows extraordinary breadth of vision.
We were allowed a great deal of latitude in implementing the policy.
It was big of them to offer to pay half the cost.
He just closes his mind to new ideas.
I couldn’t believe anyone could be so narrow-minded.
This was a very small-minded decision.
We found the people dull and parochial.
I thought such provincial attitudes were a thing of the past.
It’s a very insular community.
I’m afraid some people can’t see past the ends of their noses.
He accused his opponents of having tunnel vision.