A complex metaphor happens where a simple metaphor is based on a secondary metaphoric element.

This yields secondary and tertiary elements for each sign.

Bacon usually applied paint to the background quickly, and with "great energy"; however, he thought of it as a secondary element.

The scaffold for this structure is provided by secondary structural elements which are hydrogen bonds within the molecule.

A secondary element in Brian's levels is avoiding his natural urge to urinate on things.

Other weapons have secondary elements, which include poison, sleep, and paralysis.

There also are the three so-called minor or secondary elements, needed in much smaller amounts.

A third vital, but secondary, element is traditional organizing.

The team added secondary elements like crowds, weapons and interactive environments for the player to use as a weapon.

In this setting, the two horns became secondary elements.