Metaphors and other types of ambiguous language are useful when:

Question $14$Answer

a$.$

the message is sent through the grapevine rather than formal communication channels.

b$.$

the issue or concept that the sender is trying to communicate is ill$-$defined or complex.

c$.$

the sender wants to communicate to people experiencing information overload.

d$.$

Ambiguous language is useful under all of these conditions.

e$.$

the sender wants to minimize the risk that the receiver would misinterpret the message sent.