摘要：This article discusses the notion of analogy as compared to conceptual metaphor and how the theoretical difference between the two affects the way in which the different meanings of polysemic linguistic units are seen to be related. This is illustrated through the meanings of concrete approaching and abstract approaching that the Russian prefix pod- adds to a verb stem. On the basis of the analysis it is claimed that the notion of analogy alone is not enough, as abstract approaching is not only an extension of the meaning of concrete approaching but includes features that can be explained only by the cooperation of both domains. It is suggested that this kind of approach will also be applicable in discussing the polysemy of other verbal prefixes
