Top harem is oddly a figure of speech (8)

I believe the answer is:

metaphor

(Other definitions for metaphor that I've seen before include "A common fugure of speech" , "Figure of speech suggesting something really is what it resembles" , "That's not to be taken literally" , "7/16 [FIGURE OF SPEECH]" , "Top harem is a figure of speech" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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