Metaphors significantly influence how people reason about complex social issues like crime, as shown in five experiments. Participants exposed to metaphors such as "crime as a virus" or "crime as a beast" proposed different solutions, with "virus" framing leading to social reforms and "beast" framing leading to harsher enforcement. These effects were subtle, with participants often citing crime statistics rather than the metaphor as the main influence. Metaphors activate knowledge structures that shape reasoning, even when not explicitly recognized. A single word metaphor can shift opinions, with differences larger than pre-existing political divides. Metaphors also affect how people gather information, with participants seeking evidence consistent with the metaphor. The timing of the metaphor also matters: early presentation had a stronger impact. Overall, metaphors subtly guide reasoning about social issues, influencing both problem-solving strategies and information-seeking behaviors.Metaphors significantly influence how people reason about complex social issues like crime, as shown in five experiments. Participants exposed to metaphors such as "crime as a virus" or "crime as a beast" proposed different solutions, with "virus" framing leading to social reforms and "beast" framing leading to harsher enforcement. These effects were subtle, with participants often citing crime statistics rather than the metaphor as the main influence. Metaphors activate knowledge structures that shape reasoning, even when not explicitly recognized. A single word metaphor can shift opinions, with differences larger than pre-existing political divides. Metaphors also affect how people gather information, with participants seeking evidence consistent with the metaphor. The timing of the metaphor also matters: early presentation had a stronger impact. Overall, metaphors subtly guide reasoning about social issues, influencing both problem-solving strategies and information-seeking behaviors.