Is lampshade was a metaphor?

It's unlikely that "lampshade" is a metaphor on its own. It's a concrete object, a physical thing. Metaphors are comparisons between two different things, often using "like" or "as" or implied through a figurative meaning.

However, "lampshade" could be used metaphorically within a larger context. For example:

* "The city lights were like lampshades, casting shadows and revealing secrets." Here, the city lights are being compared to lampshades, highlighting their ability to illuminate and obscure.

* "He felt like a lampshade, exposed and vulnerable." This uses the lampshade's fragile nature to represent the person's emotional state.

So, while "lampshade" itself isn't a metaphor, it can be used as a vehicle for a metaphorical comparison.

Let me know if you have a specific sentence or passage in mind where "lampshade" is used, and I can tell you if it's a metaphor in that context.