This article deals with the notions of practical metaphor and practical metonymy and discusses them as the major mechanisms forming the meaning of action extracted from the variety of social behaviour models. Transference of meaning in language and verbalized thinking is considered secondary in relation to practice. The notion of practical metaphor presupposes that one aspect of a situation or action is substituted for that of another. As for practical metonymy, one part of a situation reveals another part and completes the situation on the whole. Besides, separate parts of a situation are recognized due to the situation on the whole.