Transferred epithet is a rhetoric way, which is used to express the function and characteristic of article A by using the words which should be used to describe article B. For example: a sleepless bed, brutal plan, surprised disapproval. Other sentences are as follows:

The big man crashed down on a protesting chair.

大个子一屁股坐了下来,椅子吱吱嘎嘎地作响,好像是在提抗议似的。

The word “protesting” is used to describe human behaviors, but it describes the Chair in this sentence.

There was a short, thoughtful silence. Then he said, “Dad, you have just worked a profound change in my personality.”

电话里出现了短暂的沉默,思考片刻后,他接着说道:“爸爸,您刚才的话使我深受启迪,让我恍然大悟。”

The word “thoughtful” which is described as human, but it is used to describe the article.

When I am having trouble with a story and think about giving up, or when I start to feel sorry for myself and think things should be easier for me, I roll a piece of paper into that cranky old machine and type, word by painful word, just the way Mother did.

每当我写文章遇到困难想打退堂鼓时,或是自叹不走运时,我就往那台破旧的打字机里卷进一张纸,像妈妈当年一样,一字字地吃力地打着。

In this sentence, the word “painful” apparently is used to express the human. We will translate it according to the painful meaning to let it be making sense.

An expensive failure can be made into an asset if you have learnt from it.

失败的代价虽然昂贵,但是只要你能从中吸取教训,它就能化为一笔财富。