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What are idioms in English?
What is an idiom in linguistics?
What is an example of an idiomatic expression?
Can you understand idiomatic expressions by looking at individual words?
Nov 1, 2022 · An idiom is a type of phrase or expression that has a meaning that can’t be deciphered by defining the individual words. Appropriately, the word “idiom” is derived from the ancient Greek word “idioma,” which means “peculiar phraseology.”
Idiomatic expressions are informal phrases that aren't interpreted literally. Idioms often showcase a culture's history, values, and social norms. For many idioms, you need to use a very specific formulation of words.
- At a crossroads – Needing to make an important decision. When you are at a crossroads, you are at a point in your life where you need to make a decision.
- Bad apple – Bad person. You can use this idiom to describe someone who is not nice and maybe even criminal.
- Barking up the wrong tree – Pursuing the wrong course. When you “bark up the wrong tree” you are pursuing the wrong solution to your problems.
- Be closefisted – Stingy. If you are being “closefisted”, you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Dec 5, 2022 · Struggling to understand just what an idiom is? These common idiom examples can illuminate this form of figurative language. Discover the fun of idioms!
- A blessing in disguise. Meaning: Something that seems bad or unlucky at first but turns out to be good. Example: Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to start my own business.
- A dime a dozen. Meaning: Very common and easy to find. Example: Those souvenir keychains are a dime a dozen at the tourist shops.
- All ears. Meaning: Fully listening and paying attention. Example: Go ahead, I’m all ears. Tell me what’s been on your mind.
- All in the same boat. Meaning: In the same situation or predicament. Example: Everybody on staff got a pay cut – we’re all in the same boat.
An idiom is a unique type of phrase in English, made up of words that together have a meaning that's commonly understood by speakers of the language, but not necessarily obvious from the normal meanings of the individual words.
Idioms are short phrases that cannot be translated literally, word for word – instead, you need to know the meaning of the entire expression. They make language more colorful, expressive, and interesting!
