Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Idioms

Are you feeling under the weather?

Are you a night owl?

Do you have a bucket list?

Those are examples of idioms.

(Idioms are one of our favorite aspects of English!)

But they can be challenging to master. They are not a piece of cake!


What is an idiom?

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, it is:
  • "an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own"
  • "a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area and that uses some of its own words, grammar, and pronunciations"

The more sophisticated Oxford dictionary definition is:
  • "a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light)."


What are some other examples of American English idioms?

 

Where can you find the meaning of idioms that you hear?


Are you ready to practice?