Idioms

IDIOMS

An idiom, or idiomatic expression, is a phrase or term whose meaning cannot be guessed from a literal definition of the words. The phrase seems to make sense if you look up the individual words, but other people seem to mean something totally different when they say it, or the phrase makes no sense along with the rest of the conversation. 

Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that cannot be taken literally.  In other words, when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary.  Every language has its own idioms.  Learning them makes understanding and using a language a lot easier and more fun!

Why Idioms Are Confusing?


In the English language expression 'to kick the bucket', for example, a listener knowing only the meaning of kick and bucket would be unable to deduce the expression's actual meaning, which is to die.

 
Although it can refer literally to the act of striking a specific bucket with a foot, native speakers rarely use it that way. It cannot be directly translated to other languages - for example, the same expression in Polish is to kick the calendar, with the calendar being as detached from its usual meaning as the bucket in the English phrase is. The same expression in Dutch is het loodje leggen (to lay the piece of lead), which is entirely different from the English expression, too. 






There are many idioms:


I like to kill two birds with one stone = I like to do two things at the same time.  

Her heart's in the right place = She has good intentions.

His lights are on, but no-one's home = He's stupid or distracted.  

There are plenty more fish in the sea = There are many more  men/women for you to meet. 
  
When it rains it pours = When things are bad, they're extremely bad.
 
He's a cold fish = He has no strong emotions and can be unfriendly.
 
It’s better to take the road less travelled = It's better to do things  differently than to do the same things other people do. 
 
In school I learned history by heart = I memorised history very well.  
 
I'm the top dog in my company = I'm the boss of my company.  
 
We’re on the same wavelength = We have the same thoughts and opinions