IDIOMS

Written By : Annisa Nur Inayah

Ever heard the phrase “break a leg”?

“Break a leg” doesn’t literally mean breaking someone’s leg!

It’s called idiom.

What is an Idiom? The word “idiom” is derived from the ancient Greek word “idioma” which means “peculiar phraseology”. An Idiom is a figurative phrase that conveys a non-literal meaning (you can’t deduce the actual meaning by interpreting each individual word literally).

1. Pure idiom

This is a classic example of an idiom—its meaning can’t be figured out just by looking at the individual words. When someone says, “Spill the beans,” they’re not talking about actually pouring out a can of beans. Instead, they’re asking someone to reveal a secret. But without context, the phrase doesn’t give that away.

2. Binomial idiom

This idiom is a phrase made up of two words connected by a conjunction or a preposition. Common examples include “by and large” (meaning all things considered), “dos and don’ts” (rules or guidelines about what to do and avoid), and “heart-to-heart” (an open and honest conversation between two people).

3. Partial idiom

This idiom is an example of a shortened phrase, where only part of the expression is spoken while the rest is implied and understood by fluent speakers. A common example is “when in Rome,” which assumes the listener knows the full version: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

4. Prepositional idiom

This idiom is a type of phrase that combines a verb and a preposition to form a new expression with a specific meaning. For example, “agree on” is a prepositional idiom that pairs the verb “agree” with the preposition “on” to convey the idea of sharing the same opinion with someone.

You might have heard these phrases daily or even on TV shows

“Break a leg” means “Good luck”

“It's a piece of cake” means “It’s easy”

“He's under the weather” means “He’s sick”

“Spill the beans” means “Spill the secret!”

Do you get it?

Let’s have a quick test! What do you think this means?

“It’s raining cats and dogs”

“Back to square one”

References

 

“What Is an Idiom? Definition and Example”. Grammarly.  https://www.grammarly.com/blog/idioms/what-are-idioms/ 

 

“What is an Idiom?/ Definition and Examples”. Oregon State University College of Literal Arts . https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-idiom-definition-examples 

 

“What is an Idiom?”. English with Lucy. https://englishwithlucy.com/lesson/what-is-an-idiom/ 

 

Idiom.” Cambridge Dictionary. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/idiom