idiom
part of speech
noun (an idiom, idioms)
meaning for a pupil
1) An idiom is a group of words with a meaning you cannot guess from the separate words, like «it's raining cats and dogs» (it is raining very hard). tree →
2) An idiom can also be the special way a group of people speak or write. tree →
sense in the lessons
In English lessons, pupils collect idioms and explain them: «break a leg» (good luck), «a piece of cake» (very easy), «spill the beans» (tell a secret), «under the weather» (ill), «hit the sack» (go to bed). Idioms make writing lively but can confuse learners of English, because they are not meant literally. Each country has its own (Australia: «flat out like a lizard drinking» — very busy). Phrases: «use an idiom», «explain the idiom», «a common idiom».
examples
- «It's a piece of cake» is an idiom meaning it's easy. tree →
- My Polish friend was puzzled by the idiom «raining cats and dogs». tree →
- Can you draw the literal meaning of the idiom «spill the beans»? tree →
- «Under the weather» is an idiom for feeling ill. tree →
- Idioms are hard to translate into other languages. tree →
- «Let the cat out of the bag» is an idiom about telling a secret. tree →
note
Use «an»: «an idiom». Adjective: «idiomatic» (natural English). Idioms are not literal: nobody's leg breaks in «break a leg». Do not confuse with «idiot». An idiom is different from a simile («as brave as a lion»), though some similes are idioms too.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «idiom» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.