What Are Idioms and How to Understand Them? Part 1
Idioms are phrases or expressions that have a significance that can’t be solved by explaining single words.
Have you heard of the phrase “kill two birds with one stone”? This is an example of an idiom. English speakers understand this doesn’t refer to harming birds or using stones. It means that someone is completing two tasks at once.
While going deep into this topic will clarify what idioms are and help you understand how to use them properly in writing.
The word idiom is obtained from the ancient Greek word “Idioma,” which means “peculiar phraseology.” It is a phrase that’s normal to English speakers but strange to others.
Different languages have their own idioms. To understand them is to look at the phrase as a whole rather than focusing on single words.
The four types of idioms
Pure idioms
It is a typical idiom, the meaning of which can’t be gathered by its individual items. For example, “Spill the beans” means they are asking somebody to reveal a secret and not actually to throw out a can of beans. You wouldn’t know that by looking at just a single word of the phrase.
Binomial idioms
These idioms contain two words joined by a conjunction or preposition. Some include “by and large” (everything considered), “dos and don’ts” (guidelines on what you should do and what you should avoid in unquestionable situations), and “heart-to-heart” (sincere conversation between two people).
Partial idioms
It’s been shortened into one part, with the second part usually being understood by fluent speakers.
Prepositional idioms
The phrase combines a verb and preposition to create a verb with a definite meaning. The phrase “agree on” is a prepositional idiom that incorporates the verb “agree” with the preposition “on” and is used to express that you share an opinion with somebody.
It is difficult to explain the structure because it changes from language. It even differs in different regions that speak the same language. Idioms have more to do with syntax—a specific order of words or phrases—than grammar.
Remember to structure an idiom properly that is unique to a specific region.
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