What is an Idiom?
An idiom, also called an idiomatic expression is an expression word, or phrase that has a unique figurative meaning predictably understood by innate speakers. This meaning is different from the literal meaning of the idiom’s individual essentials. Every language has its own collection of wise sayings. They offer advice about how to live and also transfer some underlying ideas, principles and values of a given culture/society. These sayings are called “idioms” – or proverbs if they are longer. In other words, idioms don’t mean exactly what they say.
Why is learning idioms important?
Idioms are always something special about any language; they build up some distinctive features which differ one language from another. Idioms appear in every language, and English has thousands of them. They are often confusing because the meaning of the whole group of words taken together has little, often nothing, to do with the meanings of the words taken one by one.
What is One Word Substitution?
One Word Substitution. One word substitution is a process in which people use one word to replace a wordy phrase, to make the sentence structure more clear. The meaning is identical, yet the sentence is shorter.
Some examples of Idioms:
- Above all (chiefly, mainly)
- On account of (due to, for a reason)
- On no account (not for any reason)
- Above board (honest, beyond reproach)
- To give a good account of oneself (to act with credit to oneself)
- A fidus achates (a faithful friend)
- The heel of Achilles (a weak point)
- An adonis (a very handsome man)
- To build castles in the air (to daydream)
- To assume airs (to affect superiority)
- To stand aloof (to keep oneself and not mix with others)
- An ananias (a liar)
- The apple of discord (cause of quarrel)
- To upset the apple cart (to disturb the peace)