idiom
/ˈɪdiəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪdiəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈi-dē-əm/ (ame, mw)
idiom — noun
- idiomsingular
- idiomsplural
1. An idiom is a phrase made of several words that, taken together, carry a meaning
An idiom is a phrase made of several words that, taken together, carry a meaning you cannot guess by looking at each word separately. For instance, “spill the beans” means to reveal a secret — it has nothing to do with actual beans.
Theo found it hard to understand English idioms like “hit the nail on the head.”
idiom + like + example pattern
Mei-Lin thought “break a leg” was about injury, but it is an idiom for luck.
contrast between literal and idiomatic reading
Yuki’s teacher explained that “under the weather” is an idiom meaning “feeling ill.”
The idiom “once in a blue moon” means something happens very rarely.
Fatima learned five new idioms from the storybook her grandmother gave her.
- saying
A saying is often a well-known short statement of advice or wisdom, rather than a fixed phrase whose meaning is non-literal.
- expression
A broader term that covers any group of words used in a particular way; an idiom is a type of expression.
- proverb
A proverb gives practical advice or moral teaching (“Honesty is the best policy”), while an idiom does not necessarily teach a lesson.
用法筆記
Idioms are often fixed in form — changing one word (“kick the bucket” to “kick the pail”) usually sounds unnatural or loses the meaning.
常見錯誤
2. The particular way of speaking, including vocabulary and grammar, that is used b
The particular way of speaking, including vocabulary and grammar, that is used by a specific region, community, or group of people.
Nora could recognise the local idiom of southern France from how people greeted each other.
idiom of + region
The medical idiom that doctors use is full of Latin terms unfamiliar to patients.
professional idiom of [field]
Vikram enjoyed the colourful idiom of the fishing village where his grandparents grew up.
In the legal profession, the idiom includes phrases like “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Diego’s writing captured the warm, direct idiom of everyday Mexican speech.
- dialect
Dialect emphasises grammar and pronunciation of a geographical region; idiom here leans more toward the characteristic vocabulary and style of any group.
- vernacular
Vernacular refers to the everyday language of ordinary people in a place, often contrasted with formal or standard usage.
文法句型
idiom of [region/group]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense (1): sense (2) refers to the general language style of a whole group or region, not to a single fixed phrase.
常見錯誤
3. A distinctive style of expression in music, painting, architecture, writing, or
A distinctive style of expression in music, painting, architecture, writing, or other creative work that is typical of a particular artist, historical period, or movement.
Kofi admired the jazz idiom of the 1940s, with its fast rhythms and improvisation.
musical idiom + period
The architect combined a modern idiom with traditional wooden beams in the village hall.
Hana’s paintings use a folk-art idiom that reflects the mountains of her childhood.
Oliver recognised the Baroque idiom in the church’s gold decorations and curved columns.
The film’s visual idiom was strongly influenced by Japanese anime.
- style
Style is a broader and more common term; idiom is used more specifically for the distinctive, recognisable character of a school or period.
- vocabulary
Used metaphorically — “the vocabulary of modern dance” — similar to idiom in describing the shared elements of an art form.
文法句型
[artistic] idiom of [period/person]
用法筆記
This sense is used mostly in discussions of art, music, architecture, and literature. It does not refer to spoken language or fixed phrases.