idiomatically

/ˌɪdiəˈmætɪkli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪdiəˈmætɪkli/ (ame, ipa)

idiomatically — adverb

1. using the wording and combinations that a fluent speaker of the language would a

1.副詞C1
釋義

using the wording and combinations that a fluent speaker of the language would actually pick — so the result sounds native rather than translated or forced.

例句

After three years in Lisbon, Shanti could finally speak Portuguese idiomatically with her colleagues.

speak [language] idiomatically

The subtitles tried to render every joke idiomatically, replacing puns with local equivalents.

render X idiomatically

同義詞
  • naturally

    broader; covers tone and delivery as well as wording

  • fluently

    focuses on ease and speed of the speaker, not whether the wording sounds native

  • natively

    informal; emphasises the same effect from a learner's perspective

反義詞
  • stiltedly

    in a forced or old-fashioned way

  • literally

    word-for-word, often producing translation-style English

文法句型

speak/write/translate idiomatically

sound idiomatically [adjective]

用法筆記

Modifies verbs of producing language (speak, write, translate, render, phrase). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense praises native-sounding phrasing; sense 2 simply says a chunk of language uses a fixed idiom.

常見錯誤

❌Andrés is idiomatically Spanish.
✅Andrés speaks Spanish idiomatically.
💡modifies the action of using language, not a person's identity.
❌The book is written idiomatic English.
✅The book is written idiomatically in English.
💡the adverb form goes with the verb 'written'.

2. drawing on a fixed expression whose overall meaning cannot be worked out from it

2.副詞C2
釋義

drawing on a fixed expression whose overall meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words — for example, saying 'kick the bucket' to mean 'die'.

例句

Dahlia explained that 'spill the beans' is used idiomatically and has nothing to do with beans.

be used idiomatically

The verb 'get' often functions idiomatically in English, making it hard for learners to predict its meaning.

function idiomatically

同義詞
  • figuratively

    broader; covers metaphor and other non-literal language

  • non-literally

    technical; emphasises that the words do not add up to the meaning

反義詞
  • literally

    each word contributes its ordinary meaning

文法句型

used idiomatically

X is used idiomatically to mean Y

用法筆記

Modifies verbs like 'use', 'mean', 'take', 'function'. Object phrase is a fixed expression whose surface words do not add up to the actual meaning. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 says language sounds native; this sense flags a phrase as a frozen idiom.

常見錯誤

❌The verb run has many idiomatically meanings.
✅The verb run is often used idiomatically.
💡the adverb modifies a verb like 'used', not a noun like 'meanings'.