idiom
/ˈɪdiəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪdiəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈi-dē-əm/ (ame, mw)
idiom — 名詞
- idiomsingular
- idiomsplural
1. An idiom is a phrase made of several words that, taken together, carry a meaning
成語；慣用語
固定詞組，含義非字面義
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.”
Theo 覺得了解像“hit the nail on the head”這類英文成語很困難。
idiom + like + example pattern
Mei-Lin thought “break a leg” was about injury, but it is an idiom for luck.
Mei-Lin 以為“break a leg”是關於受傷，但它其實是表示好運的慣用語。
contrast between literal and idiomatic reading
Yuki’s teacher explained that “under the weather” is an idiom meaning “feeling ill.”
Yuki 的老師解釋說，“under the weather”是表示「身體不適」的慣用語。
The idiom “once in a blue moon” means something happens very rarely.
成語“once in a blue moon”意思是某事非常少發生。
Fatima learned five new idioms from the storybook her grandmother gave her.
Fatima 從奶奶送她的故事書裡學到了五個新的成語。
- 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
方言；語體
特定群體或地區的語言特色
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.
Nora 可以從人們互相打招呼的方式，辨認出法國南部的當地語體。
idiom of + region
The medical idiom that doctors use is full of Latin terms unfamiliar to patients.
醫生使用的醫學用語充滿了病人不熟悉的拉丁詞彙。
professional idiom of [field]
Vikram enjoyed the colourful idiom of the fishing village where his grandparents grew up.
Vikram 很喜歡他祖父母成長的那個漁村裡豐富多彩的方言。
In the legal profession, the idiom includes phrases like “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
在法律行業中，用語包括像“beyond a reasonable doubt”這樣的片語。
Diego’s writing captured the warm, direct idiom of everyday Mexican speech.
Diego 的文字捕捉了墨西哥日常口語中溫暖而直接的語體。
- 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
風格
特定藝術家或時期的表達風格
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.
Kofi 很欣賞 1940 年代的爵士風格，其節奏快速且充滿即興創作。
musical idiom + period
The architect combined a modern idiom with traditional wooden beams in the village hall.
建築師在村莊大廳的設計中，將現代風格與傳統木梁結合在一起。
Hana’s paintings use a folk-art idiom that reflects the mountains of her childhood.
Hana 的畫作採用民間藝術風格，反映出她童年時期的山區景色。
Oliver recognised the Baroque idiom in the church’s gold decorations and curved columns.
Oliver 從教堂的金色裝飾和弧形圓柱看出了巴洛克風格。
The film’s visual idiom was strongly influenced by Japanese anime.
這部電影的視覺風格深受日本動畫的影響。
- 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.