idioms
idioms — 名詞
- idiomssingular
- idiomsesplural
1. a set of words used together in a fixed pattern where the whole phrase carries a
慣用語
字面意義與實際意義不同的固定詞組
a set of words used together in a fixed pattern where the whole phrase carries a special meaning that the individual words do not suggest on their own — for example, 'break the ice' means to start a friendly conversation, not to break actual ice.
Madison found it hard to guess the meaning of the idiom 'spill the beans.'
Madison 覺得很難猜出慣用語「spill the beans」的意思。
noun phrase: the idiom + '; noun + describing meaning of an idiom
The teacher asked Minho to explain the idiom 'once in a blue moon.'
老師請 Minho 解釋慣用語「once in a blue moon」的意思。
verb pattern: ask + person + to explain an idiom
Many English idioms come from stories about ships, farming, and everyday life.
許多英文慣用語源自關於船隻、農耕和日常生活的故事。
A student searched online for the idiom 'let the cat out of the bag.'
一名學生上網搜尋慣用語「let the cat out of the bag」。
- fixed expression
broader term that includes idioms, proverbs, and collocations
- set phrase
similar meaning but more neutral, used in grammar teaching
- literal expression
a phrase whose meaning comes directly from its individual words
文法句型
idiom + verb (singular/plural)
用法筆記
Frequently used with the verb 'explain' or 'guess' when learners encounter an unfamiliar fixed expression.
常見錯誤
2. the words and speech patterns that belong to a certain community, region, or lin
方言；用語
特定群體或地區使用的語言特色
the words and speech patterns that belong to a certain community, region, or line of work.
The local fishing village had an idiom with words Vinícius had never heard.
那個漁村當地的用語有一些 Vinícius 從未聽過的詞彙。
pattern: [place] + had + an idiom with + words
Aarav noticed that the legal idiom used in court was very different from everyday English.
Aarav 注意到法庭上使用的法律用語和日常英文很不一樣。
collocation: [domain] idiom + used in + setting
Grandma grew up in a village and still uses the rural idiom of her youth.
奶奶在一個村莊長大，到現在仍使用小時候的鄉村用語。
The chef used kitchen idioms that were unfamiliar to the new cook in training.
主廚使用的廚房用語讓正在受訓的新手廚師覺得很陌生。
- dialect
a regional variety of a language, including grammar and pronunciation as well as vocabulary
- vernacular
the everyday language spoken by ordinary people in a place
文法句型
the + idiom + of + group/place
用法筆記
In this sense 'idiom' is often preceded by a modifying adjective (regional, local, legal, rural) that names the group or place.
3. a distinctive approach to creating art, music, or buildings that reveals the inf
藝術風格
音樂、繪畫等領域的獨特表達方式
a distinctive approach to creating art, music, or buildings that reveals the influence of one individual, era, or school.
Ilan wrote a school report about the musical idiom of 1960s rock and roll.
Ilan 寫了一份關於一九六○年代搖滾樂藝術風格的學校報告。
pattern: the + musical/artistic idiom of + period
Pedro could recognise the painter's idiom from the bright colours alone.
Pedro 光憑鮮豔的色彩就能認出那位畫家的風格。
collocation: painter's idiom
The orchestra played in a modern idiom that surprised some audience members.
這個管弦樂團演奏的現代風格令部分聽眾感到驚豔。
Art historians know a painter's idiom by how the artist uses light and shadow.
藝術史學家透過畫家運用光線和陰影的方式來辨識其風格。
文法句型
the + noun + idiom of + period/person
用法筆記
Frequently modified by an adjective naming the art form (musical, visual, architectural) or by a person's name in the possessive form.