What are idioms? According to Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (4th edition), an idiom is “a group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own.” Giving a meaning to English idioms is different from English vocabulary in general. Take a look at this example, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew!” When we translate the phrase literally, it means that we should not bite off too many foods. However, as a whole, the phrase tells us to not take on tasks that are too difficult or too much to handle. In other words, we are advised to take tasks that we actually can do or finish. Based on the example, we can say that a literal approach or translating each word to form a meaning of an idiom should not be done. That is because idioms “have a different meaning, other than their individual words” (Hobson, 2017). We should see the whole words or phrase as one single unit that has a specific meaning instead of translating per word.

Why do we need to learn idioms? Native speakers frequently use idioms in their daily lives during casual conversations or in workplace situations, such as during interviews or meetings. As non-native speakers, we should learn idioms to understand the real message that native speakers want to convey so there will be no misunderstanding. To complete our interpretation of idioms, we should also know the cultural meaning and the context of idioms. Once we can interpret idioms well, we will be able to give an appropriate response. Our conversation will flow naturally as we have a deeper understanding of English idioms and its context. It will also level up the quality of our conversation. So, what are you waiting for? Start learning and using idioms when you talk to native speakers and converse with them with ease!

 Keep learning & Keep growing!

 

References

Hobson, S. (2017, Aprl 21). 10 Business Idioms to Help You Speak English Like a Native. Retrieved from Impactful English: https://impactfulenglish.com/10-business-idioms/