
Idioms…
Hello there! It’s yet another day and today, we have something different but exciting… trust you will love it.
In our everyday life, we use this word IDIOM, but have we ever wondered to ask what it is all about?
Idioms are used by many native speakers of English and that’s what brings us to International English Testing System (IELTS) where we learn all about native English. So in actual sense, we learn idioms to speak like the native speakers, to improve our vocabulary and to diversify our knowledge in English language.
Before we start, I will like to ask…
WHAT ARE IDIOMS?
Why do we have to bother ourselves learning idioms?
WHAT ARE IDIOMS?
Idioms are expressions or groups of words which has its meaning completely different from the literal or actual/ figurative meaning of the individual words.
Examples:
- Hit the nail on the head
The literal meaning of this word is to hit a nail with a hammer
But the idiom in this word means the main point
- The apple of one’s eye
The literal meaning of this word is the apple in one’s eye
But the idiom in this word means one’s favorite
- Cloud nine
The literal meaning of this word is to be on the 9th cloud
But the idiom in this word means to be very excited or happy
- Carry your cross
The literal meaning of this word is to carry one’s cross
But the idiom in this word means to be patient
- Kick the bucket
The literal meaning of this word is to kick a bucket
But the idiom in this word means to die
So if you take a good look at the idioms used above, you will see that their meanings are completely different from the meanings of their individual words. That’s what idioms are all about… their literal meanings are completely different from their actual meanings.
These idioms cannot be translated or interpreted literally or word for word, you just have to learn and know their actual meanings. It will really help you improve your vocabulary and speak like the native speakers of English.
More examples of these idioms are:
- Put on your thinking cap
Literal meaning: to wear your cap
Actual meaning: to reason carefully
- A piece of cake
Literal meaning: pieces of cake
Actual meaning: very easy
- At the nick of time
Literal meaning: at a time
Actual meaning: at the last moment
- Stop beating around the bush
Literal meaning: beating the bush with a stick
Actual meaning: go straight to the point
- Rain cats and dogs
Literal meaning: cats and dogs are falling as rain
Actual meaning: rain heavily
Idioms are grouped into different categories such as clothes, animals, music, time, body and colors
CATEGORIES OF IDIOMS
Now, let’s make a sentence with these idioms
- Face the music
Actual meaning: Surfer the consequences/ punishment
Example: She didn’t study for her exams, she will face the music
- Once in a blue moon
Actual meaning: rarely
Example: I see her once in a blue moon
- Better late than never
Actual meaning: better to do something late than not doing it at all
Example: Hello! Paul, you’re late today, anyways better late than never
- Cats and dogs
Actual meaning: to rain heavily
Example: it rained cats and dogs yesterday afternoon
- My flesh and blood
Actual meaning: my relative
Example: she’s my flesh and blood
Note: Idioms are used in a sentence when its actual meaning can be well conveyed. Each idiom has a literal meaning. However, its actual meaning must first be understood before it can be used appropriately.
Okay! I trust we have all understood what idioms are. Let’s play with some
- I hope you come to your senses and realize that this fruit is bad
- You have to pull yourself together and think of a solution to this problem
- I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she will pass her exams
- I will be on cloud nine if she comes to my house
- Please stop beating around the bush, I don’t have time
Wow…Good try. Right?
NOW! Let’s get back to class.
What are the literal and actual meanings of these words?
- I hope you come to your senses and realize that this fruit is bad
Literal meaning: to come where your senses are
Actual (idiom) meaning: to reason correctly
- You have to pull yourself together and think of a solution to this problem
Literal meaning: to drag oneself
Actual (idiom) meaning: control your emotions
- I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she will pass her exams
Literal meaning: to cross ones fingers
Actual (idiom) meaning: hoping
- I will be on cloud nine if she comes to my house
Literal meaning: to be on the 9th cloud
Actual (idiom) meaning: excited or happy
- Please go straight to the point, I don’t have time
Literal meaning: go to where the point is
Actual (idiom) meaning: talk directly
- Are you out of your mind? stop shouting
Literal meaning: to lose one’s mind
Actual (idiom) meaning: crazy
- You always leave me in the dark with your personal activities
Literal meaning: to be in a dark place
Actual (idiom) meaning: don’t let me know
- Please keep me updated with what is happening
Literal meaning: update me
Actual (idiom) meaning: tell me everything
- I have done my part, the ball is now in your court
Literal meaning: the court has your ball
Actual (idiom) meaning: your turn to take responsibility
- I burnt my midnight candles and still failed the exams
Literal meaning: I burnt my candles in the midnight
Actual (idiom) meaning: studied hard
It’s good to know that you all have learnt it… well let’s see how far you can go doing it alone.
Practice this… Good luck!
Identify the idioms in these sentences
- Just let it go, am tired already
- I had to break the ice and told her my name
- She has been over the moon since she was told the family will be traveling
- I will stop stealing when pigs fly
- I have been listening to you for one hour now, you just keep blowing smoke
- Handle that bag with care, it cost an arm and a leg
- They all failed it, should we let the dog out of the bag?
- Don’t cry over spilt milk, I will see what I can do
- Without much I do, let’s introduce the topic for today
- Break a leg in your exams
Answer
- Just let it go, am tired already
- I had to break the ice and told her my name
- She has been over the moon since she was told the family will be traveling
- I will stop stealing when pigs fly
- I have been listening to you for one hour now, you just keep blowing smoke
- Handle that bag with care, it cost an arm and a leg
- They all failed it, should we let the dog out of the bag?
- Don’t cry over spilt milk, I will see what I can do
- Without much I do, let’s introduce the topic for today
- Break a leg in your exams
What are the actual meanings of the idioms?
- Just let it go, am tired already
Don’t think about it
- I had to break the ice and told her my name
Say something to break the silence
- She has been over the moon since she was told the family will be traveling
Excited
- I will stop stealing when pigs fly
Something that will never happen
- I have been listening to you for one hour now, you just keep blowing smoke
Saying something without meaning
- Handle that bag with care, it cost an arm and a leg
Very expensive
- They all failed it, should we let the dog out of the bag?
Reveal the secret
- Don’t cry over spilt milk, I will see what I can do
Something little/ a minor issue
- Without much I do, let’s introduce the topic for today
Without wasting much time
- Break a leg in your exams
Good luck!
Assignment
- What are idioms
- Why do you think you should learn idioms?
- Mention ten idioms you know
- What are their literal meanings
- What are their actual meanings
- Make a sentence with each of them
Wowww! This is lovely, isn’t it?
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Thank you all for your time.
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