Idiom
Literary term · say it ID-ee-um
An idiom is a familiar expression whose meaning cannot be worked out simply by taking each word literally. Readers understand it through shared usage, such as knowing that spilling the beans means revealing a secret, not dropping food.
Where idiom shows up
Familiar expressions
An idiom can express an idea quickly through a phrase readers already know. Its meaning belongs to the whole expression rather than its separate words.
At the opening of A Christmas Carol, the narrator stresses that Marley is completely dead through a familiar expression comparing him to a metal fitting in a door.
In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Expressions taken literally
A character may treat an idiom as though its words describe something that actually happens. This can turn an ordinary expression into a joke or a misunderstanding.
At the tea party in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Alice mentions marking musical rhythm, but the Hatter treats the expression as though Time could be physically struck and offended.
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
How to spot idiom
- Look for familiar phrases that seem odd when taken literally.
- Replace the phrase with its everyday meaning.
- Notice whether a character misunderstands or plays with the literal words.
What is the difference between an idiom and a metaphor?
An idiom is a fixed, familiar expression, while a metaphor describes one thing as another. Many idioms began as metaphors, but readers now understand them through everyday use. A fresh metaphor may need closer thought; an idiom usually carries an established meaning.
Is an idiom the same as a colloquialism?
An idiom has a meaning beyond its literal words, while a colloquialism is an informal word or expression. A phrase can be both, but not every casual expression is an idiom, and idioms can also appear in formal speech and writing.
Related terms
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