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Lesson 8 (INTRODUCTION TO IDIOMS)

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22 views

Lesson 8 (INTRODUCTION TO IDIOMS)

Uploaded by

Tony Halim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 8

INTRODUCTION TO IDIOMS
= Sadness and happiness =
IDIOMS AND FIGURATIVE
Idioms are cliched figurative expressions used so often that they become part of the
language. Idiom is not a distinct figurative language technique. Rather, most idioms
are made from similes, metaphors, or other figurative language techniques. For
example :

the idiom “I’m so hungry that I could eat a horse,” is an example of hyperbole.

the idiom “back then, food tasters dropped like flies,” is a simile.
(die or collapse in large numbers)

“He's running out of steam,” is a metaphor.


It compares the subject to a steam engine. But it's also an idiom. That’s because
the metaphor comparing steam to a person's energy is so common that it has
become idiomatic. Native speakers don't have to bother to decode the metaphor.
They know instantly what it means. Steam has become an idiomatic metaphor.
IDIOMS AND FIGURATIVE
Idioms are generally used so frequently by native language speakers that it often
goes unnoticed that figurative language is even being used.

Bob’s new corner office was just the icing on the cake (metaphor).

After eating candy, Billy ran around like a chicken with his head cut off (simile).

The quarter back was running out of steam (metaphor).

That new car cost an arm and a leg (hyperbole).

Tom said that he changed but actions speak louder than words (personification).

When someone is learning a new language, one of the milestones of progress is when
the learner begins to understand and use the language idiomatically or colloquially.
DEFINITION
Idioms are expressions which have a meaning that is not obvious from the individual
words.

Ex. : the idiom drive someone round the bend means make someone angry or frustrated,
but we cannot know this just by looking at the words.

The best way to understand an idiom is to see it in context. If someone says :


That noise is driving me round the bend! It’s so annoying!

then the context and common sense tells us that drive round the bend means
something different from driving a car round a curve in the road. The context tells us
the noise is annoying and that it’s having an effect on the person hearing it.
4 accept a situation you don’t like because
1 slightly unhappy or slightly ill you can’t change it

2 unhappy (informal) 5 someone who complains all the time and is


never happy (very informal)
3 what has happened won’t cause any
6 being jealous about something you can’t have
serious problems
7 stop an occasion from being enjoyable
Which idioms do these pictures you think of?

jump for joy be floating on air sour grapes

grin and bear it do something for kicks /


be on top of the world
get a kick out of something

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