| OK, first of all...what is an idiom? Why is it so | | | | and are used in literature, newspaper and |
| important to learn the meanings of these | | | | magazine articles, speeches and radio and |
| expressions? | | | | television broadcasts, as well as...very |
| An idiom is a group of two or more words that | | | | importantly...in everyday speech. |
| has a special meaning different from the | | | | Understanding Idioms |
| meanings of its component parts. Anyone who | | | | A short story containing idioms is listed below. |
| wants to speak English comfortably and | | | | Read it and try and guess what the idioms mean. |
| confidently needs to know the meanings of many | | | | GO FOR IT |
| idioms. By knowing and understanding idioms, it will | | | | Before the 2008 Olympics, many people thought |
| help you in writing, conversational skills and | | | | American swimmer Michael Phelps would win at |
| grammar. | | | | least eight gold medals and maybe break Mark |
| Let's start with idioms: this idiom is used by most | | | | Spitz's record of winning seven gold medals. It |
| people who speak casual, friendly English. "What's | | | | wasn't easy; Michael would have to go up against |
| up?" meaning "What's new?" or "What's | | | | the best athletes in the world. Michael was good |
| happening?" The word "up" alone does not mean | | | | at his sport, but could he pull it off and win eight |
| "new" or "happening," but when combined with | | | | gold medals? Many people rooted for Michael each |
| "what's," it means "What's new?" | | | | time he swam and he did, indeed, win eight gold |
| Many words used in idioms come from Old English | | | | medals in swimming. He really stood out. Because |
| or Middle English, ancestors of the English language | | | | Michael was so competitive, he never gave up.go |
| we use today. Because so many of the words | | | | up agains- compete withpull it off --accomplish |
| used in idioms are English in origin (not Latin or | | | | somethingstand out-- to be different, unusualgive |
| Greek), idioms are at the very heart of the | | | | up --not finish something; surrender |
| English language. | | | | If you have questions about an English word or |
| Although idioms often sound less formal than their | | | | phrase, contact us and we will give it a shot! |
| one-word equivalents, it does NOT mean that | | | | Idioms are extremely important, especially in |
| idioms are slang or incorrect forms of English. | | | | conversational English; let's go for it and learn |
| Most idioms are standard forms of expression | | | | them! |