Jan. 14-20 is Idiom Week, and today we thought we’d have a heart-to-heart about some strange phrases we use.
Idioms, metaphors and similes are all types of figurative language.
According to vedantu.com, an online educational resource, here’s the difference between the three:
Idiom: Idioms are categorized as formulaic language whose literal meaning is different from its stated meaning. Example: Let’s paint the town red. (This doesn’t mean to literally go on painting the entire town in red color, it just means to have some fun.)
Metaphor: A metaphor is language used to describe an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true but helps to express an idea or make a comparison. A metaphor simply states that one thing is another thing.
Metaphors are used in poetry, literature and anytime someone wants to add some variation to their language. Example: Barry is a couch potato. (Here, the person is being compared to a potato potentially because of his lazy lifestyle.)
Simile: A simile is a phrase that describes something by using a comparison. For example, we can compare “life” to “a garden of roses.” You know you’ve spotted a simile when you will see “like” or “as” in a comparison. Example: white as snow.
The difference: An idiom is a saying or a phrase that is used to describe a situation, a metaphor is an indirect comparison to describe something, and a simile is a direct comparison. Similes are like metaphors but not vice versa.
The four corners
According to Grammarly.com, a cloud-based typing assistant, there are four types of idioms:
Pure idiom
This is your typical idiom, the meaning of which can’t be deduced by its individual components. When someone says, “Spill the beans,” they’re asking someone to reveal a secret, not to pour out a can of beans. But you wouldn’t know that by looking at each word of that phrase.
Take a guess at the drawing:
Answer: Bite the bullet.
Binomial idiom
This idiom is a phrase that contains two words joined by a conjunction or a preposition. Some examples include “by and large” (everything considered), “do’s and don’ts” (guidelines on what to do and/or avoid in a certain situation) and “back and forth”
Partial idiom
This idiom is one that’s been shortened into one part, with the second part generally being understood by fluent speakers. People often use the partial idiom “when in Rome,” with the understanding that the other person knows the second part: “do as the Romans do.”
Take a guess at the drawing:
Answer: Under the weather.
Prepositional idiom
This idiom is a phrase that combines a verb and a preposition to create a verb with a distinct meaning. The phrase “agree on” is a prepositional idiom that combines the verb “agree” with the preposition “on” and is used to express that you share an opinion with someone.
Example: On cloud nine
Idiom vs. cliche
A cliche can be an idiom, but an idiom is not always a cliche.
Cliches are expressions or phrases that are overused to the point where they lose their meaning and indicate a lack of original thought. For example, there are few people who feel better when they hear this after a breakup: “Don’t worry, there are plenty of fish in the sea.” That phrase has been used so often that it fails to have any impact.
Idiom vs. euphemism
A euphemism is a type of idiom that’s used to discuss a sensitive or taboo topic in a polite or understated way. Topics like death, sex, and money have an abundance of euphemisms. For example, “He kicked the bucket” is a euphemism for “He died” (as well as an idiom).
Figures of speech
Idioms, metaphors and similes are among the things that make English one of the most difficult languages to learn. You could say they are a dime a dozen, or they rain like cats and dogs in our conversation. Let’s have a little fun. The illustrations below are literal versions of popular expressions we use. See if you can guess the expression each little drawing represents. The answers are listed at the bottom.
A. Cash cow
B. Cook the books
C. A wet blanket
D. Hear it on the grapevine
E. Eat like a horse
F. Smell a rat
G. Balance the books
H. Hit the sack
I. Fish out of water
J. Burn the candle at both ends
K. Piece of cake
L. Egg on your face
M. Bite the dust
N. Cock and bull story
O. Jump the gun
P. Don’t cry over spilled milk
Q. Crying wolf
R. Cat got your tongue
S. Play by ear
T. On thin ice
U. Twist someone’s arm
V. Sell like hot cakes
W. Fly by the seat of your pants
Under 10 correct= Fit to be tied
Sources: Grammarly.com, Vedantu.com, United Language Group
