idiomatic expression
1
6.0
- noun
- /ˌɪdiˈɑːmætɪk ɪkˈsprɛʃən/
:
expresión idiomática
- When studying a new language, understanding idiomatic expressions is essential because they can convey meanings that are not obvious.
Examples
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Learning idiomatic expressions can be challenging since their meanings often differ from the actual words used.
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An idiomatic expression like "kick the bucket" means to die, rather than literally kick a bucket.
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These verb phrases are idiomatic expressions that usually cannot be understood literally when on their own and need to be combined with an "object" to make sense.
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Synonyms
7
4.2
A fixed phrase whose meaning is not clear from the words
A group of words that together mean something different from each word alone
A fixed group of words that mean something different from the words alone
How Figurative
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'an expression that is idiomatic/non-literal' is directly built from 'idiomatic' (pertaining to idioms, i.e. non-literal language) modifying 'expression' (a way of saying something). This compositional adjective+noun structure is transparent and parallels equivalent constructions in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Idiomatic expression is like a phrase wearing a mask: the words you hear are not the meaning under the mask. Think of idiomatic as the local way people speak and expression as the whole phrase, so the term helps you remember it is 'a phrase whose meaning is different from the literal meanings of the individual words'.