What is an idiom?

What is an idiom?

• A. A word with a literal interpretation
• B. A phrase whose meaning is not deducible from the literal words used
• C. A synonym of a word
• D. A grammatical error in writing

Answer: (B)

An idiom is defined as a phrase or expression that conveys a meaning that cannot be understood solely by interpreting the individual words literally. This means that the significance of an idiom often differs from the meanings of the words that comprise it. For example, the idiom “kick the bucket” does not literally refer to kicking a physical bucket; instead, it is a colloquial way to describe someone passing away. Understanding idioms requires familiarity with the cultural or contextual usage of these phrases, which reinforces their distinctiveness from simple word definitions or grammatical structures. The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what an idiom is, as they focus on literal meanings, synonyms, or grammatical errors, none of which relate to the figurative nature of idioms.

An idiom is defined as a phrase or expression that conveys a meaning that cannot be understood solely by interpreting the individual words literally. This means that the significance of an idiom often differs from the meanings of the words that comprise it. For example, the idiom “kick the bucket” does not literally refer to kicking a physical bucket; instead, it is a colloquial way to describe someone passing away. Understanding idioms requires familiarity with the cultural or contextual usage of these phrases, which reinforces their distinctiveness from simple word definitions or grammatical structures.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of what an idiom is, as they focus on literal meanings, synonyms, or grammatical errors, none of which relate to the figurative nature of idioms.