Idiom Definition & Meaning
The Most Common Idiom|| Idioms
What's an Idiom?
An idiom is a combination of words that gives a meaning different from the literal meanings of each word used in it. In other words, an idiom is phrase that consists of some words and that gives a meaning that's different from the actual meanings of the words used in it.
Facts about idioms
1. An idiom is a type of phrase.
2. An idiom consists of some words.
3. The words used in an idiom are not in their actual meanings.
4. An idiom is established by common usage over the passage of time.
5. An idiom is formed from some incident, legendary story or religious books and personalities.
Examples:
(a) The ball is in your court.
(b) I'm over the moon.
Explanation:- “The ball is in your court.” is an idiom because it consists of some words i,e, ball, court, your, etc. The combination of all the words used in this idiom gives a meaning that's different from the literal or actual meanings of each word because this phrase means “It's your turn. or It's your time to make a decision.”. The similar case is with “I'm over the moon.” because the literal meaning of this idiom (I'm standing or sitting over the moon) is not referred to, but this idiom means “I'm very much happy.”.
10 Most Common Idioms
1. The ball is in your court.
Meaning: It's now up to you to make a decision.
Example: I've told you what you should do. Now the ball is in your court.
2. Over the moon
Meaning: To be very happy.
Example: My parents are over the moon because I've topped the class this year.
3. To see the light
Meaning: To realise or understand the importance of something
Example: Only after graduation did I see the light and started to focus on my studies seriously.
4. To burn midnight oil
Meaning: To be awake late at night for some work.
Example: He has been burning midnight oil nowadays because he has a competitive exam.
5. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
Example: He goes to theatre once in a blue moon.
6. To be an apple of discord
Meaning: To be the main reason of some quarrel
Example: Property is generally the apple of discord among brothers.
7. To live hand to mouth
Meaning: To lead a poverty-stricken or poor life
Example: We are the poorest people in the village. Therefore we live hand to mouth.
8. To pass with flying colours
Meaning: To score well in some exam
Example: He has been studying politics for the past three years. I'm quite sure that he will pass the exam with flying colours.
9. To be a piece of cake
Meaning: To be very easy
Example: To teach those who understand is a piece of cake.
10. To feel under the weather
Meaning: To be sick
Example: I'm feeling under the weather today.
Exercise 1
Answer the following questions.
1. What is an idiom?
2. Is an idiom a phrase?
3. Is an idiom a combination of words?
4. Does an idiom give a literal meaning?
Answer keys:
1. A combination of words that gives a meaning different from the actual meanings of each word used in it.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. No.
Exercise 2
Recall the meanings of the following idioms.
1. To burn the midnight oil
2. To be a piece of cake
3. To feel under the weather
4. To live hand to mouth
5. To be an apple of discord
Answer keys:
1. To be awake late at night for some work
2. To be easy
3. To be sick
4. To lead a poverty-stricken or poor life
5. To be the main cause or reason for some quarrel
Exercise 3
Use the following idioms in your own sentences.
1. To pass with flying colours
2. Once in a blue moon
3. To see the light
4. Over the moon
5. The ball is in your court
The Most Common Idiom|| Idioms
What's an Idiom?
An idiom is a combination of words that gives a meaning different from the literal meanings of each word used in it. In other words, an idiom is phrase that consists of some words and that gives a meaning that's different from the actual meanings of the words used in it.
Facts about idioms
1. An idiom is a type of phrase.
2. An idiom consists of some words.
3. The words used in an idiom are not in their actual meanings.
4. An idiom is established by common usage over the passage of time.
5. An idiom is formed from some incident, legendary story or religious books and personalities.
Examples:
(a) The ball is in your court.
(b) I'm over the moon.
Explanation:- “The ball is in your court.” is an idiom because it consists of some words i,e, ball, court, your, etc. The combination of all the words used in this idiom gives a meaning that's different from the literal or actual meanings of each word because this phrase means “It's your turn. or It's your time to make a decision.”. The similar case is with “I'm over the moon.” because the literal meaning of this idiom (I'm standing or sitting over the moon) is not referred to, but this idiom means “I'm very much happy.”.
10 Most Common Idioms
1. The ball is in your court.
Meaning: It's now up to you to make a decision.
Example: I've told you what you should do. Now the ball is in your court.
2. Over the moon
Meaning: To be very happy.
Example: My parents are over the moon because I've topped the class this year.
3. To see the light
Meaning: To realise or understand the importance of something
Example: Only after graduation did I see the light and started to focus on my studies seriously.
4. To burn midnight oil
Meaning: To be awake late at night for some work.
Example: He has been burning midnight oil nowadays because he has a competitive exam.
5. Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely
Example: He goes to theatre once in a blue moon.
6. To be an apple of discord
Meaning: To be the main reason of some quarrel
Example: Property is generally the apple of discord among brothers.
7. To live hand to mouth
Meaning: To lead a poverty-stricken or poor life
Example: We are the poorest people in the village. Therefore we live hand to mouth.
8. To pass with flying colours
Meaning: To score well in some exam
Example: He has been studying politics for the past three years. I'm quite sure that he will pass the exam with flying colours.
9. To be a piece of cake
Meaning: To be very easy
Example: To teach those who understand is a piece of cake.
10. To feel under the weather
Meaning: To be sick
Example: I'm feeling under the weather today.
Exercise 1
Answer the following questions.
1. What is an idiom?
2. Is an idiom a phrase?
3. Is an idiom a combination of words?
4. Does an idiom give a literal meaning?
Answer keys:
1. A combination of words that gives a meaning different from the actual meanings of each word used in it.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. No.
Exercise 2
Recall the meanings of the following idioms.
1. To burn the midnight oil
2. To be a piece of cake
3. To feel under the weather
4. To live hand to mouth
5. To be an apple of discord
Answer keys:
1. To be awake late at night for some work
2. To be easy
3. To be sick
4. To lead a poverty-stricken or poor life
5. To be the main cause or reason for some quarrel
Exercise 3
Use the following idioms in your own sentences.
1. To pass with flying colours
2. Once in a blue moon
3. To see the light
4. Over the moon
5. The ball is in your court
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