Have you ever heard someone say “It’s raining cats and dogs” and wondered why no pets were falling from the sky? Or maybe you’ve been told to “break a leg” and couldn’t understand why anyone would wish you harm. Well, these strange phrases are called idioms, and today we’re going to explore what an idiom is.

First, let’s clear up a little confusion about the word “idiom.” In English, “idiom” refers to these funny phrases we use, but in Spanish and Portuguese for example, ‘idioma‘ means ‘language.’ It’s easy to see why this could be confusing! What is an idiom in English might sound like someone talking about languages in Spanish or Portuguese.

But don’t worry, we’re here to make sense of it all.

So, what is an idiom, really?

An idiom is a phrase where the words together mean something different than what they mean individually. This can be really hard to understand, especially when you try to translate them word for word. Most of the time, they won’t make any sense at all!

That’s because idioms are not meant to be taken literally. They’re like secret codes or puzzles in language, and part of the fun is learning to understand them.

You might be asking, “But why do we need to know what is an idiom?” Well, idioms are a big part of how English speakers talk every day. They make our language more colorful and expressive. When you understand idioms, you’ll find it easier to understand movies, songs, and even your English-speaking friends!

Why are idioms important?

Knowing idioms is important because they are used a lot in stories, movies, and by people every day. If you understand them, you can enjoy stories and conversations more. Also, when you use idioms, you can make your own talking and writing more colorful and fun.

It’s like learning a secret language that makes speaking and understanding English even better!

How to learn idioms?

Reading books, especially storybooks or comics, is a great way to find lots of idioms and see how they’re used in different situations; sometimes the pictures even help you understand what they mean.

Watching English movies and TV shows is also helpful because they’re full of idioms, and you can hear how native speakers use them and see the actions and expressions that go with the idioms, making it easier to understand.

Keeping a diary of idioms can be very effective too: whenever you hear a new idiom, write it down in a special notebook along with what you think it means and where you heard it, so you can remember the idioms you’ve learned.

Try using the idioms in your conversations with friends or family – the more you use them, the easier it will be to remember them. Finally, playing games and doing quizzes online can be a fun way to learn idioms, making learning feel more like playing and helping you to remember them better.

10 Common idioms and their meaning

Break a leg: This doesn’t mean someone wants you to hurt your leg. It’s a way to wish someone good luck, especially before they go on stage or perform. It’s like saying, “Do a great job!”

Hit the books: This means to start studying hard. It’s not about actually hitting your books with your hand, but about sitting down and focusing on your schoolwork.

A piece of cake: This idiom means something is very easy to do. It’s not about eating cake, but about doing a task that is as simple as eating a delicious piece of cake.

Let the cat out of the bag: This means to reveal a secret or tell something that was supposed to be kept secret. It’s like if you had a cat in a bag and it jumped out for everyone to see.

Cry over spilled milk: This means being upset about something that has already happened and can’t be changed. It’s like if you spilled your milk and cried about it, even though you can’t put the milk back in the glass.

Catch some Z’s: This funny phrase means to go to sleep. The ‘Z’s represent the sound of snoring, which people sometimes do when they are sleeping deeply.

When pigs fly: This is used to say that something will never happen. Pigs can’t fly, so it’s a way of saying something is impossible or very unlikely.

Out of the blue: This means something happens suddenly and unexpectedly, without warning. It’s like something falling from the sky unexpectedly and surprising you.

Bite off more than you can chew: This means trying to do too much or taking on a task that’s too difficult. It’s like taking a big bite of food so large that you can’t chew it properly.

Hold your horses: This is a way to tell someone to slow down or wait a moment. It’s not about holding actual horses, but about asking someone to be patient.

Don´t be afraid of idioms!

Learning idioms is a really fun part of getting better at English, and using ELSA Speak can help you a lot! ELSA Speak is an app that teaches you how to say things in English. If you use ELSA Speak, you can practice saying these idioms the right way.

You can also read books, watch movies, and write down new idioms you hear. Then try saying them out loud using ELSA Speak. It’s a great way to get better at understanding and using idioms.

Remember, idioms make talking and writing more fun and interesting. So keep practicing with ELSA Speak, and soon you’ll be really good at using idioms in English!