Idiomatic Expressions| 70 Common English Idioms🍂

Why Study Idioms? Learning about English idiomatic expressions will not only expose you to these "life lessons", but it will enrich your command of the English language.

An idiom (or, idiomatic expression) is an expression whose meaning is not easily understood based on its words alone. Of course you are learning words and improving your vocabulary everyday, but sometimes, you may come across expressions that leave you confused because it expresses a meaning that's different from what you already know. Now before we go into examples, let's look at the two types of idiom meanings we may have 2 Layers of Meaning Idioms have two layers of meaning. To decipher an idiom, you must recognize and understand the meaning of both layers. Literal Meaning: The initial, basic meaning of the idiom, based on the words used, and what they mean in a literal sense. Idiomatic Meaning: The underlying message, lesson or advice offered by the idiom; the meaning of the overall expression, in a broader sense. Sample Idiom Here's an example of an idiom; Put the cart before the horse. Literal Meaning: At first glance, this idiom might not even register as anything out of the ordinary. Yet, the advice given actually makes little sense – horses should be placed before carts, not the other way around. The idiom suggests the reverse of how things should be. Idiomatic Meaning Reverse the natural order of things. Try something new. Be innovative -Retrieved from WhiteSmoke (https://whitesmoke.com)