Idiom

An idiom is a phrase with a figurative meaning that differs from its literal meaning. Most idioms were meant to be taken literally when they originated many years ago. However, as time passed, this literal meaning became irrelevant.

Understanding idioms is particularly challenging for English-language learners, who may try to determine the meaning of an idiom by deciphering the definition of each word within it. For example, the idiom “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” refers to a person who pretends to be something he or she is not. Knowing the meaning of the words “wolf,” “sheep,” and “clothing” will not help one comprehend the idiom.

An idiom is specific to a language. In other words, an idiom that originated in English cannot be translated into other languages, such as French or Spanish. Linguists estimate that there are about twenty-five thousand idioms in the English language.

Background

Those who speak the English language (as well as those who speak other languages) commonly use idioms, especially in speech. An idiom is a group of words that has a meaning different from the individual words within it. “Get your act together” (behave as you should) and “down to the wire” (at the last minute) are examples of idioms.

Idioms make language colorful because they convey an image. For example, consider the images evoked by the idioms “straight from the horse’s mouth” and “a piece of cake.” Using such idioms makes language much more interesting than simply saying that information came from a reliable source or a task was very easy to complete.

Linguist Elsa Lattey (formerly of the University of Tubingen) grouped idioms into four categories based on the type of image they depict: (1) idioms that focus on the individual (“show one’s true colors”); (2) idioms that refer to the world in general (“takes the cake”); (3) idioms that refer to the interaction of individuals (“lend someone a helping hand”); and (4) idioms that describe an interaction between an individual and the world (“to know something inside and out”).

Most idioms originated in the distant past and were strongly influenced by a particular culture. However, as the culture changed, the reason for the creation of the idiom no longer existed, yet the idiom remained fixed in a language. For example, the idiom “flying off the handle” means to quickly lose one’s temper. Historians believe that this idiom originated in the 1800s to describe poorly made axes that would detach from the handle. While this problem no longer exists, the idiom is still used.

If overused, an idiom can become a cliché. A cliché is an expression that may have been thought-provoking when it was created. However, the expression has been used so often that it has become trite and does not add color or texture to speech and writing. “Fit as a fiddle” and “opposites attract” are examples of clichés.

Idioms can be phonologically irregular because they emphasize a word in the middle of a phrase instead of one at the end of the phrase. This is true of the idioms “learn the hard way” and “you can say that again.”

Overview

Idioms are figurative, but most had a literal meaning at their origin, or creation. The following are some commonly used idioms and their origins:

• When you “pull someone’s leg,” you tease or joke with that person. This idiom originally referred to the way thieves tripped their victims before robbing them.
• When you “butter someone up,” you use flattery to gain the person’s approval. This idiom originated in ancient India and referred to a religious act in which people throw butter at the statues of gods to seek their favor.
• If something “costs an arm and a leg,” it is very expensive. Many believe that this idiom stemmed from eighteenth-century paintings. Back then, people would have their portraits painted without their limbs because including the limbs cost extra.
• If you “bite the bullet,” you go through a painful or an unpleasant situation. This idiom was created in the 1800s before anesthesia—a patient would actually bite on a bullet to cope with the pain of surgery.
• Do you “sleep tight”? If you do, you sleep well. Historians theorize that sleeping tight dates back to a time when mattresses were supported by ropes. Sleeping with the ropes pulled tight made for a more comfortable night’s sleep.
• “Pulling out all the stops” means doing everything you can to ensure that something goes well. People used to say this in reference to an organ. Pulling out all the stops in the instrument turned on all its sounds, which made it as loud as possible.
• “Turning a blind eye” means ignoring something you do not want to see or know about. This idiom may have originated in the eighteenth century with Admiral Horatio Nelson, who looked into a telescope with his blind eye to avoid seeing signals from his superior telling him to pull his troops out of a battle.
• If something occurs “once in a blue moon,” it does not happen often. A “blue moon” is the second full moon in the same month. It occurs only once every 2.7 years.
• If someone “gives the cold shoulder,” he turns his back on you. This idiom originated from medieval times. When a feast was over and it was time for the guests to leave, hosts would serve a cold slice of beef shoulder, pork, or mutton.

Bibliography

Bramen, Lisa. “Spilling the Beans on the Origins of Food Idioms.” Smithsonian, 13 Aug. 2010, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/spilling-the-beans-on-the-origins-of-food-idioms-96515863/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.

Dobrow, Larry. “The Origins of 12 Common Idioms.” Woman’s Day, 10 Aug. 2009, www.womansday.com/life/a850/the-origins-of-12-common-idioms-83098/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.

Erfesoglou, Leeza. “Idioms: A Linguistic Journey across Cultures.” Cultural Awareness International, 14 Aug. 2017, culturalawareness.com/idioms-linguistic-journey-across-cultures/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.

Hieke, Adolf, and Elsa Lattey. Using Idioms: Situationsbezogene Redensarten. Max Niemeyer Verlag, 1983.

“The Idiotic Joys of Idioms.” Guardian, 5 Aug. 2009, www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/aug/05/idiotic-joys-idioms. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.

Laliberte, Marissa, et al. “The Origins of 14 Commonly Used Phrases.” Reader’s Digest, www.rd.com/culture/idiom-origins/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.

Makkai, Adam, and M.T. Boatner. Dictionary of American Idioms. Barrons Educational Series, 2013.

“The Totally Weird Origins of English Idioms.” All That’s Interesting, 12 Feb. 2018, allthatsinteresting.com/english-idioms. Accessed 11 Dec. 2018.