define an idiom?

Answer 1

An idiom is an expression (i.e. term or phrase) whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal definitions and the arrangement of its parts, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only through conventional use. In linguistics, idioms are widely assumed to be figures of speech that contradict the principle of compositionality, however some debate has recently arisen on this subject.

In the English expression to kick the bucket, a listener knowing only the meaning of kick and bucket would be unable to deduce the expression's actual meaning, which is to die. Although kick the bucket can refer literally to the act of striking a bucket with a foot, native speakers rarely use it that way.

Idioms hence tend to confuse those not already familiar with them; students of a new language must learn its idiomatic expressions the way they learn its other vocabulary. In fact many natural language words have idiomatic origins, but have been sufficiently assimilated so that their figurative senses have been lost.

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Answer 2

Hey, ROHIT K,
I hope this helps!

Definition
An idiom is a multiword construction that

is a semantic unit whose meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of its constituents, and
has a non-productive syntactic structure.

Features
An idiom is a multiword expression. Individual components of an idiom can often be inflected in the same way individual words in a phrase can be inflected. This inflection usually follows the same pattern of inflection as the idiom's literal counterpart.

Example: have a bee in one's bonnet

He has bees in his bonnet.


An idiom behaves as a single semantic unit.

It tends to have some measure of internal cohesion such that it can often be replaced by a literal counterpart that is made up of a single word.

Example: kick the bucket

die


It resists interruption by other words whether they are semantically compatible or not.

Example: pull one's leg

*pull hard on one's leg

*pull on one's left leg


It resists reordering of its component parts.

Example: let the cat out of the bag

*the cat got left out of the bag


An idiom has a non-productive syntactic structure. Only single particular lexemes can collocate in an idiomatic construction. Substituting other words from the same generic lexical relation set will destroy the idiomatic meaning of the expression.

Example: eat one's words

*eat one's sentences

?swallow one's words



Discussion
An idiom often shows the following characteristics:

It is syntactically anomalous. It has an unusual grammatical structure .

Example: by and large


It contains unique, fossilized items.

Examples: to and fro fro < from = away (Scottish)

cobweb cob < cop = spider (Middle English)



Some linguists contend that compound words may qualify as idioms (e.g. cobweb Wood 1986; 93), while others maintan that an idiom must be more lexically complex Cruse 1986.

Nonexamples
Idioms contrast with the following:

Metaphors satisfy the first requirement for an idiom, that their meaning be obscure, but not the second, that they not be productive.

Examples: throw in the towel

throw in the sponge


Collocates may have restricted lexical possibilities or use archaic vocabulary such that they are not productive, but their meaning is not opaque.

Examples: heavy drinking

mete out

-Roberta

Answer 3

A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on.
A traditional way of saying something. Often an idiom, such as “under the weather,” does not seem to make sense if taken literally. Someone unfamiliar with English idioms would probably not understand that to be “under the weather” is to be sick.
The noun Idiom has 4 meanings:
1) manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
Synonym: parlance

2) the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
Synonyms: dialect, accent

3) the style of a particular artist or school or movement
Synonym: artistic style

4) an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
Synonyms: idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase


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Answer 4

an idiom is basically an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically (as no, it wasn't me) or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (as Monday week for "the Monday a week after next Monday")

Answer 5

Hi Rohit! an idiom would usually be a phrase that means something different. 'out of the frying pan and into the fire' does not have anything to do with a frying pan and people getting in and out. it means that you were in trouble, and now, you are getting in worse trouble. i hope i helped you!
shama

Answer 6

Those tricky expressions, usually unique to each language, that enrich the language but are a nightmare for foreigners to learn. 'Raining cats and dogs', 'toe the line', 'fed up to the back teeth', and so on ad nauseum.

Answer 7

Idiom is defined as expreessions peculiar tto alanguage.
example:MATTER has been cleared of. (explained.)

Answer 8

A manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language.......


The usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people..........