what is a idiom

1 day ago 2
Nature

An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood simply by looking at the individual words; instead, it has a figurative or non- literal meaning that is different from the literal meanings of the words it contains. For example, the idiom "spill the beans" means to reveal a secret, not literally pouring out beans

. Idioms are common in all languages and often reflect cultural experiences. They are used to add creativity and casualness to language. Examples include "break a leg" (meaning "good luck") and "it's raining cats and dogs" (meaning "it's raining heavily")

. There are different types of idioms, such as pure idioms, binomial idioms, partial idioms, and prepositional idioms. Pure idioms are phrases where the meaning cannot be deduced from the individual words, like "spill the beans"

. In summary, an idiom is a fixed phrase with a figurative meaning that differs from the literal meanings of its words, making it a unique and culturally rich part of language