An idiom is essentially a word or phrase that generally presents an abstract, non-literal sense attached to the word or phrase; however, some words become idiomatically idiomatic idioms when retaining the literal sense of their literal sense. These idioms are often used to express an idea, thought, opinion, or even a statement, although they are also commonly used for humorous effect, as in “That’s what I meant when I said…”.
An idiomatic expression is one of the most frequently used of these. While it may not necessarily be understood by all, an idiom can be defined as a statement, idea, or phrase whose use conveys a message. Many people identify certain types of idioms with certain types of ideas.
The simplest type of idiom, in fact, is a common everyday phrase. For example, “We are always dreaming” would be an example of an idiom. The idiom is more often used in informal speech. Examples of commonly used idioms include “it’s a great day to be alive,” “I’ll never say die,” and “it’s time to learn how to dance.” Other common types of idioms include:
This list is by no means exhaustive; nor do all types of idioms fall under one category of idiom. Each idiom has its own unique meaning but is often associated with an idea, theme, or emotion.
An idiopathic expression is basically a word or phrase that does not have a literal meaning, but is intended to convey an idea or emotion in a figurative way. Some examples of this are, “The old man died!” or “She’s gone crazy!”. Other examples of this type of idiom would be, “I’ll never marry you”, “You’re ugly!”
An idiomatic idiopathic idiom could also be used as a verb. “He had been speaking like a dog all day long”, “She had started to cry”, “She was crying like a child.” In this case, the idiom used to describe the situation may be, “I’ve been speaking like a dog all day long.” In another example, the idiom “There is no need for me to explain that to you,” would be used to describe the situation.
Idioms have been used for thousands of years and have proven very helpful in communicating. Whether the idiom used is literal figurative or both, there are many uses for idiom in everyday conversation.
Idioms can also be used to explain something very simple. For example, “I’m tired” can mean “I’m sad” but “I’m tired” can mean “I’m happy”. It’s not uncommon to use the idiom, “I am tired,” to describe something as simple as an urge to do something, to be happy about something, or to feel good about something.
Another use for idiom is in humor. In most cases, the use of an idiom will not change the meaning of the original statement. Many examples of this would be, “The teacher did not like me”The car did not run.” They can still mean the same thing and only need an explanation to help someone understand.
It is important to keep in mind that while idioms are usually meant to be understood literally, they are often a way to make a point. That point can be humor, a philosophical point, an observation, or to express a general feeling. Some examples of this would be, “He has always said that,” “The weather is beautiful,” or “The car is just an old car.”
There are many reasons that people use idioms and idiomatic expressions to explain things. The reason for using idioms and idiopathic idiom in speech, writing, or conversation is to add to the meaning and not to actually lie. As an example, “He is just an old man,” used in an article, would tell the reader that the speaker’s opinion on the matter is false; however, in the same paragraph it tells the reader that the speaker is wrong.
Idioms and idiopathic expressions are not a replacement for solid facts, but they are often very useful for helping to explain things. In many cases, an idiom can explain something without being used in the exact same sentence. This is true even when the idiom is used in a sentence. People use them frequently so they can’t all be explained every day, but they do have a valuable place in speech, writing, and conversation because they can be used to expand the meaning without having the speaker say something completely untrue.
