What Are English Idioms in Use?
“English Idioms in Use” are the idioms that are frequently used by the users of the English language. An idiom is a group of words used by a certain community to mean what the literal words in it don’t mean. Idioms are a way of expressing deeper meaning what literal sentences can’t express. Idioms are used and spoken and understood by a specific group of people who are living in a territory. Idioms in English are essential because they are the words of the language users and using them in your speech makes you sound natural.
Idioms are frequently used by native speakers of a language, and so is the case with the native speakers of English. Idioms vary from region to region, state to state and country to country. Some of the examples of idioms include “Once in a blue moon,” “Be over the moon,” and “Ball in the court.” They are so frequent in English that you can hear any native speaker of English use them in their everyday conversations.
You can find idioms in English related to games and sports, education, internet, animals, house, relationship, motivation, work, occupation, learning and teaching, computer, technology, daily life, time, money, ships, ocean, man and woman, friendship, business, trade, fear, courage, bravery, kindness, cruelty, harshness, loyalty, betrayal, etc.
Why Are Idioms Important?
- Deeper meaning: Idioms are phrases that contain a group of words whose literal meanings individually are different but the combination of words in that idiom expresses a deeper meaning. The idioms express figurative meaning which can’t be otherwise expressed through the use of literal words. The intesity of meaning of an idiom is what is aimed at when using idioms in English.
- Natural conversation: Idioms in English are the actual words of the native speakers of English. When you use idioms in your speech or writing, you sound the same as the real users of the language. So, if you use idioms in your everyday conversations, your conversation becomes natural. Remember that, when you’re learning the English language, you need to make sure that you don’t sound artificial, and that you can do using idioms in your daily conversations.
- Creative writing: creative writings such as stories, novels, novellas can be enriched by the use of idioms and idiomatic expressions. You can make your writing interesting and colourful by incorporating idoms and phrases into it. The use of meaning in your speech and writing deepens your ideas.
- Knowledge of Culture: Idioms are rooted in cultures which is why they tell you the history of a culture and that of the language that the idioms spring from. Understanding idioms is understanding a culture and its language and the users of the language in a broad sense.
How to Learn Idioms in English?
Apart from learning other things such as vocabulary, pronunciation and grammars, all leaners of English need to learn idioms and phrases in English in order to avoid the bookish language and sound more natural like the real speakers of English. Idioms and idiomatic phrases make your language beautiful. Here are some of the tips on how to learn idioms in English:
- Listen to English speeches: listening to the speeches of the native speakers which are full of idiomatic expressions helps you learn, retain and ingrain them into your mind. The native speakers use the idioms in a real context which helps you identify when and how to use an idiom.
- Read books in English: Books that have been written in English are a good source of idioms, phrases and proverbs in English language. Reading books in English also helps you learn how to use idiomatic expressions in your own converstation. Read books in English on a regular basis.
- Read online: Reading books in English is not sufficient. You need to read articles, magazines and blogs in English. They are also a great source of idioms and phrases. Choose the topics as your choice, select a website and then go on reading their blogs on a daily basis.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Using this book
Learning about idioms
i. What are idioms?
ii. Using your dictionary
Idioms to talk about …
1. Health
2. Happiness and sadness
3. Anger
4. Knowing and understanding
5. Experience and perception
6. Success and failure
7. Having problems
8. Dealing with problems
9. Power and authority
10. Structuring and talking about arguments
11. Conversational responses
12. Praise and criticism
13. Opinions on people and actions
14. Behaviour and attitudes
15. Reacting to what others say
16. Danger
17. Effort
18. Necessity and desirability
19. Probability and luck
20. Social status
21. Feelings
22. Human relationships
23. Size and position
24. Money
25. Work
26. Speed, distance, and intensity
27. Communication 1: commenting on language
28. Communication 2: getting the message across
29. Life and experience: proverbs
30. Memory
Idioms from the topic area of …
31. Time 1: the past and the future
32. Time 2: clocks and frequency
33. The elements
34. Colour
35. Games and sport
36. Animals 1: describing people
37. Animals 2: describing situations
38. Weapons and war
39. Food
40. Roads
41. Houses and household objects
42. Nature
43. Boats and sailing
44. Science, technology, and machines
Idioms using these keywords:
45. Finger, thumb, hand
46. Foot, heel, toe
47. Bones, shoulder, arm, leg
48. Head
49. Face, hair, neck, chest
50. Eyes
51. Ear, lips, mouth, nose, teeth, tongue
52. Heart
53. Brain, mind, blood, and guts
54. Back
55. Long
56. Line
57. Act, action, activity
58. Good and bad
59. Ground
60. Similes and idioms with like
Key
List of phonetic symbols
Index
Summary: English Idioms in Use
Learning idioms and phrases in English is part of learning journey of English. Using idioms and phrases in English is helpful for students if they want to sound more like the native speakers of English. You can easily learn idioms through listening to the speeches and real life conversations of the native speakers. Similarly, you can use books, magazines and articles in English. Learn and use idioms as part of your learning journey.
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