IDIOMATIC ENGLISH

 What is idiomatic language?

 Idiomatic language refers to many words or phrases that are a familiar and everyday
feature of a certain language.
 Such phrases are usually language and culture-specific.
 Native speakers use them daily but they can be difficult to understand to a foreigner
because their meaning is metaphorical.

 Metaphorical meaning
 I’ve been fishing this morning but caught absolutely nothing.
 I didn’t manage to catch the bus this morning.
 Wait while I catch my breath.
 I didn’t quite catch what you said.
 Literal vs. metaphorical language.
 Idiomatic language is usually metaphorical.

 Traditionally, idioms were considered to be a group of words.

 The example of ‘catch’ shows that individual words can be metaphorical, as well.
 Idiomatic language is fixed (you cannot make up your own expressions, but they can
change grammatically).
 Idiomatic language is colourful, it makes the way you talk or write more vivid and
interesting.
 It is often connected to speech.
 However, idiomatic expressions are also used in written English.

 What constitutes idiomatic language?

 Idioms:
 "an expression whose meaning cannot be predicted from the usual meanings of its
constituent elements."
 E.g. a piece of cake
 Proverbs:
 A saying, usually short, which expresses general truth about life.
 They give advice, make an observation or teach a lesson.
 E.g. Better safe than sorry.

 Metaphors:
 one idea stands for another
 E.g. Time is Money
 save time, run out of time, waste time, spend time, time to spare

 Clichés:
 Worn phrases
 E.g. ‘Dear John’, ‘femme fatale’, ‘forbidden fruit’, ‘it’s a small world’

 Phrasal verbs:
 Verbs followed by an adverb or a preposition which changes the meaning of the verb.
 E.g. look vs. look after; make vs. make up

 Catchphrases:
 Phrases that have ‘caught on’ with the public and are in frequent use.
 E.g. That’s all folks!
 Don’t worry, be happy!
 Is the Pope a Catholic?

 Collocations:
 The way words combine in a language
 E.g. strong wind but heavy rain
 Red wine (‘black’ in Croatian)
 Carry a suitcase but wear clothes
 These combinations come naturally to native speakers, but learners have problems with
them.

 Colloquial speech:
 Informal and relaxed use of language
 Colloquial speech is appropriate for casual, informal situations rather than formal ones.
 E.g. ‘my old man’ vs. ‘my father’
 ‘broke’ vs. ‘penniless’
 ‘gonna’, ‘wanna’, ‘ain’t’

 Slang:
 Connected to a group or subculture who creates new linguistic forms.
 The purpose is not to be understood by non-members.
 Some of these words become a part of everyday language e.g. cool, hot, dude, ride, high-
five, chill out.

 Why learn idiomatic expressions?

 They are used by native speakers all the time.
 If you don’t use them, your English will sound too formal and ‘bookish’.
 They add colour and variety to language.
 They are a part of the culture.