How to learn idioms

One of my students recently asked me how she could learn idioms. In particular she wanted to know where she would come across idiomatic-rich language. In this post, I’ll give an overview of what idioms are, why you should learn them, when you should avoid using them and where you can find them.

What is an idiom?

The best way of explaining idioms is to give some examples. The following expressions are idioms:

• rock the boat

• toe the line

• bat an eyelid

If you use an idiom, people familiar with it will know exactly what you mean. However, people unfamiliar with it probably won’t have a clue what you are talking about. Therein lies the rub. Idioms are a fantastic way of expressing ideas if they are understood. However, imagine you work in an international environment with lots of people who speak English as a second language, in that situation, you might find it better to avoid idioms.

Why you should learn idioms

In my experience lots of advanced students enjoy being able to express themselves using idioms. This is often influenced by the idioms in their first language that they try to translate into English. Occasionally this strategy pays off and there is an English idiom that is very similar to the one they already know. Most of the time it doesn’t quite work but it does provide a great opportunity to try to find an equivalent English expression. Using idioms can make your language more colourful and more precise.

In addition, idioms are used widely in literature. Some books are dialogue rich and packed with a variety of idioms. Understanding those idioms gives the reader a better insight into character and plot and makes the overall reading experience potentially funnier and more enjoyable.

In summary, idioms are a great way of explaining a situation. Being able to understand them can help take your English to the next level.

When shouldn’t you use idioms

Avoid using idioms if your message is important and you think your listener is not going to understand them.

Remember to adjust your language to the level of the person you are speaking to. This means that they are included in the conversation and the risk of misunderstandings is reduced.

Where can idioms be found?

This is the original question posed by my student. If you want to boost your knowledge of idioms, try to do some of the following activities:

1.      Listen to the commentary and post-match analysis of a sporting event such as a football or cricket match.

2.      Read literature. Here are some books packed with idioms:

• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

• Timbuktu by Paul Auster

• Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

3.      Watch reality TV shows such as The Traitors or Gogglebox

4.      Use a grammar and vocabulary course book such as Destination

5.      Join a conversation class

6.      Sign up here for my monthly newsletter, which often includes an idiom quiz

If you want to read more about idioms, check out this post.

PS This blog post has been written using only Adi Intelligence and a spell checker.