Katherine P.

Parchamento

DR
22

USING IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

What is Idiom?
- Idioms are words, phrases or expressions that cannot be taken literally.
- Is an expression peculiar to a language.
- It usually has more than one meaning that is not gained from the meaning of its words taken
separate.
Idiomatic expressions
- are found in the daily speech of people rather than in formal composition.
- when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would
find in the dictionary.
*Note - Every language has its own idioms.
Heres an example of an idiomatic expression:
1. break a leg
Literal meaning: I command you to break a bone in your leg and you should
probably go to the doctor afterwards to get it fixed.
Idiomatic meaning: Do your best and do well. Often, actors tell each other to break a
leg before they go out on stage to perform.
2. To shed crocodile tears

Literal meaning: Tears falling from the eye of a crocodile or to shed tears in the
form of crocodiles.

Idiomatic meaning: To pretend to be sad over the loss or death of something or
someone.

3. give someone the green light

Idiomatic meaning: Give permission

4. tickled pink

Idiomatic meaning: Very happy

5. keep your chin up

Idiomatic meaning: Be happy

Understanding idiomatic expressions often poses a problem to nonnative speakers of the
language. However, since the use of idioms makes language more colorful and refreshing, various
interesting activities to help the student gain mastery over them will prove helpful.

a. Picture Talk
The literal meaning of an idiomatic expression is interpreted in picture or other
nongraphics. Then the expressionis used in several sentences in its figurative meaning.
The student gives his own sentence using the idiom.

b. Context Clues
An idiomatic expresiion is used in various situations. From these the student
gains the meaning.

c. Games
A list of idiomatic idiomatic expressions may be written on paper and
distributed to a group. (Group I) Their meanings can be written on other slips of paper
and given to another group (Group II). Group I members take turns calling out their
idiomatic expressions. Those of Group II look at their own meaning slips. After all
expressions have been called out, Group II people look for their partners.

d. Writing
After learning about a set of idiomatic expressions, the students can be made to
write a dialog, a description, or a narration of an event using as many of the expressions
as they can.