Learning Object # 9
Topic:Idiomatic Expression
Target Learners: Fourth year HS
Introduction:
Have you ever received a note like this?:Have you cake and eat it, too.
Or we often heard this in the crowd the emcee says: “Let’s give them a big hand”What did you do to find out whether what you read or heard means another thing or not?
You have already heard about idioms. This is may be the reason why you sometimes have doubts about the phrases and expressions you hear or read. Actually, a phrase may be idiomatic in one case but not in another. You should be alert to tell which is which.
Objective: identify idiomatic expression
Distinguish idiomatic expression from not idiom
Review:Here are some idiomatic expressions, are you familiar with these?
Onion skin- a person with a very sensitive feeling.
Burning the midnight oil- study hard
Once in a blue moon- seldom.
Discussion:
Idiomatic Expressions are words or phrases whose meanings are not implied or expressed literally. These are special phrases that play an essential part in a language.
These are phrases or expressions whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of the words used. They are considered special because some of them do not follow the rules of grammar and their meanings are difficult to guess.
Examples:
Cut the atmosphere with a knife, over the hill, pull the strings pull your finger out.
Idioms are also considered special because some of them have become fixed units of the English language but they do not follow the normal rules of grammar.
Example: come it, setting pretty.
As a general rule, an idiomatic phrase cannot be altered, no synonymous word can substitute for any word in the expression neither could the arrangement of the words be changed. Doing so would only destroy the idiom and render it meaningless.
Always use idioms with care. In many idioms, the change in a word or two can alter the whole meaning of the expression.
Example:
He burned the midnight oil just to get high grades.
(He studied hard to get high grades)
Altered:
He got high grades by burning oil in midnight.
(He does the burning of oil during midnight to support his studies.)
Summary:
Idioms can be understood through the following techniques:
- through context clues or words that surround the expression
- through illustrations
- Through its use in the sentence.
Assessment:
Tell whether the underlined expression in the sentence is an idiom or not.
- Accepting one’s defeat is a bitter pill to swallow.
- Mother always reminds me to take the back seat when travelling.
- Prepare a glass of water and something sweet because the food is a bitter pill to swallow.
- When he tied the knot, he didn’t tighten it, so it loosened after some time.
- Why not study first before tying the knot with your boy friend? You’re too young to have a family of your own.
