CEFR B1

idiom

noun

Meaning

A phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of its words.

Examples

The teacher explained that 'break a leg' is an idiom for good luck.
Many English idioms are difficult for learners to understand because their meanings are not obvious.

Synonyms: saying, expression, phrase, figure of speech

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idiom (B1)

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɪdiəm/

Definition

A phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of its words.

Examples

The teacher explained that 'break a leg' is an idiom for good luck.
Many English idioms are difficult for learners to understand because their meanings are not obvious.
She used a common idiom to express her frustration, saying she was 'at the end of her rope'.

How to Use idiom

idiom for (prepositional phrase): Used to specify what the idiom means or represents. — "The teacher asked us to find an idiom for happiness."
understand an idiom (collocation): To comprehend the non-literal meaning of an idiomatic expression. — "It can be very difficult for language learners to understand English idioms."

Synonyms of idiom

Words with a similar meaning to idiom:

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