idiom

[ id-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics.
2. a language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people.
3. a construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language.
4. the peculiar character or genius of a language.
5. a distinct style or character, in music, art, etc.:

   the idiom of Bach.

idiom

/ ˈɪdɪəm; ˌɪdɪəˈmætɪk /

noun

1. a group of words whose meaning cannot be predicted from the meanings of the constituent words, as for example ( It was raining ) cats and dogs
2. linguistic usage that is grammatical and natural to native speakers of a language
3. the characteristic vocabulary or usage of a specific human group or subject
4. the characteristic artistic style of an individual, school, period, etc

idiom

1. A traditional way of saying something. Often an idiom, such as “under the weather,” does not seem to make sense if taken literally. Someone unfamiliar with English idioms would probably not understand that to be “under the weather” is to be sick. ( See examples under “Idioms.” )

Derived Forms

• ˌidioˈmaticalness, noun
• ˌidioˈmatically, adverb
• idiomatic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiom¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin idiōma, from Greek idíōma “peculiarity, specific property,” equivalent to idiō- (variant stem of idioûsthai “to make one's own, appropriate,” verbal derivative of idiós; idio- ) + -ma noun suffix of result

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiom¹

C16: from Latin idiōma peculiarity of language, from Greek; see idio-

Synonym Study

See phrase.

Example Sentences

The title of her memoir is a play on the idiom “jack of all trades, master of none” — a criticism she says she’s heard levied at performers who, like her, dip their toes into various mediums.

From Los Angeles Times

His fellow Italian greeted him with an idiom meaning "now it is all serious stuff, mate".

From BBC

Williams was writing in an idiom that was unique to him.

From Los Angeles Times

The laughable invocation of that idiom should tell you plenty about how Baier and the station conceived of the interview: Baier and Harris were on opposite teams, and Baier was attempting to score points.

From Slate

This is an ancient and nearly universal idiom that resurfaces, in different forms, in different places, and at different times, in the direst of circumstances.

From Salon

Related Words

• dialect
• jargon
• locution
• parlance
• patois
• phrase
• vernacular