idiom

noun

id·i·om | \ ˈi-dē-əm

Definition of idiom

1 : an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically (such as no, it wasn't me) or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as ride herd on for "supervise")

2a : the language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class : dialect

b : the syntactical, grammatical, or structural form peculiar to a language

3 : a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or a medium or instrument the modern jazz idiom broadly : manner, style a new culinary idiom

Synonyms The Makeup of Idioms More Example Sentences Learn More about idiom

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The Makeup of Idioms

If you had never heard someone say "We're on the same page," would you have understood that they weren't talking about a book? And the first time someone said he'd "ride shotgun", did you wonder where the gun was? A modern English-speaker knows thousands of idioms, and uses many every day. Idioms can be completely ordinary ("first off", "the other day", "make a point of", "What's up?") or more colorful ("asleep at the wheel", "bite the bullet", "knuckle sandwich"). A particular type of idiom, called a phrasal verb, consists of a verb followed by an adverb or preposition (or sometimes both); in make over, make out, and make up, for instance, notice how the meanings have nothing to do with the usual meanings of over, out, and up.

Examples of idiom in a Sentence

She is a populist in politics, as she repeatedly makes clear for no very clear reason. Yet the idiom of the populace is not popular with her. — P. J. O'Rourke, New York Times Book Review, 9 Oct. 2005 And the prospect of recovering a nearly lost language, the idiom and scrappy slang of the postwar period … — Don DeLillo, New York Times Magazine, 7 Sept. 1997 We need to explicate the ways in which specific themes, fears, forms of consciousness, and class relationships are embedded in the use of Africanist idiom … — Toni Morrison, Playing in the Dark, 1992 The expression “give way,” meaning “retreat,” is an idiom. rock and roll and other musical idioms a feature of modern jazz idiom

Recent Examples on the Web

Trying to find idioms that belonged to these respective enclaves. — Ryan Chapman, Longreads, "‘Nobody in This Book Is Going to Catch a Break’: Téa Obreht on “Inland”," 28 Aug. 2019 There is the tongue of the country, and then a distinctive local idiom known to linguists as Browns bemoaning. — Sean Gregory/cleveland, Time, "“It's Time.” The Cleveland Browns Are Ready to Start Winning," 22 Aug. 2019 Over the next 35 years, but particularly through the mid-1960s, the band defined the forceful hard-bop idiom while introducing dozens of jazz standards and emerging masters who went on to lead their own bands. — Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, "Art Blakey’s legendary sound will thrive in 2 Walnut Creek concerts," 21 Aug. 2019 Advantageous seat This secretive bird has yielded an idiom: The catbird seat. — Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, Indianapolis Star, "The Hoosier Gardener: Summer brings catbirds out in the open," 18 July 2019 No sailor wants to fall into the water, but the timeless idiom might better have been amended to sail or sink when David Wood got his start in the sport. — Andrew Turner, Daily Pilot, "David Wood sails again for Balboa Yacht Club in Governor’s Cup," 17 July 2019 With the exceptions of Charles Ives’ Largo for Violin, Clarinet and Piano — the most conventionally dissonant piece — and Kimberly Osberg’s Interplay, the music was mostly rooted in a tonal language that employed jazz and folk idioms. — Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, "Clarinet trio shines in opening concert at Dallas’ Basically Beethoven Festival," 12 July 2019 But technically, the first word of the name is the Korean idiom that transliterates as sohn-mat. — Julia Kramer, Bon Appétit, "This 8-Seat Hand Roll Counter in Seattle Is My Lunchtime Happy Place," 9 July 2019 Tanya Tagaq’s unique vocal stylings come from her own solo interpretations of Inuit throat singing, in a post-modern rock idiom. — Christopher Arnott, courant.com, "Arts & Ideas: We help you pick from the hundreds of concerts, shows, talks and tours," 4 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'idiom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for idiom

idiom

noun

English Language Learners Definition of idiom

: an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own

: a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area and that uses some of its own words, grammar, and pronunciations

: a style or form of expression that is characteristic of a particular person, type of art, etc.

See the full definition for idiom in the English Language Learners Dictionary

idiom

noun

id·i·om | \ ˈi-dē-əm

Kids Definition of idiom

: an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but must be learned as a whole The expression “give up,” meaning “surrender,” is an idiom.

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idiom

Definition of idiom

Synonyms for idiom

The Makeup of Idioms

Examples of idiom in a Sentence

First Known Use of idiom

History and Etymology for idiom

English Language Learners Definition of idiom

Kids Definition of idiom

idiom

Definition of idiom

Synonyms for idiom

The Makeup of Idioms

Examples of idiom in a Sentence

First Known Use of idiom

History and Etymology for idiom

English Language Learners Definition of idiom

Kids Definition of idiom

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