Using Idiomatic Expressions

Have you ever tried to explain to a non-native speaker of English what it means to "go with the flow?"  Or, what exactly one is doing when they are "hanging out?"  If so, you've come face to face with idioms, and the challenge they present to second language learners.

An idiom is an expression that means something different than it's literal parts put together.  For example, if I know the words "hang" and "out," I might imagine that somebody is hanging out their laundry to dry.  I might never imagine that it means spending a Sunday afternoon going to the mall, seeing a movie, having coffee and going for a drive with a good friend.

Expressions such as these are difficult for language learners.  They are often not found in dictionaries.  What makes it even more difficult to learn idioms is that they are constantly changing.  There is no one website, dictionary or book that can contain them all.  In English, there are estimated to be more than ten thousand idioms, and nobody knows them all.

Idioms are tough to learn, but they are important.  For one thing, they help to naturalize your speech.  Even more importantly, they help you to understand casual everyday conversation, which is peppered with things you won't find in your dictionary.  You might be surprised at how many of the daily expressions you use would blow the mind of an English learner.

Idioms are more than just slang.  There is a common type of idiom that is used in everyday English, even in formal situations.  It is the verb + preposition idiom.

Take any common verb in the English language and hook it up to any preposition (things like in, on, at, down, up, etc.) and see what happens. 

A simple example... the verb "put":

Put on - to fool someone

Put off - to make someone not like you

Put up (with) - to be patient with something

Put down - to insult somebody

These are the simplest type of idioms.  "Put" has a host of more complicated expressions that definitely won't be found in a dictionary...

Put your foot in your mouth - "Whoops, I didn't mean to say that!"

Put your food down - "That's it!  I've had enough!"

Put your hands together - (clap)

Put your heads together - "Two minds are better than one."

Put your best foot forward - "Let's just do the best we can!"

Put 2 and 2 together - "Oh!  THAT'S what he meant!"

Put the pedal to the metal - "C'mon, let's go!"

To give you an idea of how vast the world of idioms is, these are just idioms beginning with "put!"

Here is another example... idioms using "head":

Sometimes, a joke can be over your head, or you can get in over your head with something.  Then again, it could just all be in your head.  If you can't get your head around it, just try to keep your head above water, and whatever you do, don't LOSE your head. 

Here are some pieces of advice for the second language learner: When you find an idiom, try to memorize it as a whole, as if it where a single long word with a specific meaning… and try not to think about the component parts.  Actually, this is what we unconsciously do when we discover a new idiom in our own language.  Keep it in your language arsenal to be used from time to time, and use it as soon as possible.  The sooner you use it, the more easily you will remember it in the future.  Using idioms makes the difference between a beginner and an advanced speaker.  You’ll notice how native speakers are surprised and pleased to hear you use one of their colloquial expressions.  They will look at you and treat you differently!

Idioms can be a lot of fun.  They make language more colorful and expressive, and also tell you a lot about a culture's view of things.  When you are studying a second language, you'll run up against these strange expressions that don't make sense on the surface of things, so always write them down and try to remember them!

Peter Freeman
Polyglotus.com