noun
idiom
IH-dee-uhm
noun
1
A phrase whose meaning can't be worked out just from the words in it, such as "kick the bucket."
""Spill the beans" is an idiom meaning to reveal a secret."
"Learners of English often struggle with idioms because they can't be translated literally."
2
A characteristic style of expression used in a language, art form, or field.
"The film borrows heavily from the visual idiom of 1970s westerns."
How to Use Idiom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fixed phrase with a meaning different from its literal words, or more broadly, a distinctive style.
Common pairings
common idiom
English idiom
musical idiom
Word Forms
idioms plural, idiomata plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “idiom”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Spill the beans" is an _____ meaning to reveal a secret.
Etymology
From Greek idíōma, "peculiarity, particular phrasing," via Latin and French.