Great Writing: Idioms
Michael Buckingham Gray • March 28, 2019
Great Writing: Idioms
Idioms are phrases that people often use in their everyday verbal and written communication. However, they are not meant to be taken literally. For example, when someone says that they are ‘feeling blue’, they are not referring to feeling like the colour, but rather that they are communicating that they are feeling sad or depressed.
Thus, idioms express something beyond what is actually stated. Like other types of literary devices, idioms can turn a boring piece of writing, into an interesting one:
‘Break a leg’
‘The pot calling the kettle black’
‘The devil is in the detail’
When using idioms, remember to use them in their exact and commonly accepted format. One student recently wrote that ‘…it was like looking for a pin in a haystack’. This reads strangely to native English speakers and readers who would use the word ‘needle’ instead of ‘pin.’ While many people may still understand what the student was getting at, changing idioms can irritate or confuse listeners or readers.
For help in perfecting your use of idioms in your verbal and written communication, BOOKone of our experienced writing tutors today!
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