idiom
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From Middle French idiome, and its source, Late Latin idioma, from Ancient Greek ἰδίωμα (idíōma, “a peculiarity, property, a peculiar phraseology, idiom”), from ἰδιοῦσθαι (idioûsthai, “to make one's own, appropriate to oneself”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one's own, pertaining to oneself, private, personal, peculiar, separate”).
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
idiom (plural idioms or idiomata)
- (now rare) A manner of speaking, a way of expressing oneself.
- A language or dialect.
- Specifically, a particular variety of language; a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.
- 2010, Christopher Hitchens, "The Other L-Word", Vanity Fair, 13 Jan 2010:
- Many parents and teachers have become irritated to the point of distraction at the way the weed-style growth of "like" has spread through the idiom of the young.
- 2010, Christopher Hitchens, "The Other L-Word", Vanity Fair, 13 Jan 2010:
- An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); an instance of such a style.
- An expression peculiar to or characteristic of a particular language, especially when the meaning is illogical or separate from the meanings of its component words.
- 2008, Patricia Hampl, “You’re History”, in Patricia Hampl and Elaine Tyler May (editors), Tell Me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life, Minnesota Historical Society, ISBN 9780873516303, page 134:
- You’re history, we say […] . Surely it is an American idiom. Impossible to imagine a postwar European saying, “You’re history. . . . That’s history,” meaning fuhgeddaboudit, pal.
- 2008, Patricia Hampl, “You’re History”, in Patricia Hampl and Elaine Tyler May (editors), Tell Me True: Memoir, History, and Writing a Life, Minnesota Historical Society, ISBN 9780873516303, page 134:
- (programming) A programming construct or phraseology generally held to be the most efficient or elegant means to achieve a particular result or behavior.
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2005, Magnus Lie Hetland, Beginning Python: From Novice to Professional, ISBN 159059519X, page 100:
- I have to use the same assignment and call to raw_input in two places. How can I avoid that? I can use the while True/break idiom: […]
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SynonymsEdit
- (phrase): expression (loosely), form of words (loosely), phrase (loosely)
Derived termsEdit
Derived terms
Related termsEdit
TranslationsEdit
expression peculiar to a given language
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manner of speaking
distinct style of art, etc
instance of such style
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language
See alsoEdit
Further readingEdit
- American idioms - a comprehensive list of idioms, browsable through alphabetical links. Includes parts of speech, definitions and example sentences.
- English and American Idioms - RSS subscription channel
- Glossary of Linguistics
- Today's English Idioms at GoEnglish.com
- idiom in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- idiom in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911