Idiomatic Language
Is using idiomatic language important? Yes.!
An idiom is a phrase, or a combination of words, that cannot be understood literally. Even when a person understands the meaning of every word in the sentence. Idioms can be useful and fun to learn, but are also bound to confuse any non-native speaker of a language who isn’t familiar with the phrase’s cultural relevance.
Talk Corporate can help you understand native speakers better in conversation. As you learn the idiomatic expressions, and consolidate them, including clichés and slangs, you can start to introduce them into your active vocabulary.
Learning Idiomatic expressions enhance your communicative skills, and help you understand more about the cultural and historical information to broaden your understanding of a language as well.
“Since idiomatic expressions are so frequently encountered in both spoken and written discourse, they require special attention in language programs and should not be relegated to a position of secondary importance in the curriculum.” Cooper, 1998
Here are some examples of what they mean and how to use them.
| Back to square one (idiom) | “At stake” means at risk | I’m very nervous about having the job interview today. There’s a lot at stake. |
| In the nick of time (cliché) | Something happened just in time | The firefighters got to the place in the nick of the time. |
| Salty (Slang) | Angry or bitter about something | Don’t get salty! I will share with you if the loan from the bank. |
We invite you to join our Skype Conversational classes to practice the four language skills, including vocabulary, and idiomatic expressions, clichés and slangs.
Share with us your idiomatic expressions in your own language. We will let you know if there is one similar in the English language.
