An idiom is a group of words (a phrase) that has a special meaning different from the literal meaning of each word. For example, "raining cats and dogs" does not mean animals are falling from the sky -- it means it is raining very heavily!
Idioms make our language colourful and interesting. We use them in everyday speech and writing.
An idiom is a group of words (a phrase) that has a special meaning different from the literal meaning of each word. For example, "raining cats and dogs" does not mean animals are falling from the sky -- it means it is raining very heavily!
Idioms make our language colourful and interesting. We use them in everyday speech and writing.
| S.No. | Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raining cats and dogs | Raining very heavily |
| 2 | A piece of cake | Something very easy to do |
| 3 | Break the ice | To start a conversation in a shy or awkward situation |
| 4 | Hit the nail on the head | To say or do exactly the right thing |
| 5 | Burn the midnight oil | To study or work late into the night |
| 6 | Let the cat out of the bag | To reveal a secret by mistake |
| 7 | Once in a blue moon | Very rarely; almost never |
| 8 | Under the weather | Feeling unwell or sick |
| 9 | Cost an arm and a leg | To be very expensive |
| 10 | Bite off more than you can chew | To take on more work than you can handle |
1. The maths test was a piece of cake for Riya -- she finished it in ten minutes.
2. Arjun burned the midnight oil before his science exam.
3. We go to the hill station once in a blue moon because it is far from Delhi.
A proverb is a short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson. Proverbs have been used for hundreds of years and are passed down from generation to generation.
| S.No. | Proverb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A stitch in time saves nine. | Fix a small problem early before it becomes big. |
| 2 | Honesty is the best policy. | It is always better to tell the truth. |
| 3 | Practice makes perfect. | The more you practise, the better you become. |
| 4 | An apple a day keeps the doctor away. | Eating healthy food keeps you fit and well. |
| 5 | Where there is a will, there is a way. | If you are determined, you will find a solution. |
| 6 | All that glitters is not gold. | Things that look attractive may not always be valuable. |
| 7 | Too many cooks spoil the broth. | Too many people working on the same task can cause confusion. |
| 8 | Actions speak louder than words. | What you do matters more than what you say. |
| 9 | Rome was not built in a day. | Great things take time and patience. |
| 10 | Birds of a feather flock together. | People with similar interests spend time together. |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Idiom | A phrase with a special meaning different from the literal meaning of its words |
| Proverb | A short, wise saying that gives advice or teaches a lesson |
| Literal | The exact, word-by-word meaning |
| Figurative | A meaning that is symbolic or imaginative, not literal |
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