An idiom exists only within our shared cultural knowledge.In conversation: “You just graduated at the top of your class. You can’t make up your own idiom because idioms emerge through cultures over a long period of time. You may need context, cultural knowledge and/or historical knowledge to understand the origins of the idiom.Īnother way I like to compare the two is by saying anyone can make up their own metaphor by creating an analogy between two similar things. Idioms are often so detached from their original meaning that you cannot deduce the meaning through logic alone.Idioms are phrases commonplace in our language to the extent that native English speakers don’t need to reflect on the origins of the phrase.Metaphors can be deduced by logically understanding the similarities between two things being compared.Metaphors always employ implied comparison.Interpreting the Phrase (anyone can interpret a metaphor) Logical Comparison and Contrast (anyone can create a metaphor)Ĭultural Knowledge (We learn what they mean) & Interpretation (sometimes)
Below are some of the key differences.Ĭultural Memory (Idioms are part of our lexicon) But there are more differences than similarities. There are some key similarities (such as the fact they both employ figurative language). Read Also: 18 Types of Metaphors Key Differences Between Idioms and Metaphors If the comparison is literally written using comparative phrases including: such as, like, as good as, as tall as, etc, then the phrase is called a simile. However, the comparison is written as if it is literal. Metaphors rely upon comparison between two things to obtain their meaning and effect. You might hear that metaphors don’t involve comparison. So, the comparison is implied rather than spelled out for the reader. This is done to achieve literary effect and help paint a picture in the receiver’s mind. However, unlike a simile, a metaphor doesn’t say Thing A is like Thing B, but rather Thing A is Thing B. What is a Metaphor?Ī metaphor is a figure of speech that involves comparing one thing with another thing. For example “cloud nine” means to be euphorically happy, but clouds themselves aren’t happy, so it’s hard to deduce meaning without cultural knowledge. Notice that two things aren’t necessarily being compared here.
Some common idioms in the English language are listed below: But, it is not a metaphor because there isn’t an implied comparison involved in this phrase. In this instance, the idiom’s original can be deduced with enough contextual knowledge. Nevertheless, someone with historical knowledge of life before electricity, they may know that light at midnight required burning oil in a lantern, and therefore can decode the idiom without help. You can, however, sometimes deduce the origins of the idiom if you have enough knowledge of history or context within a culture.įor example, the popular idiom “ to burn the midnight oil” may be hard to understand for people in the 21st Century. The original purpose or connection between the figurative phrase and its literal meaning is not always clear. The meaning behind an idiom is often obscure, tenuous, or entirely lost. It is a way of saying things that members of the language group will understand because they have had the meaning passed down to them over time or they understand the term as a cultural reference.
What is an Idiom?Īn idiom is a type of figurative language that exists within a cultural or language group.
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