What are idioms?

Idioms are words or phrases that only make sense to people who (a) speak the language and (b) are immersed in the culture in which the idiom developed.  For example, if someone only speaks English but does not also live in the United States, he or she may understand a doggie bag to be a bag that is somehow related to a dog.  However, a speaker must be immersed in the culture - or learn the definition - to know that a doggie bag is a container or bag that holds the leftovers from a restaurant. 

How long will it take to learn idioms if I am an ESL speaker?

Idioms take time to learn, but are an important aspect of a complete cultural experience.  Idioms vary be region and even by generation, so even most native speakers will still encounter idioms that seem foreign to them.  Please visit our ESL Center for idiom worksheets and other ESL resources. 

Where can I find the definition to an idiom?

Please email info@polishmypaper.com if you have a question or an idiom definition to add to the list below!