What Does Idiomatic Mean?

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What Does Idiomatic Mean?

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Answer 1

Idiomatic is an adjective that means relating to, confirming to or of an idiom. In short it refers to "Idiomatic English". Idiomatic means something that is characteristic or peculiar to a particular language. It refers to something having the nature or resembling an idiom. The use of many idioms in speech can be referred to as idiomatic. Idiomatic also means something characteristic or peculiar of the manner or style of a particular people.

Idiomatic is the adjective form of the noun idiom and can thus be traced back to the Latin "idioma" which is taken from the Greek word "idiousthai" meaning to make one's own. An idiom is a form of expression that is peculiar to a particular language, makes sense when used, but its individual words convey the required meaning only when used together. Generally the richer the language, the greater will be the use of idioms and figures of speech in it.

Answer 2

An idiom is an expression whose sense is not predictable from its literal meaning. In the U.S., "to kick the bucket" means to die. It has nothing to do with kicking or buckets, but the phrase's meaning has become understood. Common idioms in U.S. English include: -- "ace in the hole," from stud poker, in which cards are turned face down, or "in the hole" as bets are placed. -- "beg the question," to assume what still must be proved. -- "behind the eight-ball," in billiards, this is the most unfavorable position. So the expression means that a person is harried or put-upon. -- "burn the candle at both ends," to overextend oneself, or to party too hard. -- "coup de grace," or the final blow. It originally meant the merciful stroke that put a fatally wounded person out of his misery. -- "let the cat out of the bag," to disclose a secret. -- dog in the manger," a person who refuses to let someone else benefit from something for which the "dog" has no use. -- "left-handed compliment," a compliment with a double meaning, one of which is negative. -- "set one's teeth on edge," something that someone finds intensely irritating. -- "once bitten, twice shy," an injury makes a person wary of its cause.