Idioms

Question

Hello!

I was just wondering if idioms are still idioms if they are expressed differently. If, for example, I was to write "It was as flat as her chest" would I still be using the idiom "flat-chested", but simply making it a metaphor?

I've read that these can be known as idiomatic comparisons, and I've seen this used to compare things countless times, but I know it's not technically classed as a cliche.

Thanks in advance!

GPY · Accepted Answer

While in some contexts the word "idiom" can refer to any natural way of speaking or using words, when you call a particular phrase an "idiom", it normally implies that its meaning or usage is not easily predictable or understandable from the sum of its parts. Thus I would not call "flat-chested" an idiom.

"as flat as her chest" is a simile, not a metaphor. It is "idiomatic" in the sense

"as flat as her chest" is a simile, not a metaphor. It is "idiomatic" in the sense of being natural language, but not idiomatic in the sense of being more than the sum of its parts.

CalifJim · Answer

sailsofoblivionI was just wondering if idioms are still idioms if they are expressed differently.

No. 'to kick the bucket' means 'to die'. If you express 'to kick the bucket' differently, i.e., as 'to die', you are no longer using an idiom.

sailsofoblivionwould I still be using the idiom "flat-chested"

It's not an idiom. It's an ordinary adjective that has no special meaning other than what the words themselves say when taken literally. In general, however, any comparison with 'as ... as ...' is idiomatic (without being an idiom — see below).

sailsofoblivionI've read that these can be known as idiomatic comparisons,

Yes, but be careful because 'idiomatic' does not mean 'using an idiom'. 'idiomatic English' is natural English as spoken by native speakers whether it contains idioms or not. An 'idiom' is a set of words not used literally so that the combination of the words means something different from what it means when the words are taken literally. (See 'to kick the bucket', above.)

sailsofoblivionI've seen this used to compare things countless times

Yes, but they are often fairly standard combinations, even overused combinations we might say, like 'sly as a fox', 'dumb as a stump', or 'slow as molasses in January'. Some of these may be considered clichés; others, not necessarily.

CJ

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