A free Reference Guide to American English Idioms

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Idioms are important in speechwriting. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines an idiom as carrying a figurative or non-literal meaning:

 

“an expression in the usage of a language that has a meaning that cannot be understood from the combined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for ‘undecided’) or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way for ‘retreat’).”

 

Having a dictionary or reference guide for idioms is very useful. There is a free 133 page pdf e-book by the Office of English Language Programs at the United States Department of State from 2010 titled IN THE LOOP: A Reference Guide to American English Idioms. You can download it either here or here.

 

The book cover was adapted from this one at OpenClipArt.