Idioms and Cliches

What might happen if you heard an idiom you weren't familiar with?

• You'd be able to deduce the idiom's meaning from the literal meanings of the words

• You'd have to consult a dictionary

• You'd have trouble figuring out what that idiom meant

• You'd have to assume the idiom's words had opposite meanings

Which of the following is an example of an idiom?

• To go to sleep

• To get some rest

• To go to bed

• To hit the sack

Why do idioms not translate well to other languages?

• They usually refer to something specific to a language or culture

• You have to know the literal meanings of all the words in an idiom to understand it

• The words in idioms are too complex for non-native speakers to understand

• Only the English language has idioms

What idiom expresses the same thought as the phrase "to drive someone up a wall?"

• To make someone upset

• To drive someone into a wall

• To drive someone nuts

• To drive someone to the hospital

What is the figurative meaning of the phrase, "to knock someone's socks off?"

• To remove someone's footwear

• To do laundry

• To impress someone

• To hit someone hard in the legs

What would happen if you substituted one word in an idiom for another- like if you said, "knock someone's shoes off" instead of "socks?"

• The idiom would have the same meaning

• You'd be coining an entirely new idiom

• The idiom would take on an opposite meaning

• The phrase you uttered would make no sense

Why are idioms used in writing?

• They're universal and easy to understand

• They make writing more grammatically correct

• They make writing more lively

• They make writing more streamlined

What can you infer about William Shakespeare from the fact that he coined so many idioms?

• His writing was trite and clichéd

• He must not have used a lot of figurative language

• A large number of people must have been familiar with his writing

• Very few people must have seen his plays

Why shouldn't you use clichés in your writing?

• They're considered boring and corny

• They use complex, tricky words

• They're not used often enough to be well-known d.

• It's hard to figure out their true meanings

How can an idiom become a cliché?

• By changing certain words

• By being overused

• By having more than one meaning

• By becoming popular