An idiom is an expression whose meaning cannot be guessed from the literal translation or the meaning of its individual words, but has a figurative meaning that is known only through common use. This is sometimes difficult to understand. If someone says, for instance, that there is too much red tape, how are we to know that it means there is too much bureaucracy?
To many, they are just mambo-jumbo (nonsense; not easily understood). There are many thousands of idioms in English. Sometimes the same or similar idioms can be found in many other European languages. Who was the first to think of them and how did they cross the borders? That is an interesting question but, leaving sociolinguistics aside, let us take a closer look at some much used idiomatic expressions. Of course, memorising ten or twenty of them is just the tip of the iceberg (a small part of a much larger whole).
Here are a few idioms in English with similar counterparts in Croatian. Some people are down-to-earth (sensible and practical) types, others have their head in the clouds most of the time (don’t care much about the ‘real’ world). But when we fall in love, we are all in seventh heaven, on cloud nine or over the moon (extremely happy). Still, be careful with love – putting your cards on the table (being honest about something) may not always be the wisest thing to do. But then, a smart guy or girl will put two and two together (guess the truth about the situation) anyway. If your job is lousy and your partner impossible, it may be time to turn over a new leaf (start over again). And so on…
Exercise 1: Match the idioms in column A with their definition in column B.
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RED TAPE – f. bureaucracy
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MUMBO JUMBO – s. language that is difficult to understand
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THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG – i. a small part of a much larger whole
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DOWN-TO-EARTH – a. sensible and practical
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TO BE ON CLOUD NINE, TO BE OVER THE MOON – j. to be very happy
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TO PUT YOUR CARDS ON THE TABLE – b. to be honest and open about something
