Cut to the chase!

IDIOM: In its loosest sense, the word idiom is often used as a synonym for dialect. In its more scholarly and narrow sense, an idiom or idiomatic expression refers to a construction or expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language. For instance, the English expression, "She has a bee in her bonnet," meaning "she is obsessed," cannot be literally translated into another language word for word. It's a non-literal idiomatic expression.

What idiom is literally illustrated here?What does it means figuratively or metaphorically?

List as many idioms as you can think of in 30 seconds.

Idioms areEverywhere! You will find them inBooksMagazinesNewspapersMoviesSongsEveryday speech

Idioms come from many sources. Some of the stories have historical roots. For example: You have a chip on your shoulder.Shakespeare gave us hundreds of words and idioms. For example: dead as a doornail (from King Henry VI)Many come from the Bible. For example: bite the dust (Psalms 72)Many come from the sea. For example: know the ropes

http://library.thinkquest.org/4382/idiom.html#sweep

Go to my website: www2.dcps.org/teachers/sthurmanClick on Idiom practiceFor each of the seven idioms you will be given a picture showing a literal interpretation. On your own paper, write down the correct idiom (you will select it from the list in the drop box)What the idiom means figuratively or metaphoricallyWrite your own sentence with the idiom. Extra credit can be earned if you add three other idioms with a literal picture.**If you finish before the end of class, you may click on the idiom game link to play a game.

Knock on wood, next time you see an idiom in a book or hear someone use an idiom when speaking, youll know the ropes because you can bet your bottom dollar youll hear idioms until the cows come home.