Idioms are unique expressions within a language that reflect its cultural richness. They allow us to convey cultural references of a specific language community.
Native speakers can effortlessly and unconsciously express certain realities with fixed phrases, which is more challenging for students of a foreign language. Learning and using such expressions correctly can be difficult, especially for beginners. This challenge stems from the fact that idioms often cannot be translated literally into other languages, because the words together form an indivisible meaning.
Learning idioms is therefore particularly important for foreign language learners, as their use emphasizes their language proficiency. Intertaal offers the rapid delivery of a reliable learning tool designed to support students in this process. This book organizes 250 common idioms alphabetically, making them easy to look up. Each expression includes a clear explanation, an example sentence in a natural context, and a humorous illustration that conveys the literal meaning. Where known, the origins of some idioms are also discussed for those who would like to understand more about how these expressions came into our language.