Idioms & Phrases: A Concise Dictionary

When an idiom from one language is translated word by word into another language, it most likely loses its idiomatic meaning in the translation. For example, an idiom ‘kick the bucket’ means to die or to expire in English, but if it is translated word by word into any other language it will definitely carry the sense that an object ‘bucket’ being kicked by leg.

Idioms and phrases are used extensively in literature, particularly in drama and fiction. In satirical or humorous fiction, the inclusion of phrases and idioms is almost inevitable.