An idiom is a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words alone. Idioms are figurative expressions that have become fixed in a language through usage.

Examples include "break a leg" (good luck), "spill the beans" (reveal a secret), and "under the weather" (feeling ill). Idioms are culturally specific and can be difficult for language learners. They add colour and nuance to speech and writing, and they are common in both formal and informal contexts.

Key points

• Meaning not deducible from individual words
• Figurative and fixed by usage
• Culturally specific
• Add colour to language