📝 Created by: El Arby Ameur | 📅 August 2026 | 🌐 lesson.tn
📖 Estimated reading time: 6 minutes | Word count: ~1000 words
📖 Idioms Rules: Understanding Figurative Language
Level: B1-B2 | Focus: How idioms work and how to use them
VocabularyIdiomsidiomsrulesfigurative language
1. Literal vs Figurative Meaning
Literal: "Break a leg" means to actually break a bone. Figurative (idiom): "Break a leg" means good luck!
Idioms are NOT literal.
2. Idioms are Fixed Expressions
You cannot change the words or the word order.
✓ "Spill the beans"
✗ "Spill the peas" / "Spill beans the"
3. Context is Key
The same words can be literal or idiomatic depending on context.
• "He pulled my leg." (idiom = teased me)
• "He pulled my leg out of the mud." (literal)
4. Register and Formality
Most idioms are informal. Use them in spoken English and casual writing. Avoid them in very formal writing (academic papers, official documents).