What defines an idiom and how does its meaning differ from the individual words it contains?

An idiom is defined as a phrase or group of words that has a special meaning, which is different from the usual meanings of the individual words. The meaning of an idiom cannot be understood by analyzing the words separately; rather, it is the combination of words that conveys a unique meaning.

Fill in the blank: The idiom 'up in the air' means something is ___.

Undecided or not settled yet.

True or False: The idiom 'It’s raining cats and dogs' literally means that cats and dogs are falling from the sky.

False. It means that it is raining very heavily.

Riddle: I’m a phrase that doesn’t mean what it says; my meaning is hidden in my ways. What am I?

An idiom.

What is an example of how the meaning of a phrase can change when the words are combined?

An example is the idiom 'kick the bucket,' which means to die, rather than literally kicking a bucket.

What is the purpose of using idioms in informal writing or speech?

Idioms make language more fun and creative, adding humor and expressing ideas in unique ways.

Fill in the blank: The idiom 'burn the midnight oil' means to ___ late into the night.

Work

True or False: Idioms should always be used in formal writing.

False. Idioms should not be used in formal writing as they may confuse readers who do not know their meanings.

What does the idiom 'spill the beans' mean?

To disclose a secret.

Riddle: I can be something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good. What am I?

A blessing in disguise.