INTRODUCTION

Learning English as a second language (ESL) or foreign language (EFL) is like exploring a newfound territory: it can be fun,  challenging, and rewarding.  Some take it up for the adventure, others for survival.  But whatever the motivation might be, it is safe to assume that in many non-English speaking countries, those who can speak the language have a definite advantage over those who can’t or hardly can, both in terms of social advancement and employment opportunities.

To study English is to know and understand the standard vocabulary (composed of millions of words), their meaning, and the rules of grammar. However, one area that defies the normal rules of grammar and meaning is the idiom.

An idiom (id-ee-uhm) is an expression composed of a word or a combination of words which, when taken together as a single unit, has a meaning that is different from the standard definition of the individual words.  It has a fixed grammatical structure and a specialized or figurative meaning that develop from common usage by a particular people in a particular region, culture or era.  Although idioms take root and flourish in a local setting, many of them acquire universal use and gain international acceptance.

When taken literally, idioms convey an idea that is very different from their specialized meaning. For example, the expression a tough cookie conjures an image that it totally different from its figurative meaning, which is a strong and self-confident person who doesn’t yield easily to pressure.  Some idioms, when taken literally, are reduced to a heap of words that don’t seem to make sense.  Examples of this are the expressions all ears, a square peg in a round hole, train of thought, and many more.  For this reason, idioms cannot be directly translated to although they may have figurative equivalent in other languages.

Native speakers take them for granted and use them in their spoken and written communication at home, in the workplace, or in the community, but students learning English as a second or foreign language find idioms difficult to comprehend.  This is understandable because an ESL or EFL student analyzing an idiom for the first time would try to deduce its meaning from the literal definition of its parts.  Expectedly, this method will give him the literal translation but not its figurative meaning.  If he stops with the literal translation the process will result only in confusion.  But with proper tutorial he should discover its figurative meaning and, with constant use, successfully complete the assimilation process.

Idioms add grace, style, and art to the language.  To achieve a fair level of fluency of the English language, one has to have a working knowledge of some popular idioms that have acquired universal use.  To begin with, he can pick out a few short phrases that are easy to remember, then gradually build up his vocabulary by adding an idiom or two at a time.  The trick is to memorize them, know their figurative meaning, and use them in conversations until they become part of one’s standard vocabulary.  The student shall have sufficiently assimilated an idiomatic expression if, in his understanding, its literal and figurative senses have become one.

This handbook was meticulously put together to help ESL and EFL students in their quest for a better command and comprehension of the English language.  It contains almost 10,000 English idioms and idiomatic expressions - from short phrases to whole sentences - arranged alphabetically, with meanings that are stated clearly and concisely.  Examples are also provided to guide them to a better understanding and appreciation of this grammatical peculiarity called idiom. The illustrations opposite some expressions are mostly taken from Google images.  

May this handbook bring not only knowledge and confidence but also fun and adventure to those who take it to heart.


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