Idiom – different meaning to words used, and difficult to translate
Idioms, if translated exactly, would only convey the literal meaning, and not the intended meaning that lies behind the phrase.
To remember this, we’ve used a typical idiom and referenced it to the word “translator”. The idiom chosen is “Up in the air”, which refers to the status of a plan or an issue that is still to be settled.
The idiot’s omelette (idiom) was thrown up in the air and landed on the translator.
An idiom is a phrase that has a meaning that is not conveyed by the literal meaning of the words used. For instance, “Over the moon” is used to mean delighted or very pleased, but literally it means a point somewhere above Earth’s natural satellite. Idioms cannot be translated exactly.
Idiom also refers to phrases used by particular groups of people who share an interest, or who come from a certain region, which would probably not be understood by people outside of those groups or regions.
