Idioms, collocations, and fixed expressions are essential features of every language, including English. Idioms, such as spill the beans or hit the nail on the head, convey meanings that go beyond the literal sense of the words. Collocations—common word combinations like make a decision, heavy rain, strong coffee, break the news, and pay attention—help language sound natural and fluent. Fixed expressions, such as on the other hand, as a matter of fact, or for the time being, provide ready-made chunks for effective communication. Many other languages have similar phenomena; for example, Turkish uses idioms like kulağı delik olmak (“to have pierced ears,” meaning “to be well-informed”), while German includes fixed phrases like im Großen und Ganzen (“by and large”). Mastering these multi-word units is crucial for understanding authentic texts and speaking naturally.
Idioms
- Spill the beans: She accidentally spilled the beans about the surprise party.
- Hit the nail on the head: When you said it was a communication problem, you really hit the nail on the head.
Collocations
- Make a decision: It’s time to make a decision about your future.
- Heavy rain: The match was cancelled because of heavy rain.
- Strong coffee: I need a cup of strong coffee to wake up.
- Break the news: How are we going to break the news to him?
- Pay attention: Please pay attention to the instructions.
Fixed Expressions
- On the other hand: I like city life. On the other hand, it can be exhausting.
- As a matter of fact: As a matter of fact, I’ve already finished the report.
- For the time being: Let’s stay here for the time being.
Examples from other languages
- Turkish idiom kulağı delik olmak: O gazeteci her şeyi duyar, çünkü kulağı delik. (That journalist hears everything because he is well-informed.)
- German fixed expression im Großen und Ganzen: Im Großen und Ganzen war das Projekt erfolgreich. (By and large, the project was successful.)