as in phrases
a sequence of words having a specific meaning
the English idiom "how are you doing?" is our version of a greeting that in some other languages can be translated as "how are you going?"
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of idioms
Meanwhile, analytical software has revolutionized linguistic inquiry, enabling greater understanding of the ways language works—when, how, and why words break out; the specific contexts for expressions and idioms.
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Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
These systems can interpret regional slang, idioms and context-specific expressions, hence minimizing both over-censorship and under-enforcement.
—Anees Ali Khan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Allusions to myths, fables, and riffs on common idioms abound, many of them evocative and quite funny.
—Lora Kelley, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2025
These systems can interpret regional slang, idioms and context-specific expressions, hence minimizing both over-censorship and under-enforcement.
—Anees Ali Khan, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Allusions to myths, fables, and riffs on common idioms abound, many of them evocative and quite funny.
—Lora Kelley, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for idioms
phrases
Noun
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The email obtained by NPR instructs employees working on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to avoid using about a dozen words and phrases, many of which are central to their work.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
30 Sep. 2025
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The quirky phrases are super fun, and the knit design is adorable.—
Jamie Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Idioms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idioms. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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