Idioms
Around the World
 
Definitions of Common Terms
 
[Note: This list is by no means complete. As I learn more about languages, idioms,
and web page design, I intend to incorporate new features to enhance this web site.]
 
Adage
1. A traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation; proverb.
Aphorism
1. A terse saying embodying a general truth, as "Art is long, and life is short."
Cliche
1. A trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiseror  strong as an ox. 
2. In art, literature, drama, etc., a trite or hackneyed plot, character development, use of color, musical expression, etc.
Colloquialism
1. A colloquial expression; that is, an expression that is characteristic or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing. In standard American English, He hasn't got anyis colloquial, whereas He has noneis formal. 
2. Colloquial style or usage. Note: Colloquialisms are often viewed upon with disapproval, as if they indicate "vulgar, bad, or incorrect" usage. However, they are merely part of a familiar style used in speaking rather than in writing.
Epigram
1. Any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed. 
2. Epigrammatic saying: Wilde had a genius for epigram. 
3. A short poem, often satirical, dealing concisely with a single subject and usually ending with a witty or ingenious turn of thought.
Epigraph
1. An inscription, especially on a building, statue, or the like. 
2. An apposite quotation at the beginning of a book, chapter, etc.
Expression
1. The act of expressin or setting forth in words: the expression of opinions. 
2. A particular word, phrase, or form of words: archaic expression. 
3. The manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing: delicacy of expression. 
4. Power of expressin in words: joy beyond expression. 
5. Indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution: the lyric expression embodied in his poetry. 
6. A look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc.: a shocked expression. 
7. The quality or power of expressin attitude, emotion, etc.: a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.
Idiom
1. An expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket, hang one’s head,  etc., or from the general grammatical tules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and which is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics. 
2. A language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people. 
3. A construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language. 
4. The peculiar character or genius of a language.
Lingo
1. Language or speech, especially if strange or foreign. 
2. The specialized language or speech peculiar to a particular field, group, class, etc.; terminology. 
3. The language or speech peculiar to a particular individual.
Maxim
1. An epression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one: the maxims of La Rochefoucauld. 
2. A principle of conduct: It was his maxim never to give a sucker an even break.
Motto
1. A maxim adopted as an expression of one's guiding principle. 
2. A sentence, phrase, or word attached to or inscribed on anything as appropriate to it.
Proverb
1. A short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought; adage; saw. 
2. A wise saying or precept; a didactic sentence. 
3. A person or thing that is commonly regarded as an embodiment or representation of some quality; byword. 
4. In a biblical sense, a profound saying, maxim, or oracular utterance requiring interpretation.
Saying
1. Something said, especially a proverb or apothegm.
Slogan
1. A distinctive cry, phrase, or motto of any party, group, product, manufacturer, or person; catchword or catch phrase. 
2. A war cry or gathering cry, as formerly used among the Scottish clans.
 
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