What is the best way to learn American idioms?

What is the best way to learn American idioms?

The best way to learn American idioms… is to grow up in the U.S.!

Ok, that was a trick question. If you did not grow up here what is the best way? Please let me know your suggestions! Since everybody learns differently, one solution does not fit all. Some people like to study American idioms from books or websites. These resources explain the meaning of the idiom and provide an example. Often idioms are presented in groups of related expressions. Learning this way is very systematic. However, learning the knowledge outside of a greater context can leave doubt about appropriate usage, leaving you less likely to actually use the expression yourself.

Another way to learn American idioms is to encounter them in general usage. Popular national magazines, like Time and Newsweek, have writing geared to 8^th grade level reading skills. In other words, if you grow up in the U.S., you completely understand all the articles, including the idioms. These publications, as well as local daily newspapers, do not use sophisticated vocabulary or grammar. But they do use the unofficial language of slang or idiom a great deal. My unscientific survey suggests that idiomatic expressions occur in almost every paragraph.

The current issue of Time magazine starts an article about the transition in North Korea with the sentence, “What happens in Pyongyang doesn’t stay in Pyongyang.” Though the meaning may be clear enough, this sentence paraphrases and negates the very successful advertising campaign that Las Vegas conducted years ago. Their motto was, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” The attitude was that naughty behavior would be tolerated, if not encouraged. Afterwards, the formula “what happens in xyz stays/does not stay in xyz” became a staple of comedy and is now used in an ironic manner. By using this expression, the author gives a wink and nod to the ubiquitous phrase.

Idioms and expressions go in and out of fashion. The trendy slang of our parents sounds quaint and dated to us. New expressions sometimes become quickly dated, while others stand the test of time. The article about North Korea suggested other governments had “tried carrot-and-stick policies.” What kind of policy is that? The author could have used different words, such as “policies combining incentives and sanctions.” Does your native language have an expression like this? In the old days, when the donkey did would not pull the wagon, the driver used a stick to dangle a carrot (donkey treat) in front of the animal’s face and it would move forward. A darker inference is the threat of the stick as a weapon of violence to assert the driver’s will.

Though we share the same formal language as our cousins in the U.K, Australia, and elsewhere, each nation has its own expressions. Many expressions are common to all, but each nation has its own homegrown expressions not understandable by outsiders.

The biggest challenge in learning idioms is to stop skipping over them when you read or hear them. Instead, write them down and research their meaning from a native speaker. Sometimes even an Internet search does not adequately explain expressions or their origins. Idioms are rarely included in academic study of English because such expressions are so deeply embedded in popular culture. Maybe some easy way of learning American idioms can work magic, but more likely a gradual, sustainable, long-term study will yield the best results.

American idioms for financial and social transactions

The word behind the copyright notice in this cartoon is "Belated," which means "late."

American idioms for social and financial transactions
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When I was growing up, my friend owed me five dollars. He offered to pay me the following Tuesday. However, he did not actually pay me until Wednesday—a day late. To make matters worse, he only paid back four dollars, so he was a dollar short. Naturally I felt angry towards my friend and resented that he had taken advantage of me. Even though he made some effort to pay me back, the effort was overdue and fell short of the goal as well. In the U.S. (and maybe elsewhere), “a day late and a dollar short” is a common expression that expresses our disappointment and frustration with the actions of others.

In the workplace, some people do not get favorable reviews or get passed over for promotions and raises. Often after complaining about their stagnant career, they receive a small raise. Company morale probably suffers when employees feel they are receiving recognition a day late (after having to complain) and a dollar short (only a small raise, not a substantial one). Whenever someone’s reward is delayed for a long time and at last turns out to be smaller than hoped or expected, they know the feeling of “a day late and a dollar short.” Almost everyone experiences this growing up. Maybe you had to wait a long time for something that turned out less than what you expected.

Too often we are not rewarded for our positive efforts at all. In many cases, people’s greatness is recognized only after they die. Some of the greatest artists and composers died in poverty and obscurity. Only after their death did recognition and reward come for them. In those sad cases, we can say these creative geniuses got their reward a day late and a dollar short.

Even if someone pays on time, they might try to pay less than they owe. They might try to “short-change” you. When this happens in the store it is usually a mistake. Most clerks very carefully count out the money for your inspection and welcome you to count it for yourself. Likewise, bank tellers have special training for handling the large amounts of cash that pass through their hands daily. Honest people naturally do not try to deceive others, so getting short-changed is not common with cash.

Just as with the previous expression, “short-change” has literal and symbolic meanings. In social groups, anyone who does not share and participate equally with others is getting “short-changed.” In the U.S., many people feel like the richest 1% is getting richer, while the other 99% is getting short-changed. While everyone in the U.S. is supposed to be equal, the fact is that lower and middle class people, the majority of the population, are getting short-changed. Our political leaders keep debating what to do. If any help actually comes from our leaders, most likely it will be a day late and a dollar short.

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Learn American Idioms with the VOA

Logo for the U.S. government news agency, Voice of America.

Learn American Idioms with VOA
The U.S. has long had a public news agency aimed at foreign audiences. During the Cold War (1945-1993), the federal government beamed radio and television programs behind the Iron Curtain (Communist USSR & Eastern Europe.) Not only was this a channel for American propaganda, these broadcasts also spread U.S. culture and language. To people living outside the U.S., these broadcasts were the “Voice of America,” which is the program’s name. These days, we use just the letters VOA. VOA is the closest America has to U.K.’s BBC, which also reaches all parts of the globe.

In many countries with heavy censorship and controlled media, VOA & BBC have been the only alternate sources of information. After the Cold War, VOA shifted its emphasis away from political propaganda towards more educational and cultural content. Because all VOA content is designed and intended for audiences outside the U.S., the program is not publicized or promoted Stateside (i.e., within the U.S.) Therefore, many people living here are not aware of this great, free educational resource.

Following its tradition of presenting news stories and current events in American English, VOA now offers a huge number of videos, many with subscripts to help people who did not learn English as their first language. The vast range of subjects insures that everyone can find something interesting.

One special focus of VOA is helping people learn and practice American English. Instead of calling it “English as a Second Language,” VOA calls their program “Special English,” because it is especially for non-native speakers. Besides the documentary videos and activities, VOA adopts the latest media innovations to engage learners. Recently I tried out VOA’s explanation of some common idioms (slang, expressions). The brief lessons were interesting, informative, and well-produced in my opinion. You can directly view the following idioms by clicking their links”

• Up in the Air
• Out to Lunch
• Rain Check
• Veg Out
• Piece of Cake
• Old Wives' Tale
• Hit The Roof!
• Chill Out
• Cats and Dogs
• Bells and Whistles
• Break a Leg
• Play it by Ear
• Eye to Eye

You can view an entire dictionaryof American idioms compiled by VOA, as well as “brush up on” (practice, improve) your grammar, spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary. Let me know what you think of this resource and if you have any suggestions!

Slang, idiom, expression, argot, jargon, colloquialism: what is it?

To improve your knowledge of U.S. slang, this website is really good. Another good reference is the Urban Dictionary.

Slang, idiom, expression, argot, jargon, colloquialism:
Either a printed or online dictionary will tell you what each of these words mean. Some definitions may differ, but these words all generally refer to language as it is normally used by native speakers. This everyday language differs from academic language in important ways. The vocabulary of formal, academic English language is quite fixed and slow to change. Words have well-defined meanings that change little over time. However, everyday English changes constantly. Words used today were unknown yesterday. Yesterday's slang sounds archaic today. Some idioms are completely arbitrary, like "P,U." Every American pre-schooler knows this means something stinks! What do the initial letter stand for? No one knows for sure.

One function of colloquialisms is to establish and maintain a community. The community is people who understand and use certain slang expressions, Insiders know the what it means to "pay lip service." If you are an insider, you can understand the intended meaning of the expression that lies beneath the meaning of the individual words. If you are outside the community, you may understand the words but not understand the underlying meaning they way insiders do. For example, the community of people born or growing up in the U.S. constantly use slang, idioms, and similar expressions which exclude non-native speakers. People outside the community cannot usually penetrate colloquial expressions very easily.

Another function of slang is to provide a platform for humor. Since the actual meaning of the expression may be the opposite of the literal meaning of the individual words, people using these kinds of phrases often have an ironic intent. To understand humor in English, non-native speakers need a broad understanding of the most common expressions. These expressions are known since childhood by native speakers but continue to baffle non-native adults.

One good way to discover these expression is to read a U.S. general interest magazine, such as Time magazine, Readers Digest, or National Geographic. If you have not lived all or most of your life in the U.S., though you understand the individual words and grammar, the overall meaning of the magazine articles remains elusive. That is because vital parts of the meaning are contained in the slang, idiom, expression, argot, jargon, or colloquialism used in speech and writing.

Please let me know your own experiences with English slang. How have you tried to learn common expressions and idioms? You can email me directly by clicking here. Also, please give me any feedback you can so I can keep improving. Thanks!