Re: SURVEY: Idiomatic Expressions In Your ConLang Or ConCulture

Watch my reply-to.

By definition: an expression is any common phrase, adage, axiom, etc.
An idiom is anything that doesn't mean what it literally says, which
has a meaning that people still will understand.

On 11/13/05, Ph.D. <phil@...> wrote:
> Tom Chappell wrote:
> >
> > [snip]
> >
> > To start off, I am going to list a few synonymous idioms
> > that I happen to like (just pick out the one or ones you
> > like best);
> >
> > His elevator doesn't go all the way to the top.
> >
> > He doesn't have both oars in the water.
> >
> > [snip]
>
> I'm sure many people will also consider these to be "idioms,"
> but to me they are simply "expressions." To me, an "idiom" is
> some set phrase which does not quite follow the normal rules
> of grammar, such as:
>
> "My father said there'd be trouble if I didn't mow the lawn, so
> I guess I better had."
>
> Here, "I better had" is what I would call an idiom. It doesn't
> make sense under the normal rules of English grammar, but
> every native English speaker knows what it means. Another
> example is
>
> "I will try and attend the meeting."
>
> Here, "and" doesn't quite make sense. The expected word
> would be "to."  (To me, the use of "and" implies "I will try the
> meeting and I will attend the meeting.")
>
> --Ph. D.
>