Language Geeks!!!

[techdragon]

I need a question answered..... Is there a specific term for a phase such as "leap of faith", "pushing the limit" or "end of the rope"....

I am trying to explain to PJ that these are phrases that don't just have a literal meaning and I am only able to descibe them as a figure of speech and that seems a little weak. Help me out??

Comments

[amblypygid.livejournal.com]

Idiom?

[bitterdessa.livejournal.com]

Cliche? :-p

No, they're idiomatic expressions.
1. A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements from free dictionary.com

[lostlostagain.livejournal.com]

In forensics (yes, I was a speech/debate geek), we referred to things like that with the example of "red herrings," in that the word red has a meaning and herring has a meaning but together they have a meaning the has nothing to do with individual words. I think we referred to them as idioms:

"idiom -- a phrase or grouping of words whose meaning cannot be determined from knowing the meaning of the individual words"

[enzie.livejournal.com]

They are idioms.

[enzie.livejournal.com]

Oh, and if he's having issues grasping that they aren't literal, maybe check some of the Amelia Bedelia books out from the library.

[intimations.livejournal.com]

This is totally no help to your already-answered question, but my favorite idiom is one my husband brought back with him from Abu Dhabi. It translates:

"When the dust settles, we shall see who is riding the horse, and who is riding the donkey!"