Idiomatic
adjective
Saying or doing things in a way that is common or natural to native speakers of a language.
She has an idiomatic command of English language.
Often appears as...
- idiomatic expression
- idiomatic usage
adjective
Following the unique characteristics or style of a piece of music or art.
His performance was idiomatic and showed a deep understanding of the composer's style.
Often appears as...
- idiomatic playing
- idiomatic performance
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
adjective
Saying or doing things in a way that is common or natural to native speakers of a language.
She has an idiomatic command of English language.
Often appears as...
- idiomatic expression
- idiomatic usage
adjective
Following the unique characteristics or style of a piece of music or art.
His performance was idiomatic and showed a deep understanding of the composer's style.
Often appears as...
- idiomatic playing
- idiomatic performance
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Native Speaker Usage
The term 'idiomatic' highlights phrases used naturally by native speakers, often without thinking.
Understanding idiomatic language can take years, even for diligent learners.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuances
Idiomatic expressions often contain cultural references, making them tricky for outsiders to grasp.
Watching British sitcoms helps me learn idiomatic English expressions.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Idiomatic phrases may not make sense when translated word for word, as their meanings are figurative.
She let the cat out of the bag — an idiomatic way to say she revealed a secret.
Pro Tip 1/3Native Speaker Usage
The term 'idiomatic' highlights phrases used naturally by native speakers, often without thinking.
Understanding idiomatic language can take years, even for diligent learners.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuances
Idiomatic expressions often contain cultural references, making them tricky for outsiders to grasp.
Watching British sitcoms helps me learn idiomatic English expressions.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Idiomatic phrases may not make sense when translated word for word, as their meanings are figurative.
She let the cat out of the bag — an idiomatic way to say she revealed a secret.
Pro Tip 1/3Native Speaker Usage
The term 'idiomatic' highlights phrases used naturally by native speakers, often without thinking.
Understanding idiomatic language can take years, even for diligent learners.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuances
Idiomatic expressions often contain cultural references, making them tricky for outsiders to grasp.
Watching British sitcoms helps me learn idiomatic English expressions.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Idiomatic phrases may not make sense when translated word for word, as their meanings are figurative.
She let the cat out of the bag — an idiomatic way to say she revealed a secret.
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Video examples
4 reasons to learn a new...
they have accents, they're not idiomatic. Suddenly these characters that you've fallen in love with become husks of themselves, they're shadows of themselves. To go into a culture and to only ever process people through that kind of skrim curtain is to never truly get the culture.
Video examples
4 reasons to learn a new...
they have accents, they're not idiomatic. Suddenly these characters that you've fallen in love with become husks of themselves, they're shadows of themselves. To go into a culture and to only ever process people through that kind of skrim curtain is to never truly get the culture.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Albert Murray
American Critic
Jazz music, as is also the case with the old down-home spirituals, gospel and jubilee songs, jumps, shouts and moans, is essentially an American vernacular or idiomatic modification of musical conventions imported from Europe, beginning back during the time of the early settlers of the original colonies.
Quote examples
Edmund White
American Novelist
The Sound of Things Falling' may be a page turner, but it's also a deep meditation on fate and death. Even in translation, the superb quality of Vasquez's prose is evident, captured in Anne McLean's idiomatic English version. All the novel's characters are well imagined, original and rounded.
Quote examples
Jon Landau
American Producer
The greatness of Mac Rebennack, alias, Dr. John, also known as John Crieux, rests on his command of the musical use of idiomatic expression. Not a technically well-endowed singer, nor a great songwriter, he leaves his mark through the discipline and control he exerts over all that he touches.
Quote examples
Hari Kunzru
British Novelist
I'm interested in complexity, in the mathematical sense, as well as the idiomatic sense. The idea of emergence - that it's possible for complex patterns to arise out of many simple interactions - is fascinating.
Quote examples
John Grant
American Musician
Icelanders love to speak English. Their English is a joy to hear because of how colloquial and idiomatic it is, but they appreciate your efforts with Icelandic.
Quote examples
Jacques Derrida
French Philosopher
I do not believe in pure idioms. I think there is naturally a desire, for whoever speaks or writes, to sign in an idiomatic, irreplaceable manner.
Quote examples
Albert Murray
American Critic
Jazz music, as is also the case with the old down-home spirituals, gospel and jubilee songs, jumps, shouts and moans, is essentially an American vernacular or idiomatic modification of musical conventions imported from Europe, beginning back during the time of the early settlers of the original colonies.
Quote examples
Edmund White
American Novelist
The Sound of Things Falling' may be a page turner, but it's also a deep meditation on fate and death. Even in translation, the superb quality of Vasquez's prose is evident, captured in Anne McLean's idiomatic English version. All the novel's characters are well imagined, original and rounded.
Quote examples
Jon Landau
American Producer
The greatness of Mac Rebennack, alias, Dr. John, also known as John Crieux, rests on his command of the musical use of idiomatic expression. Not a technically well-endowed singer, nor a great songwriter, he leaves his mark through the discipline and control he exerts over all that he touches.
Quote examples
Hari Kunzru
British Novelist
I'm interested in complexity, in the mathematical sense, as well as the idiomatic sense. The idea of emergence - that it's possible for complex patterns to arise out of many simple interactions - is fascinating.
Quote examples
John Grant
American Musician
Icelanders love to speak English. Their English is a joy to hear because of how colloquial and idiomatic it is, but they appreciate your efforts with Icelandic.
Quote examples
Jacques Derrida
French Philosopher
I do not believe in pure idioms. I think there is naturally a desire, for whoever speaks or writes, to sign in an idiomatic, irreplaceable manner.
Example 1 of 6
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