I foolishly interpreted the idiom according to its literal sense.
Source: tatoeba (253258)
Idiom
/ˈɪdiəm/
Synonyms for "idiom" (143 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (29)
Noun(12 words)
phraseexpressionlocutionset phraseaccentadjective of quantityart movement styleartistic stylecatalan especialcommon phrases in portuguesecultural expressionscultural phrase
acadianadjectival phraseanglo-indianargotbrooklynesebundle of isoglossescajuncanadian frenchcantchoice of wordsclass dialectclauseclichecockneycompositionconstruction
Adjective(1 words)
colloquial idiom
Strong matches (43)
Noun(19 words)
Determiner(1 words)
every time
Adjective(3 words)
figurative termidiomatic phraselinguistic expression
Related words (71)
localismlocutionmanner of speakingmidlandmidland dialectnew england dialectnoun phraseparagraphparlanceparolepatoispeculiar expressionpennsylvania dutchperiodpersonal usagephrasal idiomphrasephraseologyphrasingprovincialism
Show 32 more words
regional accentregionalismrhetoricsentenceset phrasesloganspeechspeech communitystandard phrasesubdialectsyntactic structuretalktermtongueturn of expressionturn of phraseusageuse of wordsusus loquendiutteranceverb complexverb phraseverbalismverbiagevernacularway of speakingwordword-groupwordagewordingyankeeyorkshire
Noun(14 words)
locutionsmontenegrinparlancephrasal idiomphrase usagephrasesproverbsregional expressionsayingset expressionshakespearean phrasetsurisutterancesverbal expression
Preposition(1 words)
on the surface
Determiner(2 words)
one hundred timesthe odds
Verb(1 words)
slip into chaos
Adjective(1 words)
specific language
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: phrase, expression, locution, set phrase, acadian.
- Sentence evidence is available for idiom, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "idiom".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "idiom"
Keep "idiom" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "idiom" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "idiom", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "idiom" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriescommon idiomidiom dictionaryidiom exampleidiom listidiom meaningidiomatic expression
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
26 translations across 13 languages.
Catalan
3 entries- dialecte noun (manner of speaking)
- parla noun (manner of speaking)
- parlar noun (manner of speaking)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 文風 /文风 noun (manner of speaking)
Danish
1 entries- talemåde noun (manner of speaking)
Finnish
3 entries- idiomi noun (manner of speaking)
- puheenparsi noun (manner of speaking)
- puhetapa noun (manner of speaking)
French
1 entries- idiome noun (manner of speaking)
German
4 entries- Dialekt noun (manner of speaking)
- Idiom noun (manner of speaking)
- Mundart noun (manner of speaking)
- Redeweise noun (manner of speaking)
Hungarian
3 entries- idióma noun (manner of speaking)
- kifejezésmód noun (manner of speaking)
- szólásmód noun (manner of speaking)
Irish
1 entries- cor cainte noun (manner of speaking)
Italian
2 entries- idioma noun (manner of speaking)
- parlata noun (manner of speaking)
Māori
1 entries- kīwaha noun (manner of speaking)
Russian
2 entries- идио́ма noun (manner of speaking)
- оборо́т ре́чи noun (manner of speaking)
Scottish Gaelic
1 entries- gnàthas-cainnt noun (manner of speaking)
Walloon
2 entries- cåzaedje noun (manner of speaking)
- pårler noun (manner of speaking)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
"Time is gold" a true idiom.
Source: tatoeba (1297853)
It's an idiom. You don't have to understand its literal meaning.
Source: tatoeba (2613054)
Goethe used this idiom. Why, then, should it be incorrect today?
Source: tatoeba (2725634)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "idiom"?
Closest matches include phrase, expression, locution, set phrase, acadian.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "idiom"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.