Idiom
An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not compositional, i.e. whose meaning does not follow from the meaning of the individual words it is made up of. Let us take a classical example of English idiom: "to kick the bucket", meaning "to die". A speaker knowing the meaning of "kick" and "bucket" will still not be able to predict that this expression can be used with the meaning of "to die".One feature of idioms is that they admit two different interpretations: a literal and an idiomatic one. Going on with the previous example, we can imagine some context in which "to kick the bucket" can literally be interpreted as performing the action of giving a kick to a bucket. Although this kind of interpretation is possible, it is not usual; the idiomatic, non-compositional one being preferred in most contexts -for this example, "to die".
Idioms can often be colloquial metaphors, the most common ones can have deep roots, tracable across many languages. The term can be applied in specific graduations, for example, one's city, county, state, or country; a dialect may be described as being distinct from the parent language, because it carries a number of its own localized idioms.
Idioms are often, though perhaps not universally, classified as figures of speech. While all idioms can be seen as particular to their own language (or even dialect, such as Cockney rhyming slang), many have translations in other languages, some of which are direct. "Get lost!", meaning "go away!" or "stop bothering me," is said to be a direct translation from an older Yiddish idiom. This aspect of idioms and their uniqueness makes them frustrating for learners of a new language.
It is likely, though not absolutely certain, that every human language has idioms, and very many of them. Indeed, much of language is idiomatic in structure: even the most formal of structures contain characteristics, such as general typology, which categorically distinguish it from other languages. A typical English commercial idiom dictionary lists about 4000. Catch phrases and bits of slang or jargon are sometimes called idioms. They are somewhat related, but some people passionately argue that they are not actually idioms. In any case, they are not idioms in the sense discussed here.
See also List of idioms.
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In musical terminology, idiomatic refers to parts or pieces which are written both within the natural physical limitations of the instrument and human body and, less so or less often, the styles of playing used on specific instruments.