The Comparison Between English Idioms and Indonesian Idioms

Hade Hilma SyahidahInternational Class Program of STAIN Salatiga

What is idiom?

Idiom is phrases which people use in everyday language which do not make sense literally but we understand what they mean.

  An idiom is an expression that

has a meaning apart from the meanings of its individual words.

Bookworm or kutu buku

Meaning:Someone who loves reading very much.

If you describe someone as a bookworm, he/she likes reading very much and reads a

lot.

Example: • My daughter was a real bookworm when

she was a child. • I found the joys of reading when I read that

book. I became a bookworm after that.

Scapegoat or kambing hitam

Meaning: If someone, who is innocent, gets the blame for something that has

happened.

Example:• Rahmayani says the authorities often

makes the university students the scapegoat, when the real cause of the problems maybe something else.

Stage-fright or demam panggung

Meaning: Stage-fright often occurs just before

they person is due to appear on stage in front of an audience.

Example:• She is just too nervous to sing right now.

Maybe later but at the moment she is suffering from stage-fright. Let's wait until she calms down a bit, okay?

Crocodile tears or mata buaya

Meaning: Someone may be crying but they are

not really upset. They are crying but just for effect or for show — the tears are not real at all.

Example:• “They were just crocodile tears.

She wanted people to take notice of her and she used crying to get their attention. They weren't real tears at all”

Work like a dog or banting tulang

Meaning: Work very hard.

Example:• John is just very busy at work. He never

has time to have lunch. He works 18 hours a day, seven days a week, John works like a dog.

The same words

• Let the cat out of the bagMeaning: Reveal a secret.

• Beli kucing dalam karungMeaning: Choose something that someone don’t

know a good quality.

• thick skinned : muka tembok• above the salt : darah biru• swelled head : besar kepala• guinea pig : kelinci percobaan• puppy love / childish crush : cinta

monyet• better safe than sorry : sedia payung

sebelum hujan• window shopping / taking in another

view : cuci mata

Thankyou..