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Idiom

A fixed expression whose meaning is not guessable from the meanings of its parts. Idioms are usually special to one language and cannot be translated word for word though related languages may share some idioms.

Examples include a fish out of water (a person struggling in an unfamiliar environment), let the cat out of bag (reveal a secret) and kick the bucket (die).

Idioms are common in all kinds of English, formal and informal, spoken and written. However, informal spoken language is often very idiomatic.