as an idiom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as an idiom" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning. Example: "The phrase 'kick the bucket' is often used as an idiom to mean someone has died."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

As an idiom common to black Baptists puts it, "Every pastor a bishop".

The New York Times

I love that as an idiom because it assumes being paid to teach people is not your own work".

The Guardian - Books

As such, he came to represent the conflict between modernism's egalitarian ideology and its later status as an idiom for the privileged.

The New York Times - Arts

The German media regularly employs it as an idiom for Brad and Angelina's brood, for example, and that family is revered.

The Guardian - Film

I love that as an idiom because it assumes being paid to teach people is not your own work". By contrast, since his move to Boston University in 1986, he has published a dozen new books.

The Guardian - Books

"There's a prevailing racist, provincial attitude on the part of the jazz mainstream to accept Latin jazz as an idiom in its own right," said Nat Chediak, the Miami-based author of a Spanish-language dictionary of Latin jazz and an associate producer of "Calle 54," a documentary tribute to Latin jazz that features Mr. O'Farrill and other artists, released by Miramax Films this year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Prompted by the patriotic urge to forge a language that would be accessible to a wide readership rather than a narrow elite, Manzoni decided to write his novel in an idiom as close as possible to contemporary educated Florentine speech.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The CDO makes digital a corporate an idiom as well as an emblem.

Huffington Post

By the same principle, a preposition should be stranded at the end of a sentence when it contributes a crucial bit of information, as in "music to read by", "something to guard against", or when it pins down the meaning of an idiom, as in "It's nothing to sneeze at" or "He doesn't know what he's talking about".

The Guardian - Books

But we come to Roman history with different priorities – from gender identity to food supply – that makes the ancient past speak to us in a new, as well as an old, idiom.

The Guardian - Books

By the way, the term "crack up" is pretty much unique to the English language and I would dare say unique to the United States as an inborn idiom.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "as an idiom", ensure the context clearly indicates you're discussing a phrase with a non-literal, established meaning. Provide the idiom itself and its intended meaning for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "as an idiom" to describe simple metaphors or similes you've just created. Idioms are established expressions, not novel figures of speech.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as an idiom" functions as an adverbial phrase or prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or adjective to indicate that something is being used or understood in a non-literal, figurative sense. Ludwig provides many examples of this.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "as an idiom" serves as a linguistic signpost, directing readers or listeners to interpret a word or phrase in its non-literal, figurative sense. As Ludwig highlights, it's grammatically correct and appears across various authoritative sources, including news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. It is a useful tool for writers, and should be used to clarify potentially ambiguous expressions. When using the phrase, the user should provide examples of what they consider an idiom in order to be precise.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as a figure of speech

Highlights the expression's classification as a rhetorical device.

in a non-literal sense

Directly contrasts the expression's meaning with its literal interpretation.

by way of a figure of speech

More formal phrasing to convey the use of a rhetorical device.

in a figurative sense

Highlights the non-literal meaning of the expression.

in a metaphorical way

Similar to "in a figurative sense" but specifies metaphor.

metaphorically speaking

Emphasizes the use of metaphor in the expression.

figuratively speaking

Focuses on the act of speaking figuratively rather than the established nature of the expression.

as a manner of speaking

Emphasizes the way something is expressed rather than the meaning itself.

colloquially speaking

Suggests the expression is more often used in informal conversation.

in common parlance

Highlights how the expression is used by people generally, suggesting it may be informal.

FAQs

How can I use "as an idiom" in a sentence?

You can use "as an idiom" to explain that a phrase or expression has a figurative meaning. For example, "The expression 'break a leg' is used "as an idiom" to wish someone good luck".

What's a simple way to define "as an idiom"?

"As an idiom" refers to the use of a phrase in a way that its meaning cannot be understood based on the ordinary meaning of the words in it. The meaning is established by convention.

What can I say instead of "as an idiom"?

You can use alternatives like "as a figure of speech", "in a figurative sense", or "metaphorically speaking" depending on the context.

Is it always clear when a phrase is being used "as an idiom"?

Not always. The context usually provides clues, but sometimes direct explanation, such as noting that a phrase is used ""as an idiom"", is necessary to avoid misinterpretation.