Definition
Sentences have a literal meaning, whereas, idioms have a figurative meaning.
A literal meaning means actual meaning of the sentence.
Figurative meaning is a combination of words which means something different than the individual words do.
Meaning:
feeling unhappy, gloomy, sad or depressed.
– Sam is down in the dumps, as he failed in his exam.
– He’s a bit down in the dumps as he has a headache.
Literal meaning: Bugs like book lice, silverfish, moths, beetles inhabited books and thus referred to as bookworms.
Figurative meaning: A person who enjoys reading and studying. It refers to someone who reads a lot. These people are also called “bibliophiles“.
Example sentences:
– My daughter is a bookworm who reads 10 books on an average per week.
– I shouted to my friend, “Stop being such a bookworm and socialize for once”.
– The advantages of being a bookworm is that it develops your communication skills drastically.
Literal meaning:
Taking a candy from a baby is extremely easy as the baby cannot defend himself.
Figurative meaning:
It refers to a task or a job which is quite easy to accomplish.
Example sentences:
– Winning the game was like taking a candy from a baby.
– My final semester exams were like taking a candy from a baby.
– The surgery was like taking a candy from a baby. (easy and without any complications).
Figurative meaning: to start to hit each other or to start to fight. To have a physical fight.
Example sentences:
– We will not come to blows according to our cult rules. (Meaning we will not start to fight).
– The losing team almost came to blows as they found out we were cheating.
– Follow patience and do not come to blows while an argument.
– Coming to blows will not solve the issue but will aggravate it.
