Idioms–Literary Shorthand

As if English with its homophones and irregular verbs weren’t confusing enough, how about those idioms? Oh sure, you and I know what’s meant when we explain past loss with “no use crying over spilt milk.” Though to be honest, haven’t there been times when shedding a few tears over a disappointing outcome really did make you feel better?

Idioms, along with similes and metaphors, hyperbole, alliteration, personification and more, are figurative expressions or literary devices that add color and creativity to our writing. English abounds with idioms–expressions in which individual words are not to be taken literally. With their origins in Scripture, folk tales and fables, and famous authors and story tellers, they can enliven your writing. But as with so many things in life, it’s a fine line between cliché and creativity. Idioms, because they are so common, often come across as trite or corny and ought to be used sparingly.

Here are some guidelines for using them well.

• Create a Character

Since idioms are such a natural part of conversation, use them to create memorable characters in fiction writing. Add a mangled idiom (“it ain’t rocket surgery” or “brain science”) or a regional expression (“She’s so stuck up she’d drown in a rainstorm.”) to make characters colorful and memorable.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird employs a number of southern idioms or colloquialisms:

Uncle Jack Finch who yelled an annual Christmas proposal across the street to Miss Maddie was only trying to get her goat;

Miss Maudie’s acid tongue set her in contrast to Jem and Scout’s do-good neighbor Miss Stephanie Crawford, but endeared her to the children nevertheless.

Scout’s strategy for trapping her assailant Francis was to bide her time and sure as eggs he would be back.

• Skip the clichés

Some idioms are so overused they no longer have the desired effect. Use them in unexpected ways or turn the phrase in an unexpected way and you may achieve your desired effect. You might even coin a new malapropism.

Recently, Iowa’s governor commenting about Ted Cruz’s refusal to endorse the Republican nominee for president said, “He just shot himself in his cowboy boot.” A deft way of saying he’s sabotaged his own presidential aspirations.

• Encourage creative thinking

Idioms can be the converse of clichéd writing. They can help the reader think about something in a new, possibly clearer or more compelling way.

Instead of selling like hotcakes, you might try more popular than Pokemon Go.

Or in place of saying someone marches to the beat of a different drummer, you might describe them as a techno idiot in a social media world.

• Remember your audience

This advice applies universally, but is an especially important reminder if your audience includes non-native English speakers. While every language has its peculiar expressions, it doesn’t take much imagination to understand how phrases such as “barking up the wrong tree,” or  “let the cat out of the bag” could leave English language learners scratching their heads in bewilderment.

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