Figures of speech are pieces of language, charged with meaning that’s anything but literal. They spice up our talk, and paint a picture in a conversation literal meanings aren’t quite able to capture. Each one has its own history, much of which is controversial, and tells stories of another where and another when. This, however, makes them that much more interesting! I mean, have you ever wondered where, ‘Spill the Beans’, comes from? It actually stems from an ancient Greek voting system!
Many phrases can give insight to where a person is from, or a trade they’ve been a part of. ‘Pumpin’ iron’ refers to lifting a pint of beer to your lips if you’re from Pittsburg, while ‘Firring Out’ references adding wood to a structure if you’re a framing carpenter. Either way, these nuances in our language make American English one of the more difficult, and to some, attractive languages to learn.
Also, like a ‘Cat with Nine Lives’, old idioms keep turning up! Many phrases are dated. Old folks use different figurative language than teenagers, and most of us could guess, without looking, the age of an individual by the words they choose to use. But, what’s interesting, is when phrases come back into style! The word ‘boss’, from the 50s meant the same as ‘cool’ from the 60s, and ‘rad’ from the 80s. Now, in this decade, ‘like a boss’ or ‘the boss’ is back. It means the same thing, but with a small twist, making it new and discernable from its use a half century ago. Nonetheless, we’re seeing the evolution of parts of our language coming full circle, becoming something new, the same, and with its own personality!
Idioms, phrases, and figures of speech paint pictures in conversation, writing, and music that spread through society like wildfire and may die out a day later. These important bits of our everyday language are often overlooked. (Maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be.) But, next time you have a conversation with anyone, your mom, the grocer, or someone you meet at a baseball game, (especially someone you meet at a baseball game!) try to notice how often ideas are conveyed through non-literal language. You’ll be amazed!