An idiom is a form of speech (or writing) where a word or phrase is used to express meaning that is not literal. Many colloquialisms or "turns of phrase" are idioms. The idiom is distinctive because its meaning is implied rather than drawn directly from the word or phrase. Idioms may vary from language to language and culture to culture based on the implied or associated meanings of words.
For example, where I live, we use an idiom to describe especially heavy rain — "it's raining cats and dogs." At face value, this phrase makes it sound like cats and dogs are falling from the sky, but it really means the weather is unusually severe.
Another idiom you might be familiar with is to say someone does or doesn't "get it," meaning they do or do not understand something.
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