What Are Idioms? And Why Remote Workers Should Avoid Them
Remote work is increasingly becoming more popular. Of course, the pandemic is a major part of the reason, however, some people prefer remote work. When we work virtually, there’s a higher chance we are working with someone who lives in a different state, region, or country. This may seem like a small detail, however, a diverse group of employees means communication has to be clear. A big part of this is word choice. Most Native English speakers never think about word choice or grammar, but for remote workers, this can be the key to awesome communication skills. Today, we’re going to look at idioms and talk about why they can be confusing when we speak with others.
What is an Idiom?
Great question! Despite being a Native English speaker, sometimes I forget how English works. Language is taught through listening and it’s easy to never consider why we’re speaking or writing the way we are. So, what is an idiom?
According to Merriam-Webster, an idiom is a:
1: an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (such as up in the air for "undecided") or in its grammatically atypical use of words (such as give way)
2a: the language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class :
b: the syntactical, grammatical, or structural form peculiar to a language
3: a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or a medium or instrument
Now, let’s look at some common examples of idioms that are used in professional environments and personal environments.
-Jack of all trades
-Bigger fish to fry
-Piece of cake
-Pick up on
-Break a leg
-On cloud nine
-Play it by ear
-Don’t judge a book by its cover
-Best of both worlds
-Devil’s advocate
-In a nutshell
-Get off my chest
-Read between the lines (my personal favorite)
These are all phrases I’ve used and I’m sure Native English speakers in the United States have used them too. When I started freelancing, I didn’t think about how my word choice would be understood. However, even if someone speaks fluent English, they may not understand you when you use idioms. For example, I once worked with a business owner who spoke English well, however, it wasn’t his native language. He grew up in another country speaking another language and moved to the U.S. as an adult. In our conversations, things went well, but I realized I had to stop using idioms. For me, using certain idioms felt natural, but I would occasionally have to explain myself. To make things easier (for everyone) I make an effort to minimize my idiom usage.
This small change may seem simple. however, I think it contributes to making everyone feel respected and comfortable in a diverse work environment. We talk about the power of diversity, but it’s essential for us to create a work environment and culture where everyone can thrive.
Remote work can be useful and (even fun) if you know the keys to success. For more advice about remote work, check out these posts!
