Meaning
"Apple of My Eye"は、非常に大切で特別な存在を指す英語の表現です。
このフレーズは、目の中のリンゴのように、誰かが非常に大切で愛されていることを示します。元々は中世英語から由来し、目の中の最も重要で敏感な部分を意味しました。
現代では、親が子供を「Apple of My Eye」と呼ぶことが多く、その人がどれほど大切であるかを表現します。また、恋人や親しい友人に対しても使われることがあります。
使い方の例として、「She is the apple of my eye.」と言うと、「彼女は私にとってとても大切な存在です。」という意味になります。
この表現は、親しみや愛情を示すのに適した言葉ですので、大切な人に対して使ってみてください。
Example
Our new baby daughter is the apple of my eye.
My grandson is the apple of my eye. I can't wait to see him and spend time with him.
Tips on How to Learn Idioms
Idioms are unpredictable and it makes no sense when you translate them into your first language. But you can do a few things to help learn a few and keep them under your belt!
- Create an idioms journal. Write or document digitally, the idioms that you will use often. Add their meanings, example sentences, and maybe add situations that happened to you and make it your own!
- Understand the situation. Make sure you understand the context in which you can use the idiom and try not to translate or take the idiom literally; one of the reasons why idioms are so difficult. Think about what the speaker is saying and when they say it. Imagine your own situation and see if the idiom fits.
- Practice often. Read them, write them, and say them out loud. You must hear your own voice in order for an idiom to sound natural and blend into the conversation. Include them when talking to friends and family, colleagues or other English speakers.
Practice along with our audio examples, record yourself saying the idioms, or if you need writing practice leave us a message! If you are unsure or struggling, we're here to help.
Quiz
What is an Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that usually presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Idioms are not just used in conversations – they're also very common in literature, movies, and music. We utilize them to convey a message in a concise and effective manner, and often have deep cultural or historical significance. They help to create a vivid and memorable image in the minds of the audience.
Idioms are difficult because they do not mean what they literally state. Communication challenges emerge when you translate an idiom in your language; it will not make sense or if it does make sense you may miss the intended meaning.
How to Study Idioms
- Read them. Read books, newspapers, magazine articles, online articles for exposure in written material.
- Watch them. Watch TV shows and movies in English! There are so many streaming services available for you to choose from. Listen attentively and try to understand the context in which they are used.
- Use them. Talk to native speakers and try to incorporate common idioms into your conversations. Try using them during conversations with friends, family, coworkers, or through text.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Remember that you can't learn all of them! So start with a few that you understand and build your library of idioms from there!
