Meaning
"Apple of My Eye"는 영어 관용구로, 어떤 사람이나 사물이 매우 소중하고 사랑스럽다는 의미를 가지고 있습니다. 이 표현은 주로 사랑하는 사람이나 특별히 아끼는 대상에게 사용됩니다. 예를 들어, 부모가 자녀를 칭찬할 때 이 표현을 사용할 수 있습니다. "She is the apple of my eye"라고 하면, 그 아이가 부모에게 얼마나 특별한 존재인지를 나타내는 것이죠.
이 표현은 중세 영어에서 유래되었으며, 당시 눈의 중심부를 '애플'이라고 불렀습니다. 그래서 "Apple of My Eye"는 눈의 중심, 즉 가장 중요한 부분을 의미하게 되었습니다. 이 표현은 일상 대화뿐만 아니라 문학 작품에서도 자주 등장하며, 소중하고 귀중한 것을 강조할 때 유용하게 쓰입니다.
누군가에게 "You are the apple of my eye"라고 말한다면, 그 사람에게 깊은 애정과 중요성을 부여한다는 뜻이니, 친밀한 관계에서 사용하면 좋습니다.
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!
