/'ɪdɪəm; `ɪdɪəm/ n
1 [C] phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its individual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit 习语; 成语; 惯用语, 如 give way, a change of heart, be hard put to it
*The English language has many idioms. 英语有很多惯用语.
2 [U]
(a) language or dialect of a people or country某民族或某国家之语言或方言
*the French idiom 法语.
(b) use of language that is typical of or natural to speakers of a particular language （操某语言者典型的或自然的）语言用法.
(c) use of language peculiar to a period or an individual （某时期或某人特有的）语言用法
*Shakespeare's idiom 莎士比亚的语言风格.

n
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French;Origin: idiome, from Greek idioma 'personal way of expressing yourself', from idios; IDIOT]
[C]
a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word. For example, 'under the weather' is an idiom meaning 'ill'.
[U and C]formal or technical a style of expression in writing, speech, or music that is typical of a particular group of people
　the new musical idiom