Metaphors & Idioms
Take your vocabulary to the next level by painting pictures with words!
brush Common Metaphors
A metaphor states that one thing IS another thing to create a strong image.
psychology Complex Idioms
An idiom is a phrase where the meaning cannot be understood from the individual words.
Don't translate word-for-word!
forum Context Matters
Idioms are great for speaking, but rarely used in formal essays.
Word Pictures 🎬
Watch Teacher Sopheak explain how idioms and metaphors paint pictures in English. Learn the story behind "biting the bullet"!
Quick Check ⚡
You should translate idioms word-for-word into your language to understand them.
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Mission 🎯
Ask a Question 🙋♂️
Recent Questions
Hi Serey! Great question. No, that's a *simile* because it uses the word "as" to compare two things. A metaphor says it IS the thing directly, for example: "His heart is ice". ❄️
Can I use idioms in academic writing like the IELTS test?
Usually, no! Idioms are perfect for the Speaking test or writing a casual email, but formal essays require direct, academic vocabulary. It's better to use "extremely pleased" instead of "over the moon" in a formal essay! 🎓
Teacher, is "as cold as ice" a metaphor?