Writing Tip - Think Twice About Using Idioms
When we write, the language we use reflects the things that have shaped us as a writer. It draws on the world around us, the places and situations in which we grew up, our native language, and how we're used to hearing it used - and all these things impact on our stories. But...that's...not a bad thing, right? It helps us connect to our readers, lets us write more efficiently, and gives more depth to our characters, doesn't it? The answer to that is both 'yes'...and 'no,' because language and how we use it are full of choices - and not every choice is the right one for every situation. Take idioms, since they're the reason for this post. They're a phrase whose meaning has become established through usage...and whose meaning can be lost when that usage wanes. They also don't carry over well between different cultures, even if those cultures have the same language background - and that's because the situations they arise from are often cultural...
