Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is the meaning of an idiom?

1. A phrase that means exactly what it says

2. A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words

3. A descriptive term for a character

4. A synonym for a common saying

The correct answer is: A phrase whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words

An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be understood just by looking at the individual words that make it up. Instead, idioms have figurative meanings that are cultural and often established through common usage. For example, the expression "kick the bucket" does not refer to physically kicking a bucket; rather, it means to die. Understanding idioms requires familiarity with the cultural context in which they are used, making them distinct from literal phrases that convey a straightforward message. This characteristic is what makes option B the correct definition of an idiom.