Idioms Idioms Idiom noun 1.) group of words established by usage is having a meaning not deducible from 2.) those of the individual words (e. g. over the moon). a form of expression natural to a language, person, or group. I was reminded in a session I was having with one of my English students the other day how powerful words really are. How often do you think about the idioms you use during normal conversation? The lesson included an idiom I use all the time,"Geez". Now on the surface it doesn't seem like this word would be very powerful but even while writing this small note and using word recognition software when I said the word geez, Jesus, was written instead. The story I related to my student happened a few years ago. I was purchasing a new car at a car dealer that prided itself on its Christian values. During the course of the negotiations with the salesman, I used geez to express myself while we were talking several times. The salesman looked at me almost apologetically and asked me "What's this geez? You mean Jesus?" I knew immediately that he was feeling uncomfortable and it was my use of this idiom that caused it. Of course I made it clear that in no way meant any disrespect. I did manage to get a great deal by the way. Now normally this probably would not have caused any stress between the salesman and I had I been in the US. The fact was I was in the Philippines where this idiom obviously is not used regularly. The idiom geez was originally "Gee Whiz!" and over the years it became abbreviated to its current form. So the next time you use an idiom specific to your language think about what it might sound like to the person on the other end.