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Vocabulary and Language Use
Quick questions on Idioms and figurative language explained: O-Level English
2short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is idioms have a fixed, non-literal meaning?Show answer
An idiom is a set phrase whose meaning is agreed by convention and cannot be deduced word by word. "It is raining cats and dogs" means it is raining heavily; "to hit the books" means to study hard; "to be in hot water" means to be in trouble. Because the meaning is fixed and not literal, idioms must be learned as whole units, and in comprehension you must give the agreed meaning, not a literal reading. A candidate who explains "a piece of cake" as "a slice of dessert" has read it literally and missed the point.
What are personification gives human qualities to things?Show answer
Personification describes something non-human as if it had human or animal qualities or actions: "the wind howled", "the waves clawed at the shore", "the old house groaned". It makes description vivid and can create atmosphere, often suggesting threat, life or mood. In comprehension, name it as personification and explain the effect (here, that the sea seems violent or alive); in writing, use it to bring a scene to life.
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