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Fill in the blank:
A(n) ___________ cannot be taken literally and must be understood as a whole.

Final Answer:

The blank should be filled with the word ‘idiom,’ which refers to a figurative expression whose meaning cannot be understood just from the individual words. Idioms enhance language by providing depth and cultural context. An example is ‘it’s raining cats and dogs,’ which means it’s raining heavily, not literally cats and dogs falling from the sky.

Explanation:

In this context, the blank can be filled with the word idiom. An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning that is often not immediately clear from the literal interpretation of its individual words. This means that one must understand the entirety of the phrase to grasp its intended meaning.

For example, when someone says, ‘It’s raining cats and dogs,’ they are not suggesting that animals are literally falling from the sky. Instead, this idiom means it is raining very heavily. Thus, idioms cannot be taken literally and must be understood as a whole.

Idioms are commonly used in everyday language, literature, and even in songs, adding richness and depth to communication. They often reflect cultural nuances and may not translate well into other languages, making them a fascinating aspect of language study.

Examples & Evidence:

An example of an idiom is the phrase ‘break the ice,’ which means to initiate conversation in a social setting and not to literally break any ice. Another example is ‘costs an arm and a leg,’ indicating something is very expensive without referring to literal limbs.

Idiom use is supported by linguistic studies on language structure, which demonstrate that phrases often carry meanings beyond their individual components, highlighting the importance of cultural context and figurative language in communication.

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