How to Use Idioms in Essays Without Sounding Informal
Before we dive in, let’s make things clear:
Idioms are phrases whose meanings aren’t obvious from the literal words. These tools are something money can’t buy because they can enrich your prose in a moment. They add the sophistication that no other text can and make your ideas something people will think of again and again.
When dealing with college or formal essays, idioms can make them sound too conversational or casual if you overuse them.
The key? It’s in knowing when and how to use them like a pro.
Why do we do that? Well, idioms are instruments that help essay writers add life to their prose. Even the dullest topics become more lively with a couple of idioms. These colorful phrases polish your language by adding personality, creativity, and depth to it. They are time-tested options that help hone your expression like no other. It’s just that you have to use them wisely to make sure your essay remains formal. We’ll talk about that below—with insights from the WriteMyEssay AI writing tool.
You should always know your target audience and purpose
Whatever idiom you are about to adorn your text with, take into account the context of your paper:
- Working on an academic research paper? Use idioms sparingly or avoid them if the tone is strictly formal.
- In the case of a reflective or creative essay, remember that idioms can make your writing more relatable and vivid.
- For a persuasive or analytical essay, a well-placed idiom can emphasize a key argument or conclusion.
For example, when you work on a literary analysis, you can go like this: “The author doesn’t beat around the bush when addressing the history of Scotland.” As you can see, the idiom “to beat around the bush” feels more engaging than saying something like “The author is direct in addressing the history of Scotland.”
Always pick idioms that 100% fit your essay’s tone
Many idioms out there are slangy or informal. Just take a look at “chill out” or “spill the beans.” These are just too casual, while others are more accepted in professional writing —”the tip of the iceberg” and “a double-edged sword.” Our special tip here is to pick idioms that you saw in reputable publications or academic discourse.
Just take a look at the nice choices below:
- The proposal is a double-edged sword.
- The problem in Vietnam’s economy is just the tip of the iceberg.
At the same time, stay away from something like this in formal writing:
- The proposal is kinda shady.
- The problem in Vietnam’s economy is a hot mess.
Introduce idioms with context
Now that you know the idioms you are going to use in your college essay, keep in mind that you can’t drop them without explanation. Otherwise, it will confuse readers or simply ruin the smooth flow of your content. Make sure to frame the idiom so that its meaning is clear for everyone. When it comes to the weak example of the idiom use, here’s one: “Climate change is a ticking time bomb.” As for the stronger one: “Climate change is a ticking time bomb. Its effects are set to escalate rapidly if we fail to address them.” The approach you see above enables you to “kill two birds with one stone“—to keep your argument precise and respect the target audience that might be unfamiliar with the idiom.
Feel free to blend idioms with formal vocabulary
If you do not want to sound too conversational in an essay, put your idioms in a text together with sophisticated language. How’s that? Here is an example:
- While the policy appears beneficial on the surface, it may prove to be a double-edged sword, offering short-term gains at the expense of long-term stability.
In this sentence, you see the combination that keeps a polished tone in a text and preserves the unique and natural vividness of the idiom.
Using idioms sparingly is a must!
There is no doubt that you know a lot of idioms and know how to use them. However, if you infuse too many phrases like that into your essay, you will make your prose frivolous. You don’t want that! That is why it is crucial to kind of limit yourself to 1-2 idioms that 100% fit the context, the topic, and have perfect places within the text. That’s the perfect recipe. In other words, you have to use idioms as if you are using seasoning during cooking—a pinch of something to boost the taste, not to overwhelm.
Always check cultural aspects
The point here is that many idioms are specific to certain cultures or regions. Plus, they can’t be translated well for international readers. Here are the examples of such idioms:
- Catch the red-eye—it’s a typical US thing that is about taking a late-night flight.
- Throw your toys out of the pram—this is something British/Australian and means to overreact or have a childish tantrum.
- Like a shag on a rock—the Australian thing again, meaning feeling lonely or isolated.
These are just some of the examples of idioms that can’t be used in an essay unless your target audience is Australians, Americans, or Brits. With that in mind, include widely understood phrases or briefly clarify their meaning to avoid any kind of misunderstanding.
Revise and read aloud to see if idioms blend in
The editing stage comes whether you want it or not. And your task here is to read your work aloud or ask someone else to review it. It can be anyone, from your best friend who’s good at writing to an online tutor ready to assist you 24/7. Does any idiom sound jarring or overly casual? It is better to replace it with a direct expression or a synonym that is more formal. You will thank yourself later. Using idioms in writing can make your essays more vivid when done wisely.
Conclusion
See? Idioms are not that scary! What is more, they can take your college essays to the next level if you make sure to use them properly. And “properly” means to use widely accepted phrases, provide context, and balance idioms with formal language. If you do that, you are sure to make your writing more compelling without sacrificing academic integrity. All in all, idioms are your good friends because they are powerful enough to make your prose more persuasive and clearer.
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