Idiom vs. Proverb
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Idiom and Proverb is that an Idiom is such a group of words in which the literal meaning is different from the symbolic one, whereas a Proverb is a statement expressing a belief or idea that is believed to be correct.
Difference Between Idiom and Proverb
Idiom vs. Proverb
An idiom is such a group of words in which the literal meaning is different from the figurative one. In contrast, a proverb is a statement expressing a belief or idea that is believed to be correct.
Idiom vs. Proverb
The main aim of idioms is to catch the audience by the use of spicy words; on the other hand, the main aim of proverbs is to give a message that is beneficial or to give moral/moral lessons.
Idiom vs. Proverb
The literal meaning of the word to word meaning of a proverb can lead to the underlying meaning of it; on the converse, the literal meaning or word to word meaning of an idiom does not reveal its figurative meaning.
Idiom vs. Proverb
Idiom does not necessarily hold moral or social messages; on the flip side, a proverb always holds some kind of a moral or social message that intends to improve society.
Idiom vs. Proverb
One must know the established meaning of an idiom to understand it; on the contrary, the proverb also has some connotations that must be studied for its better understanding.
Idiom vs. Proverb
An idiom is defined as "a group of words with an established meaning in a figurative sense that cannot be inferred from its literal meaning" while a proverb is defined as "a short popular saying advising about how we should act or that expressing a belief."
Idiomnoun
A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, person, or group of people.
Proverbnoun
A phrase expressing a basic truth which may be applied to common situations.
Idiomnoun
A language or language variety; specifically, a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.
Proverbnoun
A striking or paradoxical assertion; an obscure saying; an enigma; a parable.
Idiomnoun
An established expression whose meaning is not deducible from the literal meanings of its component words, often peculiar to a given language.
Proverbnoun
A familiar illustration; a subject of contemptuous reference.
Idiomnoun
An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); an instance of such a style.
Proverbnoun
A drama exemplifying a proverb.
Idiomnoun
(programming) A programming construct or phraseology that is characteristic of the language.
Proverbverb
To write or utter proverbs.
Idiomnoun
a manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
Proverbverb
To name in, or as, a proverb.
Idiomnoun
the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people;
the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of Englishhe has a strong German accentProverbverb
To provide with a proverb.
Idiomnoun
the style of a particular artist or school or movement;
an imaginative orchestral idiomProverbnoun
a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
Idiomnoun
an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
Comparison Chart
| Idiom | Proverb |
| A group of words in which the literal meaning is different from the symbolic one is known as an idiom. | A statement expressing a belief or idea that is believed to be correct is known as a proverb. |
| Aim | |
| To impart the meaning in an unusual or hidden way. | To give a moral message or advice. |
| Kind of Meaning | |
| Established meaning, symbolic meaning than the literal one | Broader meaning than the literal meaning |
| Moral Lessons | |
| Not refers to a moral or social message. | Always have some kind of a moral or social message. |
| Understanding | |
| It is difficult to understand | It is somewhat easy to understand |
| Grammatically | |
| Idioms are phrases | Proverbs are statements |
Idiom vs. Proverb
The main aim of idioms is to catch the audience by the use of spicy words. It intensifies the things and assertively gives the message through the use of figurative language. On the other hand, the main aim of proverbs is to give a message that is beneficial or to give moral/moral lessons.
Idiom does not necessarily hold moral or social messages; on the flip side, proverb always holds some kind of a moral or social message that intends to improve society. An idiom is defined as “a group of words with an established meaning in a figurative sense that cannot be inferred from its literal meaning.” On the other side, a proverb is defined as “a famous short saying about how people should behave or that expresses a specific belief.”
The example of an idiom is “Call it a day” (means to stop the work that you are doing), on the flip side, the example of a proverb is “Call a bear uncle till you cross the bridge.” The literal meaning of the word to word meaning of a proverb can lead to the underlying meaning of it; on the other side, the literal meaning or word to word meaning of an idiom does not reveal its symbolic meaning. One must know the established meaning of an idiom to understand it; on the other hand, the proverb also has some connotations that must be studied for its better understanding.
What is Idiom?
Idioms are the short sentence or phrases that give a figurative meaning more than its literal meaning. It is not possible to get the meaning of an idiom word to word. It instead holds a figurative meaning that generally gives a different message that is not a bit related to the words in a literal sense.
For example, “Pull someone’s leg” is an idiom that doesn’t mean that you are pulling the leg of a person. It means to joke with someone. Sometimes, it is easy for a native speaker to get the meaning of an idiom from its wording, but a non-native speaker cannot get the meaning until he reads about its established meaning. Basically, an Idiom is an expression in a group of words having a symbolic or figurative meaning. One must be familiar with this expression to get the meaning of an idiom.
Examples
- “That’s the last straw” (my patience has run out)
- Fed up (tired and annoyed with something or someone)
- To rub someone the wrong ( to irritate someone)
- By the skin of your teeth means (something barely or hardly successful)
- Break a leg (wishing a person good luck)
- Spill the beans (tell a secret)
- Give someone the cold shoulder (To ignore someone)
- Get into hot water (to get into trouble)
- Smell a rat (something is wrong)
- Hit the sack (Go to sleep)
What is Proverb?
A proverb is defined as “An advice about how we should act or a belief that is thought to be correct.” Proverbs are playing a role in society for very long. It tends to educate, advise, and refrain. The proverbs are the statements that are thought to be always correct. It can be a piece of expert advice or a little tidbit of wisdom. There are a lot of proverbs from different origins, and for every circumstance, there is a proverb that can be applied. The meaning of the proverb is more significant than its individual words’ meaning.
The literal meaning of a proverb also makes sense on its own, but as a proverb, it has a broader meaning which can be applied to a set of situations. For example, the idiom “There is no need to cry over spilled milk.” It holds a meaning that “Don’t waste your energy by mourning for a thing that is already gone or done.” Proverbs intend to impart wisdom, and they are often told by older people. A proverb is defined as “A one-line lesson, belief or message that is generally thought to be true and that tells the ways to improve the behavior or to act in a certain way.”
Examples
- A tree is known by its fruit. (Success is shown by the deeds)
- A monkey in silk is a monkey no less. (fancy dress/appearance is unable to make the character fancy)
- A stitch in time saves nine. (Early amendment of a mistake save from further loss)
ConclusionIdiom and proverb are the two different literary devices that are different from one another. The difference between both the terms is based on their meaning and usage.
