colloquialism

American  

[kuh-loh-kwee-uh-liz-uhm] / kəˈloʊ kwi əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. a colloquial expression.

2. colloquial style or usage.

---

colloquialism British  

/ kəˈləʊkwɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a word or phrase appropriate to conversation and other informal situations

2. the use of colloquial words and phrases

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• colloquialist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of colloquialism

First recorded in 1800–10; colloquial + -ism

Explanation

A saying that expresses something other than the literal meaning of the words it contains is a colloquialism, like saying "I wasn't born yesterday," to mean "you can't fool me." Colloquialism comes from the Latin word colloquium meaning "conference, conversation," or literally "a speaking together." When you talk, colloquialisms are so common, you might not be aware you are using them — that is, until one comes up that is unfamiliar to someone in the group. Explaining the meaning of a colloquialism shows just how strange or goofy these expressions really are.