idiom

Universal Words noun 1 [C] a group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words: 'Let the cat out of the bag' is an idiom meaning to tell a secret by mistake. 2 [U,C] (formal) the kind of language and grammar used by particular people at a particular time or place 3 [U,C] (formal) the style of writing, music, art, etc. that is typical of a particular person, group, period or place: the classical / contemporary / popular idiom