What is an Idiom?

An idiom is a phrase where the words work together like a secret code. If you translate each word one by one, it won't make any sense! To understand an idiom, you have to look at the whole phrase to find its true, hidden meaning.

For example, "to kill time" doesn't mean hurting a clock—it just means to do something casual while you are waiting. In Japanese, these are just like kanyouku (慣用句).

Teacher's Tip: When you see an idiom, don't translate it literally. Focus on the big picture!

A gerund is an English verb with an -ing ending that acts like a noun to name an activity or a habit. In this lesson, we use gerunds in two ways: at the very beginning of a sentence as the main subject, or right after words like by, without, and instead of. Learning these patterns will help you connect your ideas smoothly and describe your daily routine like a natural speaker.