Which term describes 'An expression whose meaning cannot be predicted from the words themselves'?

• A. Idiom
• B. Metaphor
• C. Prefixes
• D. Concrete Examples

Answer: (A)

An expression whose meaning cannot be predicted from the words themselves is an idiom. Idioms are fixed phrases whose figurative meaning is not deducible from the literal meanings of the individual words. A classic example is “kick the bucket,” which means to die, not literally kicking a bucket. The meaning comes from common usage and cultural context, not from the words’ literal sense.

Metaphor is a related figure of speech that makes a direct comparison, such as “time is a thief,” but its meaning can often be inferred from the imagery or relationship it draws. Prefixes are affixes added to a root word to modify meaning and do not describe a type of nonliteral expression. Concrete examples describe specific instances rather than naming a category of expressions.