How can idioms be interpreted in context?

• A. Understand figurative meaning by using a dictionary alone.
• B. Understand figurative meaning beyond the literal words, often indicated by surrounding context or tone.
• C. Interpret idioms by reading only the sentence.
• D. Assume idioms have only one meaning.

Answer: (B)

Idioms express ideas that aren’t tied to the exact words used, so understanding them means looking beyond the literal meaning. In context, you piecemeal what the speaker intends by using surrounding sentences, the situation, and the tone. That helps you see the figurative sense of the idiom and the nuance the author wants to convey, which can shift depending on how the conversation feels or what it’s about.

That’s why the best interpretation emphasizes figurative meaning beyond the literal words, indicated by context or tone. A dictionary can give a general meaning, but it doesn’t always capture how the expression functions in a specific moment. Reading only a single sentence or assuming an idiom has one fixed meaning also misses how language can vary with situation and speaker.