Looking for meaning

One of the points I try to make to my writing students is that to become a skilled writer you should have an affection for language and its uses and complexities. You need to care about the meanings and nuances of words, you must develop an appreciative ear for the sound and rhythm of a finely crafted sentence and you should always try to incorporate imagery, similes and metaphors into your writing.

Some people who are drawn to writing have a natural fondness for these things. If you don't, but it's still important for you to be able to write well, I suggest you acquire at least a familiarity with the things I listed above. Doing so will help you communicate better.

In some cases, exploring the intricacies of language can be fun, interesting and informative, too. Consider idioms. An idiom is an expression that has a meaning that's different from the meanings of its individual words. "It's raining cats and dogs" and "I heard it on the grapevine" are two examples of idioms. Idioms shouldn't be confused with clichés, which are commonplace, overused phrases such as "tried and true" or "on the other hand." You should avoid using clichés in your writing as much as possible. Idioms also should be shunned. The reason, in both instances, is that the use of clichés and idioms means a writer isn't trying to come up with his or her original, more precise way of saying things and is, instead, relying on stock phrases that may not even express exactly what the writer is trying to convey.

Idioms can be an interesting study for anyone (writers in particular) who want to understand language more deeply. We often use idioms, but we seldom ponder their origins. "Wait your turn," for example, refers to the days when farmers took their grain to the mill and waited in line for it to be placed under the turning mill wheel to be ground. "Your name is mud" is derived from the name of the doctor, Samuel Mudd, who attended John Wilkes Booth, who broke his leg when he jumped from the balcony at Ford's Theater after assassinating President Lincoln. The expression "break a leg" has its roots in the same historic event.

As you can see, the history behind many expressions is intriguing and informative. Look up a few yourself on phrases.org. But be careful, it can become addictive. Before long, you'll be able to put your best foot forward when it comes your understanding and appreciation of language.