Writing Book 4 · Lesson 25
Metaphors and idioms — meet the words
Some meanings live in a group of words, not in any one of them.
The words
a fine line
a small difference
in the wake of
right after
a wealth of
a great deal of
the bigger picture
the whole thing
Watch how it is built
1a fine line means about the same as a small difference.
There is a fine line between the two.
2in the wake of means about the same as right after.
In the wake of the storm, trees fell.
3a wealth of means about the same as a great deal of.
The book holds a wealth of detail.
Two ways to say it
✗ There is a small difference between the two. — this is not wrong, but it is everyday talk.
✓ There is a fine line between the two. — this is how a writer says it.
Ask yourself: “Does the meaning survive if I change one word?”
Remember
Idioms cannot be worked out — they are learned.
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