Malay idiomatic expressions: Their structure and categorization

Abstract

 Most people believe that they have mastered a language when they are able to
express themselves fluently in it. But language is not just about words and
grammar; language is unique because it reflects the culture of the people using
it. Hence to be able to master a language and understand the actual meaning
behind the words, expressions and sentences uttered, one needs to learn the
language frills such as idiomatic expressions and colloquial forms.
Expressions like 'to read him like a book', 'on the house', 'to be nuts' and
'like a house on fire , may not be understood correctly by a non-native speaker
of English if he were to interpret the meaning literally.