Americans love their slang. It is unusual to get through even one normal conversation without at least one idiom or slang phrase coming up.  Idioms, or slang expressions, are words or phrases that you cannot figure out from the actual word choice. They often mean something completely different from the normal use of the words, and must be figured out in the context of the rest of conversation. 

The average English speaker can usually decode the meaning from common usage, but of course, not everyone is an average English speaker.  For some people, interpreting idioms and slang is more than just a little difficult. 

ESL/EFL

Non-native English speakers naturally take English expressions literally.  Trying to mentally translate from one language to another, and on top of that having to figure out what the speaker is actually trying to say is difficult at best.  One of the most difficult things for ESL/EFL students is trying to learn English expressions.

Autism/Aspergers

Another group of people who have difficulty with idioms and slang phrases are people with literal thinking.  Many people with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome do not understand the nuances of hidden or implied meanings.

Understanding idioms is also an important part of being successful at end-of-grade standardized tests and college entrance exams.  These tests will often check for correct use of idiomatic expressions.

While idioms are best understood through usage, rather than instruction, students can still improve their understanding of these slang terms by playing online games with them such as the idiom games at Vocabulary.co.il .  These games allow the player to choose the correct literal meaning of each of the slang terms presented.  They are a fun and interactive way to practice the important interpretation and decoding skills required to take part in common language and conversation.