The Idiom

Introducing The Idiom: How do words shape our world?

Can understanding different cultures' idioms help us see eye to eye? The Idiom is a new SBS podcast that explores weird and wonderful idioms from Australia and around the world.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs

Danish import Rune Pedersen has a theory... Idioms hold the key to truly understanding other cultures. Can understanding more about idioms help him break the ice with anyone and their dog at the local pub? In this first episode of The Idiom, Rune sets out to discover what common idioms about the weather can tell us about each other.

The Elephant in the Room

Rune Pedersen just wants to talk about something he’s not supposed to talk about. Taboos! Idioms are a great way to approach taboos. They allow us to talk about something without saying it directly, but what and who gets cut out of the conversation when we beat around the bush?

Donkey Work

Ever noticed how many idioms there are about animals? They seem to breed like rabbits! And interestingly, different animals tend to have the same reputation across cultures. Lions are brave. Snakes are sneaky. And donkeys? Oh, poor donkeys.

Spinning a yarn

We know that language shapes how we see the world, and storytelling has the power to preserve cultural knowledge from one generation to the next. Storytelling and yarning is at the heart of First Nations cultures and communities in Australia. Stories have been passed down for thousands of years, connecting Indigenous peoples with their culture and land. So how does language - including stories, slang and idioms - preserve First Nations cultures? And what is the impact of colonisation on this tradition of handing down culture through language? This episode of The Idiom is all about deep listening, with guests Taryn Marks and Dr John Davis.