May 9, 2011 · Idioms can be metaphorical, polysemic, opaque or transparent, and are often colloquial or cultural. These phrases or sentences are peculiar, enigmatic expressions of a given language.

Jun 10, 2013 · (adj.) not able to be seen through; not transparent (adj.; figurative) hard or impossible to understand (n.) an opaque thing or substance Source: Oxford Dictionaries

In addition, as suggested by Charteris-Black (2002), learners should “be made aware of the connotations of figurative units in the target language and advised to avoid paraphrasing L2 figurative units with translations from L1 figurative units that ignore these connotations” (p.128).

Learn how to use "opaque" in a sentence with 278 example sentences on YourDictionary.

Oct 30, 2017 · 'Opaque' in a sentence: When the timer goes off, check the eggs: the whites should be just set and opaque.

In contrast with Grant and Bauer‘s (2004) distinction of core idioms, figurative idioms and ONCEs, this research considered the three types as opaque idioms, since they all contain at least one word that is semantically non-compositional and may lead to deceptive comprehension (learners think they know but actually they do not) (Martinez ...

Jul 9, 2021 · In the literal sense, it means something you cannot see through. For example, a piece of glass painted solid black would go from transparent (see-through) to opaque. So in the figurative sense, “opaque” means difficult or impossible to understand or interpret.

Feb 26, 2025 · The word opaque comes from the Latin opacus, meaning “shaded” or “dark.” It entered Middle French as opaque and later English with the same meaning, referring both to physical darkness and figurative lack of clarity.

Spelling influenced after c. 1650 by French opaque (c. 1500), from the Latin. Meaning "impervious to the rays of light" is from 1640s. Figurative sense of "obscure, hard to understand" is from 1761. Related: Opaquely; opaqueness.

Dec 6, 2024 · Whether discussing a frosted window or a complex explanation, opaque captures the essence of obscurity. In this blog post, we’ll explore the meaning of “opaque,” its origins, and its applications in daily language.