Idioms

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief: Idioms 1 key example

Definition of Idiom

An idiom is a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning that is difficult or impossible to understand based solely on a literal interpretation of the words in the phrase. For... read full definition
An idiom is a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning that is difficult or impossible to understand based solely on a literal interpretation of the... read full definition
An idiom is a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning that is difficult or impossible to understand based solely on... read full definition
Part 2: 100 Percent Pure German Sweat
Explanation and Analysis—Deer in Lights:

In Part 2: 100 Percent Pure German Sweat, Liesel attends a mandatory, violent book burning and ends up helping Ludwig Schmeikl after his ankle is crushed by the mob. Death uses an idiom and a metaphor to describe the look on Ludwig's face when he finds Liesel:

All he was able to do was pull her toward him and motion to his ankle. It had been crushed among the excitement and was bleeding dark and ominous through his sock. His face wore a helpless expression beneath his tangled blond hair. An animal. Not a deer in lights. Nothing so typical or specific. He was just an animal, hurt among the melee of its own kind, soon to be trampled by it.