B1idiomcommunicationIELTS-friendly
word for word
USUK
using exactly the same words as the original
Used about copying, repeating or translating. Before a noun it takes hyphens: 'a word-for-word translation'. 'Word by word' means one word at a time.
In context
Don't translate the text word for word; try to express the main idea naturally.
She repeated our boss's message word for word so nobody could misunderstand it.
More idioms about communication
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- beat around the bushto avoid saying something directly, usually because it is uncomfortable
- get the wrong end of the stickto understand something in the wrong way
- get to the pointto start talking about the most important part of a subject
- get your point acrossto make other people understand what you are trying to say