Asperger's Syndrome and Idioms

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My last psych assessment came back, "She does not understand idioms," but by the same token, I love to write creatively with metaphors. My problems is that my metaphors match the situation and idioms do not. That's just how I look at it.

I think "does not know" makes more sense than "does not understand".

Take my made up phrase "don't wait for your last mokey to fly out the chimney". That's what my first reaction to some idioms is like. I mean, I know it's not supposed to be anything literal but how do I figure out what something like that means?

Most idioms aren't easy to interpret with logic alone because the literal meaning from which the saying is derived is usually something painfully archaic, and then you often have corruption of usage issues on top of that.

Most people just "know" idioms from hearing them in a certain context. The phrase itself doesn't have to make any logical sense in the NT mind as long as the person understands the setting in which it's used. This is where we differ from the norm. It's hard for us to remember phrases when don't know the "why". The meanings of idioms are much easier to remember once I take the time to look up the history and etymology.

Oh I just love your videos!

Lol I'm going to start using that term!

I have no problem with metaphors if they fit the situation. Like for example describing someone's limbs or their movements as 'spring loaded'. They are not literally made from metal coils that unwind, but I can see why you would describe them that way, because I can see that the person actually does move with a springlike motion.

Whereas idioms just sound weird to me, because they're not actual analogies.

I had to click on that link because I realized I didn't know what "putting the cart before the horse" meant. I understand the most common ones, like "raining cats and dogs"

What's interesting is one roommate of mine said I didn't seem to understand the complex metaphors she was using. Why make them?

http://changingminds.org/techniques/lan ... taphor.htm

cool

I have that particular trait, and I NEVER know when to keep it down. Sometimes I'll point out that someone is being confusing by using a word when they mean something else. Usual response is 'don't be pedantic', or if the person knows me well, 'ASD alert!'

I'm glad you liked my term I invented for exessive use of idioms and ilogical metophors called "Metophoric Moronise"! ! It is very funny I think I do have some understanding when a metophor has logic to it in that it can be visualized and has literalness to it, it's just the total non literal ones ( idioms sounds very close to idiot! lol ), that confuse me and amuse/make me laugh when the pictures apear in my mind that don't match the situation! I often need to ask "What do you mean by this? then they will explain. I say or think why not say it correctly to avoid confusion! Figures of speach in a context of what is being said.......
I don't often understand really what is meant, maybe partially.

Well, you could understand how some relate. And medicine USED to generally taste bad! The idiom isn't "He'll get his own medicine", but "He'll get a TASTE of his own medicine". In other words, he is dishing out something he probably can't take, and sooner or later he will HAVE to take it. I think "have your cake and eat it too" relates to the idea of having something that you CAN'T eat because, if you do, you won't have it for later. So the idea is that you won't be left with having to make that choice. As for "easy as pie", it can take time, and there can be a lot of steps. Some may require an oven AND a refridgerator. It is SUPPOSED to mean that something is VERY easy. I think that the person that came up with that was misquoted, or something similar.

Want to hear a REAL nasty idiom? "that is a cakewalk"! I guess that comes from this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cakewalk

GO FIGURE!

As for:

"You can't have your cake and eat it too."

I still don't understand that one.
Cakes are meant to be eaten.
If they weren't eaten, they'd go stale and it would be a waste of cake.

As for most other idioms, I've been exposed to most of them via television, radio, popular culture and cartoons. The bad guys usually have to "get a taste of their own medicine".

Lots of idioms are cultural references, social chit chat, corrupted or based on rhyming slang. They are possible to study from a distance if you can pick up on all the cues and situations.

However, you have to be able to chat to be able to use them effectively.
I've said idioms a few times and people took me literally, probably because I wasn't giving out the right non-verbal signals.
Likewise, if presented with an unfamiliar idiom, I'm puzzled if I can't read the situation effectively.
It's all in the body language, social situation and tone of voice.

The process of socialising is generating the language, not the other way round.
So if one is out of the "socialising loop" it is harder to understand obscure phrases because one isn't exposed to them as much. It's a similar idea to being a cultural outsider who isn't familiar with all the customs and the language: there are going to be misunderstandings if you don't have regular exposure to that culture.

With this kind of chatty communication, it's more the way you say it than what you actually verbally say.