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Clever Illustrations Playfully Reveal the "True" Meanings of Idioms

Idioms are a clever way to convey emotions and make comparisons, but what if you aren't sure of what they're supposed to mean? Keren Rosen imagines the literal, true definitions of idioms in a playful ongoing project. The simple, cartoonish images break down the meaning of each word and illustrate their individual definitions. Then, Rosen combines the two or three disparate elements into a single amusing composition. Suddenly, “brain freeze” doesn't imply a headache–according to Rosen, it really means that a brain is lodged in an ice cube; and the term “the icing on the cake” shows a jubilant cherry ice skating on top of a three-tiered dessert.

If you find these punny illustrations as delightful as we do, they're currently available to purchase as prints in Rosen's Etsy shop.

Keren Rosen: Website | Facebook | Tumblr | Etsy
via [deMilked]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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