An idiom is a particular combination of words, the

combination having its own meaning often

unpredictable from the individual meanings of its
components.
IDIOMS COMMONLY MISTRANSLATED
Ako na lang (ang gagawa niyan).= Ill do it or Ill take care of it. Or Let me do it. (*not Ill be
the one to do it.)
Bababa ako. = Im getting off (from a vehicle). (*not Im going down.)
Dito sila madalas naka(is)tambay.= They usually hang out here. (*not They usually stand by
here.)
Mago-ocular (inspection) kami. = Well take a look. Or Well go and have a look. (*not We will
make an ocular inspection. The phrase ocular inspection may be more suitable in
technical reports.
Mauuna na ako. = Good(bye). (*not Ill go ahead, which implies that the hearer is expected
to follow.)
May nakaubo ba rito? = Is this seat taken? (*not Is someone sitting here?)
Nagcommute lang ako. = I (just) took the bus/jeep. Or I came by bus or jeep. (*not I (just)
commuted.) The English commute means to travel regularly from one place to another,
such as from home to school or place of work, by any means of transportation, including
private vehicles.)
Noong isang araw. = Day before yesterday. (not *the other day, which means a few days
ago.)
Sandali lang. = Hold your line. or Hold/Hang on. (when speaking on the phone) or Just a
second/minute/moment).

Lists of Idioms found to be used wrongly by Filipino professionals:

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With regard/in regard to , as regards (* not in/with regards to)

At this point or At this time (*not at this point in time)
In behalf of vs. On behalf of
In behalf of means for the benefit of or for the sake of.
Example: We are raising funds in behalf of the flood victims.
On behalf of means as the agent of or on the part of.
Example: We are raising funds on behalf of the Red Cross.
Cope with (*not cope up)
Fill vs. fill in ( a blank) vs, fill in for s.o. (=substitute) vs. fill out (a form) vs. fill up (a
container, a position)
Die of (*not die from)
Excuse from (*not excuse in)
Consequent on (*not consequent to)
Accompanied by (persons) vs. accompanied with (things)
Convenient for (a purpose) vs. Convenient to (a person)
Share s.t with s.o
Agree with a person (= have the same idea as that person) vs. Agree to s.t
(=accept something)
Differ from
Abide by (a rule) vs. adibe with (a place) vs. abide with (a person)
Absent from s.t
Angry at (things or conditions) vs. angry with (a person)
Fond of
Familiar with
Take a look at s.t.
Take care of s.t.
Place important on s.t.
Follow in the footstep of s.o.
Focus (attention) on s.t.
Satisfied with s.t.
Suited to
Furnished with
Dedicated to
Ashamed of
Congratulations on s.t.
In compliance with
In view of
Difficulty in
In compliance with
Ability to do s.t.
Compatible with
Conscious of

COMMONLY MISSPELLED WORDS

Accommodate, accommodation
Advice, advise
Altogether (adv.), all together (adj phrase)
Assassin, assassination
Asymmetrical
Checkup (n)
Commission
Full-time
Holdup
Idiosyncrasy (*not idiosyncracy)
Occasion
Part-time (*not partime, parttime)
Pastime (*not past-time, pasttime)
Privilege (*not priviledge)
Transferred (*transfered)
Subcommittee (*not sub-committee)
Subculture (*sub-culture)
Lifestyle
Millennium
Envelop (v.) vs. Envelope (n)
Turn over (v.) vs. turnover (n)
Tryout
Extracurricular (*not extra-curricular)
Ongoing (*on-going)
Vice versa
Diphtheria
In spite of (not *inspite of)
Occurrence (*not occurence)
Signaled (*not signalled)
Soft drink (*not softdrink)
Insofar as (*not in so far as)
Inasmuch as (*not in as much)
Data bank (*not databank)

LEXICAL CHANGE
Further- it is now used in the sense of farther.
Example: Nothing could be further from the north.
Xerox-from the copying process technically labeled as xerography. Now we have the
noncount noun and verb xerox.
Examples: The lecturer handed out Xerox copies of his outline.
Many graduate students Xerox whole books out of necessity.
Fax- short form for facsimile that is electronically transmitted. It is now used as verb as
well.
Examples: The clerk was faxing the deed of sale when a brownout occurred.
REDUNDANCY
Each and Everyone
First and Foremost