A mother and her four-year-old daughter hear the grandmother refer to the weather outside as "it's raining cats and dogs." The mother tends to get one meaning from this phrase, while her daughter is hoping for a lot of new pets. In understanding the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs," the mother and daughter are experiencing a difference in
A)syntax.
B)phonemes.
C)semantics.
D)grammar.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference lies in semantics, which refers to the meaning of words and phrases. The mother understands the idiomatic meaning (heavy rain), while the daughter interprets it literally (animals falling from the sky).

A Mother and Her Four-Year-Old Daughter Hear the Grandmother Refer