NEURODIVERSITY REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA THURSDAY: Amelia Bedelia

 




Amelia Bedelia.! When I think of someone who thinks and takes things LITERALLY, I think of this lady.
Amelia Bedelia is a fictional housekeeper who doesn't understand certain phrases. If you tell her to look at the glass half full, she will LITERALLY look at a glass half full. Some people even say Amelia Bedelia shows traits similar to neurodivergent folks—like interpreting language literally, struggling with abstract phrases, and doing things exactly as told.

Take a look at the image below for an example:

This kind of misunderstanding is actually pretty common—especially for people with ADHD, autism, or other intellectual and neurodivergent disabilities. Many of us process language more directly, which can make idioms and figurative expressions confusing.

I’ll be honest: when I was younger, it took me a long time to figure out what “pop the question” meant. My mom had to teach me how to remember it meant proposing marriage—and not, you know, literally popping anything. 😅

Here are some examples of commonly used idioms, so that you don't have to be confused like Amelia Bedelia:

Idiom Meaning
Break the ice To start a conversation in a social setting
Bite the bullet To endure a painful or unpleasant situation
Hit the nail on the head To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
Let the cat out of the bag To accidentally reveal a secret
Under the weather Feeling sick or ill
Spill the beans To reveal secret information
Piece of cake Something very easy to do
Costs an arm and a leg Very expensive
Once in a blue moon Very rarely
The ball is in your court It's your turn to make a decision or take action
Burn the midnight oil To stay up late working or studying
Kick the bucket To die (informal and humorous)
Let sleeping dogs lie Don’t stir up old conflicts
Hit the books To study hard
When pigs fly Something that will never happen
Jump on the bandwagon To join others in doing something trendy or popular
Kill two birds with one stone To accomplish two things with one action
Pull someone’s leg To joke or tease someone
The last straw The final problem that makes a situation unbearable
Throw in the towel To give up

The English language can be very tricky,  but it’s also what connects us. So whether you’re a little like Amelia Bedelia or just trying to “get the hang of it,” you’re not alone!

What are your favorite idioms or figures of speech to say?  Comment below :D

DISCLAIMER NOTE: MISS AMELIA BEDELIA ISN'T DIAGNOSED WITH ANY DISABILITY.  THE TRAITS IDENTIFIED ARE TRAITS THAT MATCH WHAT IT'S LIKE BEING NEURODIVERGENT!  I CANNOT DIAGNOSE AMELIA, BUT I CAN SAY HOW MANY SIMILAR TRAITS SHE HAS TO ME AS WELL AS MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN THE NEUROSPICY COMMUNITY!!

If you liked this blog post, comment, share, etc.  Have any comments, questions, etc.? Reach out to me by messaging me on instagram or TikTok @neurospicyblondie or email me  alyssa.onthespectrum@gmail.com.  


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