I understand most idioms, but...

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Always. Picturing the literal meaning is how I understand idioms (Thinking about a shiny needle sitting in the middle of a haystack; that'd be hard to see. Picturing someone rolling out of bed and landing in their workplace; wow, that's close.) That kind of thing. I always assumed that's how everyone did it.

Yes, that happens to me most of the time, but I hardly even notice it anymore.

That's what I've heard too but I don't see how it's possible to JUST think in language. Words must translate into something less abstract at some point in NT cognition... right? Otherwise they wouldn't be able to think about, like, where things are or what things look like. It seems awfully inefficient to think of, say, an organizational structure where Sam is Daisy and Tom's boss, but Daisy and Tom are both senior to Russell, Gerry, Melissa and Amber. Why not just picture three tiers with Sam at the top, Daisy & Tom in the middle, and the other four at the bottom?

...I don't know. I don't understand the "NTs think in words" thing either.

^^This

I am NT-ish, am not generally a visual thinker, but do often "see" the literal interpretation of many idioms.

I have also found, in working with my son on understanding figurative language, that I do not know the meaning of quite a few idioms. The weirdest part is that there are some that I could use OK in a sentence, but I still do not know exactly what they mean, or at least I cannot explain it in words. Weird, right?

I don't really think in words or pictures. I can think in both, and need to think in words to talk to others, but my thoughts are something else that I don't know how to describe. Picture thinking is hardest for me, though. I never get a clear image.

Yep. Generally speaking, I understand idioms. But that wasn't always the case. At least it got to the point when I was a kid that my mom bought me a book on idioms and what they mean so I could take a hint.

But now, a lot of my humor is derived from "misinterpreting" idioms, and it seems to be appreciated. For example, I often see a road sign that says "No passing zone". What do I think of? Gandalf yelling "You shall not pass!" Then there's the game crossing sign. I think Monopoly and Scrabble before I think elk or deer. I know it's misinterpreted, but I find it funny.

Usually the first thing that pops into my head is the literal meaning.
I also think in pictures. Places for instance. If I'm thinking about a place, the image of that place pops into my head along with images of nearby landmarks such as intersections or stores.

I think of both the picture literal meaning, usually first, and what the speaker meant too. I am finding I think in pictures for speed and I never have any trouble with that. Thinking in language has always slowed me down. I catch idioms all the time, and metaphors, and colorful language...all translate into images, as does any applicable conversation.
I am originally from the south and the idioms for rain there make me grin. I was always going...who comes up with these linguistic images?? Because the originator was, even if people today say it without thinking.

Yeah, I usually picture a literal meaning, too, since I'm a very visual thinker. I basically memorize or analyze the real meaning of the idiom but still picture it literally. And speaking of one that I memorize but don't understand- "opening a can of worms." My memorized definition of the idiom is to describe a situation where doing an action will make things more complex and cause trouble. But what's complex and troublesome about opening a can filled with worms? Just that they'll spill out and escape? And it's a stupid saying to begin with, because there will never be a can of worms to open. I know zilch about fishing, but do you ever even open a worm/bait container with a lid like the one on cat food or soup? I like idioms where the figurative meaning can be pictured literally and makes logical sense- like "kill two birds with one stone."

I do this all the time and when it's a funny one I can't help but laugh or smile. But when someone says "in a nutshell" I think of a walnut.

...I think of pistachios.

I also think of a walnut.

In this part of the world "He has his ears on straight." means a person is smart and wise for his age. Usually and older person would say that about a young man who is just getting his first job. That saying brings up a picture of a guy with long straight donkey ears.

I always picture meal worms. Meal worms are really beetle larva that make great fish bait. They have legs and pincers in their mouths, so they can run away and they can bite. When I was 6 years old, my granddad took me fishing every weekend during the summer. Back then, meal worms came in a little tin can with a screw off top. So no you don't open them with a can opener, but it was a can of worms. I guess they are cold blooded because if you keep the can in the cooler they are lethargic and don't try to escape, but if the can gets warm the worms become active.

The first time I went fishing, I was so excited that I took the worm can out and put it in my lap while my granddad drove the boat. By the time we got to his favorite fishing spot, that can was very warm. The instant I got the top off, one of them crawled out on my hand and I just involuntarily shook my hand. Meal worms went everywhere. They were in my lap, all over my legs, crawling up my shorts, and into my shoes. I don't think any of them actually bit me but they have prickly legs and that feeling of them crawling all over me was just more than I could take. I screamed and yelled and tried to wipe them off. I ended up totally undressed and in the water trying to get those worms off of me.


That is the visual I get when I hear about "opening a can of worms"

I still like to go fishing. Worms come in a plastic cup now. And I tend to prefer using minnows, or earth worms, or anything but meal worms for bait.

I'm not a visual thinker, so I only do it sometimes, not every time I hear an idiom.

The movie "Temple Grandin" shows her doing this and it's quite funny - especially "we get up with the rooster" and "animal husbandry".

My "animal husbandry" picture is similar to hers but with a dog...