Discussed is the degree to which Arabic metaphors and idioms concerning cultural aspects can and should be preserved in their translation to English. The meanings of metaphor and idiom are explored and the various ways of approaching them in translation are discussed. A discourse analysis approach to translating metaphors and idioms is recommended, as this type of approach is capable of accounting for grammatical and communicative information in both the source and target languages. Careful attention must be paid to the cultural context of the original text in Arabic, as similar expressions in English can carry completely different meanings. It is suggested that if the translator cannot find a way of translating the Arabic metaphor or idiom into English that retains the original intent and does not alienate the target audience, he/she would be justified in avoiding its translation. (Copyright 1994, Sociological Abstracts, Inc., all rights reserved.) (LLBA 1994, vol. 28, n. 2)