9
English Idioms
What are idioms?
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Pick out the idioms:
Sam is a real cool cat. He never blows his stack
and hardly ever flies off the handle. What's more,
he knows how to get away with things... Well, of
course, he is getting on, too. His hair is pepper
and salt, but he knows how to make up for lost
time by taking it easy. He gets up early, works out,
and turns in early. He takes care of the hot dog
stand like a breeze until he gets time off. Sam's
got it made; this is it for him.
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Sam is a real cool cat. He never blows his
stack and hardly ever flies off the handle.
What
areheidioms?
What's
more,
knows how to get away
with things... Well, of course, he is getting
on, too. His hair is pepper and salt, but he
knows how to make up for lost time by
taking it easy. He gets up early, works out,
and turns in early. He takes care of the
hot dog stand like a breeze until he gets
time off. Sam's got it made; this is it for
him.
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Sam is a real cool cat. He never blows his
stack and hardly ever flies off the handle.
What
areheidioms?
What's
more,
knows how to get away
with things... Well, of course, he is getting
on, too. His hair is pepper and salt, but he
knows how to make up for lost time by
taking it easy. He gets up early, works out,
and turns in early. He takes care of the
hot dog stand like a breeze until he gets
time off. Sam's got it made; this is it for
him.
What are idioms?
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a cool cat = a really calm person
blow one's stack = lose control over oneself
fly off the handle = become excessively
angry
what's more = furthermore
get away with = commit an illegitimate act
without penalty
of course = naturally
What are idioms?
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get on = get old
pepper and salt = grey (hair)
make up for = compensate for
lost time = time wasted
take it easy = relax, not worry
get up = rise from bed
turn in = go into bed
What are idioms?
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take care of = manage or look after
like a breeze = without effort or easily
time off = time for rest
get it made = be successful
this is it = be in a position or place, or have
possession of an object
beyond which more of the
same is unnecessary
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Sam is really a calm person. He never loses
control of himself and hardly ever becomes too
angry.
Furthermore,
he knows how to manage
What
are idioms?
his business financially by using a few tricks…
Needless to say, he, too, is getting older. His
hair is beginning to turn grey, but he knows
how to compensate for wasted time by relaxing.
He rises early, exercises, and goes to bed early.
He manages his frankfurter dispensary without
visible effort, until it is someone else's turn to
work there. Sam is successful, he has reached
his life's goal.
What are idioms?
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Definition:
Idioms are set phrases or short sentences,
which are peculiar to the language in
question, and whose meanings are often
difficult or impossible to deduce from the
literal meanings of the constituents构件.
9.1 Characteristics of Idioms
9.1.1 Semantic Unity
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Example:
kick the bucket (V + N) = die
(functioning as a verb)
till the cows come home (Pron+N+V+Adv)
= forever (functioning as an adv)
Each idiom is a semantic unity语义的整体性.
The meanings of the constituents do not
contribute to the meaning of the whole.
9.1.1 Semantic Unity
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The semantic unity is also reflected in the
illogical combination of the constituents.
wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve =
show one’s feelings openly
rain cats and dogs = rain heavily
wear the trousers = (of the wife) have
overall control
9.1.2 Structural Stability
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Idioms are structurally stable.
Their structures are fixed to a large extent.
1. The constituents cannot be changed.
kick the bucket
* strike the bucket
* kick the pail
* kick a bucket
9.1.2 Structural Stability
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2. The word-order cannot be changed.
by twos and threes 三三两两
* by threes and twos
the lion’s share
最大的份额
* the share of the lion
9.1.2 Structural Stability
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3. The constituents cannot be deleted or
added to.
Diamond cut diamond.
* A diamond cuts a diamond.
out of the question = impossible
* out of question = impossible
out of question = undoubtedly
9.1.2 Structural Stability
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4. Many idioms are grammatically
unanalyzable.
Diamond cut diamond.
* Diamond cuts diamond.
Like cures like.
* Like cure like.
as sure as eggs is eggs
* as sure as eggs are eggs
9.1.3 Idiomaticity
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Semantic unity and structural stability are
closely related to idiomaticity 习用度.
The higher the idiomaticity, the higher the
stability and semantic unity.
（习语的）习用度越高, 其结构的稳定性和
意义的整体性就越高。
9.1.3 Idiomaticity
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Three levels of idiomaticity:
1. Totally idiomatic:
the salt of the earth 非常正派、诚实的人
writing on the wall 凶兆
The meaning cannot be deduced.
9.1.3 Idiomaticity
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2. Semi-idiomatic:
turn over a new leaf 改过自新
once in a blue moon 千载难逢
draw the curtain 隐蔽/藏
The meaning can be deduced to a certain
extent.
9.1.3 Idiomaticity
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3. Somewhat idiomatic:
drink like a fish 牛饮
keep silence
沉默
as cold as ice 冰冷
The meaning is transparent.
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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Criteria for classification:
1. Idiomaticity
2. Structure
3. Origins
4. Grammatical functions
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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1. Noun idioms
Idioms function as nouns.
a baker’s dozen 十三个
Jack of all trades 万事通; 万京油
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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2. Adjective idioms
Idioms function as adjectives.
high and mighty 盛气凌人;趾高气扬
wide of the mark 毫不沾边
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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3. Verb idioms
Idioms function as verbs.
(1) Verb phrase 动词短语
make friends
fall flat 大失所望; 残败
bite the hand that feeds one 以怨报德
get out
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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(2) Phrasal verbs 短语动词
home in on
turn out
put down to
Each consists:
a verb + one or two particles
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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4. Adverb idioms
Idioms function as adverbs.
bag and baggage 一应细软
in sport 闹着玩地
9.2 Classification of Idioms
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5. Sentence idioms
Idioms function as sentences: proverb,
sayings, exclamations, etc.
Upon my word! 我敢担保!
Well begun is half done.
Kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
毁掉财路; 杀鸡取卵
9.3 Use of Idioms
9.3.1 Stylistic Features
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Most idioms are informal in nature as they
are created by the working people in
various situations.
plain sailing (海员)一帆风顺
wash one’s dirty linen in public (家庭主妇)
家丑外扬
have all one’s eggs in one basket (农夫)孤
注一掷
hit below the belt (拳击手)卑劣;不正当手
段
9.3.1 Stylistic Features
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A proportion of idioms are neutral.
Many are colloquial and slangy.
A very small number are literary.
Idioms are rarely used in very formal styles
like legal language, business letter,
government’s documents, etc.
9.3.1 Stylistic Features
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One and the same idiom may differ in style
when used in different meanings.
screw up
Going to the dentist never seems to bother
my wife, but I get terribly screwed up at
the mere thought. (make …nervous, tense)
informal
9.3.1 Stylistic Features
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We should never have let the arrangements
to Smithers. He screwed the whole thing
up from start to finish. (mess up, mishandle)
slang
9.3.1 Stylistic Features
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With an impatient exclamation Peter
screwed up the second draft of his letter to
the bank and threw it into the wastepaper
basket. (make into a tight ball in the hands)
neutral
9.3.1 Stylistic Features
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Some idioms are only confined to certain
varieties.
beat sb hollow (BrE) 彻底打败
chilled to the marrow (BrE) 刺骨的冷
talk a blue streak (AmE) 滔滔不绝
on your own hook (AmE) 独立自主
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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1. Phonetic manipulation
(1) Alliteration
chop and change (keep changing one‘s
opinion) 反复无常
toss and turn (keep turning from side to
side) 碾转翻覆
neither fish, flesh, nor fowl (difficult to
classify) 不伦不类
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(2) Rhyme
toil and moil (work hard and long; strive
laboriously) 辛辛苦苦
by hook and by crook (by all means good
and foul) 不择手段
There ‘s many a slip between the cup and
the lip. 茶到嘴边还有失。
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(3) Reiteration (duplication of synonyms)
pick and choose (select with much care or
in a fussy way) 挑挑拣拣
odds and ends (remnants or things of little
value) 零零碎碎
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(4) Repetition
out and out 地地道道
all in all 总而言之
word for word 逐字逐句
shoulder to shoulder 肩并肩
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(5) Juxtaposition (of antonyms)
move heaven and earth (do anything
possible) 上天入地
back and forth 来来往往
hit or miss 中也好不中也罢
from start to finish 自始至终
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(6) Simile
as graceful as a swan 美如天鹅
like a rat in a hole 如瓮中之鳖
(7) Metaphor
black sheep 败家子
flat tire 扫兴的人
fall from grace 堕落
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(8) Metonymy
in the cradle 孩提时代
live by one‘s pen 靠写作为生
(9) Synecdoche
fall into good hands 落入好人之手
two heads are better than one 人多智广
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(10) Personification
Failure is the mother of success.
Actions speak louder than words.
行动胜于雄辩。
9.3.2 Rhetorical Features
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(11) Euphemism
sleep around 乱搞男女关系
powder one's nose
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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In actual use, particularly in mass media,
popular press and in literary creation,
idioms are often modified or reconstructed
to achieve novelty or attract readers.
The result is variations of idioms.
The reconstruction is achieved by addition,
deletion, replacement, position-shifting,
dismembering.
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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1. Replacement
(1) Verb
make [cut] a figure露头角
make [pull off] a great coup
一鸣惊人
(2) Noun
down in the bushes [mouth]垂头丧气
a drop in the ocean [bucket] 沧海一粟
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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(3) Adjectives
in good [high, fine, full] feather
兴高采烈; 身强力壮
on a large [big, vast] scale 大规模
(4) Adverb or preposition
drop in [over, by]偶然来访
give a handle for [to] 给人以把柄
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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(5) Article, pronoun, numeral
flea in one‘s [the] ear刺耳的话
lay a [one‘s] course制订计划
talk thirteen [nineteen] to the dozen
喋喋不休
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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2. Addition or deletion
behind [the] bars坐牢,身陷囫囵
[for] all night
thank one‘s [lucky] stars 谢天谢地
from [the bottom of] one‘s heart 衷心地
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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3. Position-shifting
day and night = night and day 夜以继日
pin back sb's ears = pin sb's ears back
do sb a favour = do a favour for sb
fortune‘s wheel = wheel of fortune
人生变迁
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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4. Shortening
velvet paws = Velvet paws hide sharp
claws. 口蜜腹剑
Jack of all trades = Jack of all trades and
master of none.
万事通;万京油;杂而不精的人
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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5. Dismembering
“The leopard! But he did change them, Dinny.”
“He did not, Auntie; he had no spots to
change.”
“本性不改的东西! 可是,迪尼,他竟然变了.”
“他没变,姑妈!他没有什么要改变的.”
The leopard never changes his spots.
江山易改,本性难移。
9.3.3 Variations of Idioms
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"Generally speaking, he is a misfit, a round
peg in the squarest of holes."
总的说来，他是不称职的，是工作安排最不
恰当的一个。
a square peg in a round hole方枘圆凿
END