Chapter 9 English Idioms
9.1 Characteristics of idioms 1) Semantic unity 2) Structural stability
9.2 Classification of idioms 9.3 Use of idioms
1) Stylistic features 2) Rhetorical features 3) Variations of idioms
Idioms
Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements. fly+off+the+handle≠ fly off the handle
Become excessively angry
Idioms
Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements. put+up+with≠ put up with
tolerate
Idioms
In a broad sense, idioms may include Colloquialisms Catchphrases Slang expressions Proverbs …
9.1 Characteristics of idioms till the cows come home
adv. forever Semantic unity: the various words that
make up the idiom have lost their individual identity; the part of speech of each word is no longer important, and the idiom functions as one word.
9.1 Characteristics of idioms How do you do? Form of greeting≠ In what way do you do things? Semantic unity: is also reflected in the
illogical relationship between the literal meaning of each word and the meaning of the idiom.
9.1 Characteristics of idioms
in a brown study (= deep in thought) ≠in a (red, green, white, …) study ≠in a brown (room, den, hall, studio, cell,
…) Structural stability: the structure of an
idiom is to a large extent unchangeable.
9.1 Characteristics of idioms
by twos and threes ≠by threes and twos
tit for tat ≠tat for tit Structural stability: the word order
can not be inverted or changed.
9.1 Characteristics of idioms
Out of the question ≠out of question in question ≠in the question Structural stability: the constituents of
an idiom can not be deleted or added to.
9.1 Characteristics of idioms
diamond cut diamond as sure as eggs is eggs
Structural stability: many idioms are grammatically unanalysable.
Idiomaticity scale
true idioms Semi- idioms Regularcombinations
9.2 Classification of idioms
Idioms nominal in nature Idioms adjectival in nature Idioms verbal in nature Idioms adverbial in nature Sentence idioms
9.3 Use of idioms
1. stylistic features Coloquialisms Slang Literary expressions
In deep water
Having lost her passport, she is now in deep water.
in trouble or difficulty
tide over
Will you lend me some money to tide me over until I get my pay cheque?
help sb through (a difficult period) by providing what he needs
Take the helm
=be at the helm at the head of an organization, etc; in
control
kill two birds with one stone achieve two aims with a single action or s
imultaneously
a bull in a china shop
person who is rough and clumsy when skill and care are needed
put all one's eggs in/into one basket risk everything one has on the success of
one plan, eg by putting all one's money into one business
new brooms sweep clean
a person newly appointed to a responsible position (starts to change and improve things energetically, in a way that is sometimes resented by others)
Wash one’s dirty linen in public
discuss one's personal (esp unpleasant) affairs or quarrels in public
Keep the pot boiling
(a) keep sth (eg a children‘s game) moving at a fast pace
(b) keep interest in sth alive
boil down boil (sth) down =reduce or be reduced by boilin
g boil sth down (to sth) =(infml 口 ) summarize st
h; condense sth: Could you boil that article down to 400 words?
boil down to sth= (be able to) be summarized as sth: The issue really boils down to a clash between left and right.
jump at the bait
be cheated
a fish out of water
=person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he is in unfamiliar surroundings
With my working-class background I feel like a fish out of water among these high-society people.
hit below the belt
(fight) unfairly
play fair
=play or act fairly, following rules or accepted standards
Come on, you‘re not playing fair.
bring around I'll try to bring him around to your views.
If you bring someone around, you cause them to change their opinion about something so that they agree with you.
I'd passed out and he'd brought me round. If you bring someone around when they are
unconscious, you make them become conscious again.
bring home the bacon
(infml 口 ) achieve sth successfully
9.3 Use of idioms 2. rhetorical
features Phonetic
manipulation Alliteration Rhyme
Lexical manipulation Reiteration Repetition Juxtaposition
Figures of speech Simile Metaphor Metonymy Synecdoche Personification euphemism
9.3 Use of idioms
3. variations of idioms replacement Addition or deletion Position-shifting Shortening Dismembering
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