English Morphology and Lexicology Shaoguangqinggmail com www windofspring

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Chapter 9 English Idioms o 9. 1 Characteristics of idioms n n o o 1) Semantic unity 2) Structural stability 9. 2 Classification of idioms 9. 3 Use of idioms n n n 1) Stylistic features 2) Rhetorical features 3) Variations of idioms

Idioms o Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements. n fly+off+the+handle≠ fly off the handle o Become excessively angry

Idioms o Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements. n put+up+with≠ put up with o tolerate

Idioms o In a broad sense, idioms may include n n n Colloquialisms Catchphrases Slang expressions Proverbs …

9. 1 Characteristics of idioms o o 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 o o o How do you do? Form of greeting≠ In what way do you do things? o o 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 o in a brown study (= deep in thought) n n o ≠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 o o o 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 o o o 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 o o o diamond cut diamond as sure as eggs is eggs Structural stability: many idioms are grammatically unanalysable.

Idiomaticity scale true idioms Semi- idioms Regular combinations

9. 2 Classification of idioms o o o Idioms nominal in nature Idioms adjectival in nature Idioms verbal in nature Idioms adverbial in nature Sentence idioms

9. 3 Use of idioms o 1. stylistic features n n n Coloquialisms Slang Literary expressions

In deep water o o Having lost her passport, she is now in deep water. in trouble or difficulty

tide over o o 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 o o =be at the helm at the head of an organization, etc; in control

kill two birds with one stone o achieve two aims with a single action or simultaneously

a bull in a china shop o person who is rough and clumsy when skill and care needed

put all one's eggs in/into one basket o risk everything one has on the success of one plan, eg by putting all one's money into one business

new brooms sweep clean o 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 o discuss one's personal (esp unpleasant) affairs or quarrels in public

Keep the pot boiling o o (a) keep sth (eg a children‘s game) moving at a fast pace (b) keep interest in sth alive

boil down o o o boil (sth) down =reduce or be reduced by boiling boil sth down (to sth) =(infml 口) summarize sth; 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 o be cheated

a fish out of water o o =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 o (fight) unfairly

play fair o o =play or act fairly, following rules or accepted standards Come on, you‘re not playing fair.

bring around o I'll try to bring him around to your views. n o 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. n If you bring someone around when they are unconscious, you make them become conscious again.

bring home the bacon o (infml 口) achieve sth successfully

9. 3 Use of idioms o 2. rhetorical features n n Phonetic manipulation o Alliteration o Rhyme Lexical manipulation o Reiteration o Repetition o Juxtaposition n Figures of speech o Simile o Metaphor o Metonymy o Synecdoche o Personification o euphemism

9. 3 Use of idioms o 3. variations of idioms n n n replacement Addition or deletion Position-shifting Shortening Dismembering