Chapter_6_English_Idioms

Chapter 6

English Idioms

Definition of Idioms An element of a language that possesses a unique way ofexpression based on its time-honored use. A fixed group of words or a single word, or even a sentence, with a special meaning that cannot be guessed from its structure. An English idiom is a group of words with a special meaning different from the meaning of its constituent words. A combination of two or more words which are usually structurally fixed and semantically opaque, and function as a single unit of meaning. Example: to spill the beans – to tell something that is secret

Significance of Studying English Idioms An essential part of the general vocabulary– informal & formal; speaking & writing

The correct use of idiomatic English must be one of the main aims for nonnative learners, because learning and using idioms is the best way to master the language.

Features of English Idioms English idioms can be very short or rather long– an Indian summer: the warmer weather in late autumn (North America) – take/catch forty winks: have a short nap – to be all in: to be exhausted – All good things come to an end. – to be like a bear with a sore head in a very bad mood

– to cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth to plan one’s aims and activities in line with one’s recourses and circumstances

English idioms take different structures.A: Irregular in structure & clear in meaning – I am good friends with him. – Diamond cut diamond. – The devil take the hindmost. B: Regular in structure & not clear in meaning – To have a bee in one’s bonnet / head. To have a strange fixed idea about sth.

C: Irregular in both structure and meaning – (To do) through thick and thin Through both good and bad times / in spite of all the difficulties

The idioms which cannot be changed at all are called fixed idioms.– Strictly fixed: A stitch in time saves nine.– if a job needs doing it is better to do it now, because it will only get worse, like a hole in clothes that requires stitching.

– Partially fixed: To come to a bad / nasty / sticky / no good / untimely end To take / have / enjoy / catch forty winks

An English idiom has a special meaning.– To rain cats and dogs rain very hard

English idioms are not only used as colloquial expressions but can also found in formal situations, poetry or fiction, or in slangs. Many idioms can be used in any situation.

Some idioms consist of obsolete words.– for the sake of: for the good or advantage of – hither and thither: in all directions – hue and cry: angry protests about something, usually from a group of people – kith and kin: friends and relations – to and fro: backwards and forwards – to be hoist with one’s own petard: made to suffer some evil plan with which one had intended to harm others – to learn by rote: to learn by heart – with might and main: with all the

force

English idioms represent a semantic unit, though they contain a group of words.– make up one’s mind = decide – to bring up = to educate – to go on = to continue – to look down on = to despise – to look forward to = to expect – to look into = to investigate – to pay a visit = to visit

English idioms are usually made of commonly-used words. They are vivid in usage, brief in structure and profound in meaning.– one in a blue moon once in a very long time; very rarely; almost never

– to come true to happen just as one wished, expected, dreamt, etc.

– to cry for the moon to desire strongly sth. that cannot be gained

– to fly high to be ambitious

– to put the cart before the horse to do things in the wrong order

English idioms are often created on the basis of alliteration, rhyme, euphony and repetition– Alliteration (头韵 头韵) 头韵 black and blue; first and foremost; part and parcel; time and tide wait for no man; to buy in bulk; with might and main;

– Rhyme (押韵 押韵) 押韵 dine and wine; here and there; out and about; rough and tough; wear and tear

– Repetition again and again; by and by; little by little; out and out; over and over (again); through and through

– Euphonic (悦耳 悦耳) 悦耳 First come, first served; to be up and doing

English Idioms in Different Styles colloquial neutral formal slangy

Colloquial in style:– to serve someone right to be a good punishment for someone

– no buts about it no doubt about it

– to fall out to quarrel

– to want some doing to need a great deal of effort

– in good with enjoying the favor or good opinion of

Idioms used in any situation:– to pass over to fail to deal with; to try not to mention something

– to lay (sth.) up to collect and store for future use

– to go along to agree with

– to hold up to delay

– to make short work of to finish quickly and easily

Idioms used in formal situations:– prior to: before – previous to: before – to give countenance to sth.: to support – with the result that: so that – as a result of: because of – be bereft of: completely without – be possessed of: in a state of having

Idioms used as slang:– to put the screw on someone to force someone to do as one wishes

– to push off (used esp. in giving an order) to go away

– to cut and run to escape by running

– to butter up to flatter someone

– to high on the hog well and richly