Chapter 11 English Idioms

1. Definition

Idiom is aset expressionmade up of two or morewords; it functions as a unit of meaning whichcannot be predictedfrom its literal meaning of its component words. Idioms areconventionalway of saying things. They are words which do not always mean what they say.

1)They fired back at the blockhouse becausethey didn't want toshow the white feather.

2)Ronald wants to become a movie star, but hehas no real plan. He alwayshas his head in the clouds.

3)When her boyfriend calls, Megan will dropeverything to go and meet him; she will leaveat the drop of a hat.

4)I took my father’s car without asking forpermission. He’s angry at me. I’min hot water.

2. Characteristicsof idioms

2.1 Semantic unity

By semantic unity, we meanthat an idiom is aunit of meaningin function. That is, themember words of an idiom do not possess any lexical meaning outside theintegral meaning of the whole.

1)The jobwas new to him and for a few days he wasall at sea.

2)He wantedto tell her the secret but wisely decided tohold his tongue.

3)That olddog next door finallykicked the bucket.

4)Thepresident has to make so many official appearances that he seldom gets a chancetolet his hair downand enjoy life like ordinary people.

5)"My wife spent all afternoon yesterdaycooking a special dinner for our wedding anniversary. So she reallyflew off

the handlewhen I came home three hours late."

2.2 Structuralstability

Structural stabilityindicates that the structure of an idiom is verystable. It isgenerally not allowed to separate the idiom or to replace the member words atwill. Otherwise, it would destroy the sense as a whole.

1)When youconfess some flaw or problem you thought was specific only to you, many otherpeople will admit they’ve beenin the same boat.

2)Diamond

cut diamond, crook cut crook.

3)He'll be back againnext week asking for more money,sure as eggs is eggs.

4)l triedto attract his attention, but he wasin a brown study.

3.Classification of idioms

There arefourmain groups according to grammaticalfunctions.

3.1 Idioms verbal innature

Idioms verbal in natureusually take the verb as its core and play the role of predicate in a sentence.

1)Tommissed

the boatwhen he decided not to buy the house.

2)Hebeat

about the bushfor a half hour without coming to the point.

3)He workedhard every day as a lawyer and went to parties and dances every night; he wasburning

the candle at both ends.

4)Being out of work and having two youngchildren, they found it impossible tomake (both) ends meet.

More examples:

1)To bell the cat

2)To have an axe to grind

3)To tread on air

4)To cast pearls before swine

3.2 Idioms nominalin nature

1)TomSwift, his face rather pale from hisnarrow escape, leaped from hisbicycle, and stood regarding the automobile.

2)I waitedfor him fora dog’s age, but he didn’t come.

3)He'sgottenthe lion's shareof his mother's love.

4)Althoughheavy rains have been falling for several days previous, on Thursday and Fridaythe weather was all that could be desired in fact, it was real"King's

Weather."

5)Eachindividual will need to weigh thepros and consand make a decisionbased on their own needs.

6)He seemsnever to know what tiredness is, and he is really aneager beaver.

Moreexamples:

1)A laborof love

2)The saltof the earth

3)Jack ofall trades

4)A fly inthe ointment

5)An appleof discord

3.3 Idioms

adjectival in nature

1)When people are busy doing their Christmasshopping, they can sometimes be a littleonedge.

2)I expected him to be nervous before hisinterview but he wasas cool as a

cucumber.

More examples:

1)As stiffas a poker

2)Asslippery as an eel

3)As meekas a lamb

4)As pooras a church mouse

Idioms adverbial innature

1)We shouldserve the peopleheart and soul.

2)Our teamwon the gamein a breeze.

3)Youpromised to love methrough thick and thin.

4)He passed the examinationwith flying

colors.

5)The husband and wife were quarrelinghammer

and tongs.

6)The two women went at each othertoothand nail.

4. Sentence idioms

Sentence idioms are mainlyproverbs and sayings.Sayings and proverbs are used to give a message ofadviceor ofwarningor a wise generalcommenton a situation.

Proverbs and sayings have much in common with idioms, for example,their lexical components areconstant; their meaning istraditionaland they are introduced into the speechready-made.

In addition, proverbs often form the basis of idioms, for example:

1)The laststraw breaks the camel’s back.

2)Jack ofall trades, master of none.

3)Too manycooks spoil the broth.

“When I find out you are spending money on another woman, that'sthe

last straw! I want you out of my house right now and I never want to seeyou again.”

1)Extremesmeet.

2)Neveroffer to teach fish to swim.

3)Likeattracts like.

4)Soft firemakes sweet malt.

5)Every doghas its day.

6)Love me,love my dog.

7)Manproposes, God disposes.

8)He thattalks much errs much.

9)A smallleak will sink a great ship.

10)While thepriest climbs a post, the devil climbs ten.

11)Youcannot judge a tree by its bark.

12)Who keepscompany with the wolf will learn to howl.

13)When adog is drowning everyone offers him drink.

14)Theleopard cannot change its spots.

15)Youcannot clap with one hand.

16)When thefruit is scarcest, its taste is sweetest.

17)There isnothing worse than apathy.

18)Standers-bysee more than gamesters.

19)The potcalls the kettle black.

20)A hedgebetween keeps friendship green.

5. Application ofIdioms

Despite the fact that the general tendencies of present-day Englishare toward more idiomatic usage, idioms are generally felt to beinformaland some arecolloquialismsand slang, thereforeinappropriate for very formal setting.

Skill of memorizinga word

partisan

Hispart is a(n)partisan.