Content
1. Introduction
а) The aim of research work
b) History of the development of phraseology
c) The hypothesis
2. Main body
a) The definition of the term “idiom”
b) The origin of the word “idiom”
c) The Structure of Idioms
d) Idioms groups
3. Conclusion
4. Used literature
1. Introduction
I’ll start by saying that I got acquainted with idioms last year. I was greatly surprised when I learnt that idioms can’t be translated word by word, because their meanings depend on the meaning of the whole expression.
More over idioms are widely used in the oral speech, in the magazines’ articles, dialogues adding to the language bright and colorful shades of meaning. Obviously without knowing the meaning of the idiom you won’t be able to get the essence of the joke, because as a rule every joke is based on the variety of their meanings.
The English language is full of idioms (over 15,000). Native speakers of English use idioms all the time, often without realizing that they are doing so. This means that communication with native speakers of English can be quite a confusing experience.
We use idioms to express something that other words do not express as clearly or as cleverly. We often use an image or symbol to describe something as clearly as possible and thus make our point as effectively as possible. For example, "in a nutshell" suggests the idea of having all the information contained within very few words. Idioms tend to be informal and are best used in spoken rather than written English.
The field for my research is the idiomatic similes. To my mind they are widely used in all spheres of our life and if you know their translation exactly you will use them just in the right place and time.
The aim of research work is to learn more about the world of the English idioms and attract my classmates’ attention to them, proving that using idioms in our speech makes it brighter and more intelligent.
Phraseology is the study of set or fixed expressions, such as idioms, phrasal verbs, and other types of multi-word lexical units (often collectively referred to as phrasemes), in which the component parts of the expression take on a meaning more specific than or otherwise not predictable from the sum of their meanings when used independently.
The study of phraseological figurativeness is one of the main and perspective aspects of modern phraseology development. World vision through the phraseological images is specific for each nationality and can be observed as one of characteristics of language system specificity. In this case the great interest is presented with comparative phraseologisms as one of the more efficient means of figurativeness and expressiveness.
“The figurativeness as real peculiarity of various levels’ language units is manifested in their ability to call in our consciousness visual images, bright pictures on the basis of which we accept objectively real and definitely logical content of these units…”.
By phraseological figurativeness we mean “combined vision of two pictures” out of which the third one, new, appears absorbing all the necessary significant features of the previous ones. In other words, we may say about the image as ‘the form of new idea’s embodiment.
As the result of combinability of these features new structures are formed in our consciousness, so called ‘concepts’. The concept is “mental representation which determines the way things associate with each other and how they refer to definite categories… ”. The main role which concepts play in our thinking is categorization; it is the ability to group all the objects possessing definite similarities into corresponding classes.
No doubt, phraseologisms bear the “pictorial” character, among which we mark out the following types: “pictures”, concept-schemes, concept-frames and concept-sceneries.
1.2 History of the development of phraseology
Phraseology is a scholarly approach to a language which developed in the twentieth century. It took its start when Charles Bally's notion of locutions
phraseologiques entered Russian lexicology and lexicography in the 1930s and 1940s and was subsequently developed in the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries. From the late 1960s it established itself in (East) German linguistics but was also sporadically approached in English linguistics. The earliest English adaptations of phraseology are by Weinreich (1969) within the approach of transformational grammar, Arnold (1973), and Lipka (1992 [1974]). In Great Britain as well as other Western European countries, phraseology has steadily been developed over the last twenty years. The activities of the European Society of Phraseology (EUROPHRAS) and the European Association for Lexicography (EURALEX) with their regular conventions and publications attest to the prolific European interest in phraseology. Bibliographies of recent studies on English and general phraseology are included in Welte (1990) and specially collected in Cowie & Howarth (1996) whose bibliography is reproduced and continued on the internet and provides a rich source of the most recent publications in the field.
The hypothesis is that by using idioms you can distinguish a native speaker from the advanced learner and the beginner in studying the English language.
The methods of research used:
analysis
comparison
questionnair
2. Main part
The definition of the term “idiom”
An idiom is a set expression, the meaning of which is different from the literal meanings of its components. It refers to a figurative meaning that is known only through common use. Idioms present a great variety of structures and combinations that are mostly unchangeable and often not logical and may not follow basic rules of grammar.
The Webster dictionary gives following definition: Idiom is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent element as kick the bucket, hang one's head etc., or from the general grammatical rules of language, as the table round for the round table, and which is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of English Idioms gives us definition of “idiom”. The word ‘idiom’ is used to describe the ‘special phrases’ that are an essential part of a language. Idioms may be ‘special’ in different ways: for example, the expression to kick the bucket seems to follow the normal rules of grammar, although we cannot say ‘kick a bucket’ or ‘kick the buckets’ , but it is impossible to guess that it means ‘to die’. Phrases like all right, on second thoughts, and same here, which are used in everyday English, and especially in spoken English, are ‘special’ because they are fixed units of language that clearly do not follow the normal rules of grammar.
Another formulation of “idiom (Dubrovin M., 'Russian-English Idioms) is set phraseological units which meaning does not result from the meaning of its components.
The definition by Dean Curry is “the assigning of a new meaning to a group of words which already have their own meaning”. Idioms are informal in nature and although they appear in literature, they are not necessary considered to be “literary”. They are often colloquial, often slang, and through overuse can become cliches. Idioms may be adjectival, adverbial, verbal, or nominal. They also may take the form of traditional saying and proverbs.
The origin of the word “idiom”
In fact, the word idiom comes from the Greek root idio, meaning a unique signature. Thus, each language contains expressions that make no sense when translated literally into another tongue.
Some idioms of the "worldwide English" have first been seen in the works of writers like Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, Lewis Carroll or even in the paperbacks of contemporary novelists. An example of Shakespearian quotation can be found in the following sentence:"As a social worker, you certainly see the seamy side of life." Biblical references are also the source of many idioms. Sports terms, technical terms,
legal terms, military slang and even nautical expressions have found their way to the everyday use of English language.
Many idioms are similar to
expressions in other languages and can be easy for a learner to
understand. Other idioms come from older phrases which have changed
over time.
To hold one's
horses means to stop and wait
patiently for someone or something. It comes from a time when
people rode horses and would have to hold their horses while
waiting for someone or something.
"Hold your horses," I said
when my friend started to leave the store.
Other idioms come from such things as sports that are common in the
United Kingdom or the United States and may require some special
cultural knowledge to easily understand
them.
To cover all of one's
bases means to thoroughly prepare
for or deal with a situation. It comes from the American game of
baseball where you must cover or protect the
bases.
I tried to cover all of my
bases when I went to the job
interview.
What for do we use idioms?
-
For emphasis, e.g. The singer’s second album sank like a stone, [failed completely]
-
To agree with a previous speaker, e.g.
A: Did you notice how Lisa started listening when you said her name?
B: Yes, that certainly made her prick her ears up. [start listening carefully]
-
To comment on people, e.g. Did you hear Tom has been invited for dinner with the prime minister? He’s certainly gone up in the world! [gained a better social position - or more money - than before]
-
To comment on a situation, e.g. The new finance minister wants to knock the economy into shape, [take action to get something into a good condition]
-
To make an anecdote more interesting, e.g. It was just one disaster after another today, a sort of domino effect, [when something, usually bad, happens and causes a series of other things to happen]
-
To catch the reader’s eye. Idioms - particularly those with strong images - are often used in headlines, advertising slogans and the names of small businesses. The writer may play with the idiom or make a pun (a joke involving a play on words) in order to create a special effect, e.g. a debt of dishonour instead of the usual debt of honour, [a debt that you owe someone for moral rather than financial reasons]
-
To indicate membership of a particular group, e.g. surfers drop in on someone, meaning to get on a wave another surfer is already on.
We will see and hear idioms in all sorts of speaking and writing. They are particularly common in everyday conversation and in popular journalism. For example, they are often found in magazine horoscopes, e.g. You’ll spend much of this week licking your wounds [trying to recover from a bad experience], or in problem pages, e.g. Do you think that my relationship has run its course? [come to a natural end] However, idioms are also used in more formal contexts, such as lectures, academic essays and business reports, e.g. It is hoped the regulations will open the door to better management, [let something new start].
Common metaphors in idioms. What is a metaphor?
Metaphors describe a person, object or situation by comparing it to something else with similar characteristics. They are often used in poetry and literature. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for example, Romeo says ‘Juliet is my sun’, suggesting that she is the most important force in his life, bringing him light and warmth.
Many idioms are based on metaphors. However, idioms are expressions that are used so frequently and are so fixed in the language that people often do not think about the metaphors behind them. The metaphors used in idioms are therefore much less original and thought-provoking than those used in literary contexts. People say, for example, ‘The new president was / took centre stage at the meeting’ [was the most important or noticeable thing or person], without thinking of the original image of a theatre.
Why idioms and metaphors are so important?
Firstly, they are important because they are very common. It is impossible to speak, read, or listen to English without meeting idiomatic language.
The second reason is that very often the metaphorical use of a word is more common today than its literal use. For example, we know that farmers plough their field, but we can plough through a long novel or report; we can plough on with our work; we can plough money into a business; profits can be ploughed back into a company; a lorry can plough into a row of parked cars. Using plough in its literal farming meaning is now much rarer than all its other non-literal uses.
Types of idioms
Binominals
Binomials are a type of idiom in which two words are joined by a conjunction (linking word), usually and. The order of the two words is fixed. For example, we always say black and white, NOT white and black: Managing climate change isn't a black and white issue, [separate and clear]
The words can be:
-
synonyms (words which mean the same): Sara’s work is always very neat and tidy;
-
opposites: If you go for cheaper speakers, the sound quality may be a bit hit and miss, [sometimes good, sometimes had (informal)];
-
the same word: They finished the race neck and neck, [equal];
-
rhyming: Tables in the canteen take a lot of wear and tear, [damage through everyday use];
-
alliterative: After the match the players’ legs were black and blue, [very bruised];
-
joined by words other than and: The traffic was bumper to bumper all the way to the coast, [very heavy] Little by little, Vera gained the horse’s confidence, [gradually] The house must be worth a quarter of a million, give or take a few thousand, [plus or minus (informal)];
Trinomials are a similar type of idiom, in which three words are joined, e.g. I’ve looked here, there and everywhere for my glasses but can’t find them, [everywhere]
Euphemisms
Euphemisms are a type of idiom used to avoid saying words which may offend or be considered unpleasant. They are useful to learn, as they will help to communicate using language which is appropriate for the situation.
Euphemisms are used:
-
To talk about subjects which may upset or offend, such as death.
It was obvious he was not long for this world, but he never lost his sense of humour. [going to die soon]
To avoid using direct words for body functions
I’m just going to spend a penny. [use the toilet (UK public toilets used to charge a penny.)]
-
For humorous effect when telling anecdotes.
My boss was effing and blinding because he had lost a confidential report. [swearing (some common English swear words begin with f or b) (informal)]
-
By the media or political instructions to tone down unpleasant situations.
Many soldiers have made a supreme / ultimate sacrifice for their country. [died]
He died in a friendly fire accident. [killed by his own side, not by the enemy]
|
Euphemism |
Example |
Meaning |
|
Four-letter words |
The play may offend some people, as it’s full of four-letter words. |
Swear words (many of these have four letters in English) |
|
Pardon my French |
He’s such a bloody idiot, pardon my French. |
Apologies for swearing (humorous) |
|
Powder my nose |
I’m just going to powder my nose. |
Use the toilet
|
|
Answer the call of nature |
Go behind a tree if you need to answer the call of nature. |
Urinate (more direct) |
|
Play the field |
He said he’s too young to stop playing the field and settle down. |
Having many romantic relationships without committing to one partner |
|
My number was up |
I saw the car heading straight for me and I thought my number was up. |
I was about to die (informal)
|
|
Breathe my last |
‘This is where I was born and where I will breathe my last’, said the old woman. |
Die |
|
Be six feet under |
We’ll be at six feet under by the time you finish writing your novel! |
Be dead (informal) |
Comparing and analyzing English and Russian idioms
There is a plenty of Russian phraseologisms that don’t have any analogs in the English language. For example, «повесить нос», «один как перст», «без царя в голове», «душа в пятки ушла», «губа не дура», «на лбу написано», «а Васька слушает да ест», «слона-то я и не приметил», «рыльце в пуху», «мартышкин труд», «медвежья услуга».
While comparing and analyzing English and Russian idioms, I noticed a similarity in their structure, figure of speech and style:
|
Russian idiom |
English idiom |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Играть с огнем |
to play with fire |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
сжигать мосты |
to burn bridges |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
нет дыма без огня |
there is no smoke without fire |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
трудолюбивый Бұл материал сайт қолданушысы жариялаған. Материалдың ішінде жазылған барлық ақпаратқа жауапкершілікті жариялаған қолданушы жауап береді. Ұстаз тілегі тек ақпаратты таратуға қолдау көрсетеді. Егер материал сіздің авторлық құқығыңызды бұзған болса немесе басқа да себептермен сайттан өшіру керек деп ойласаңыз осында жазыңыз
Content
1.
Introduction
а) The aim of research
work
b) History of the development of
phraseology
c) The
hypothesis
2. Main
body a) The definition of the term
“idiom”
b) The origin of the word
“idiom”
c) The Structure of
Idioms d) Idioms
groups
3.
Conclusion
4. Used
literature
1.
Introduction
I’ll start by saying that I
got acquainted with idioms last year. I was greatly surprised when
I learnt that idioms can’t be translated word by word, because
their meanings depend on the meaning of the whole
expression.
More over idioms are widely
used in the oral speech, in the magazines’ articles, dialogues
adding to the language bright and colorful shades of meaning.
Obviously without knowing the meaning of the idiom you won’t be
able to get the essence of the joke, because as a rule every joke
is based on the variety of their meanings.
The English language is full
of idioms (over 15,000). Native speakers of English use idioms all
the time, often without realizing that they are doing so. This
means that communication with native speakers of English can be
quite a confusing experience.
We use idioms to express
something that other words do not express as clearly or as
cleverly. We often use an image or symbol to describe something as
clearly as possible and thus make our point as effectively as
possible. For example, "in a
nutshell" suggests the idea of having
all the information contained within very few words. Idioms tend to
be informal and are best used in spoken rather than written
English.
The field for my
research is the idiomatic similes. To
my mind they are widely used in all spheres of our life and if you
know their translation exactly you will use them just in the right
place and time.
The aim of research
work is to learn more about the
world of the English idioms and attract my classmates’ attention to
them, proving that using idioms in our speech makes it brighter and
more intelligent.
Phraseology is the study of set or fixed
expressions, such
as idioms, phrasal
verbs, and other types of
multi-word lexical
units (often collectively referred to
as phrasemes), in which the component parts of the
expression take on a meaning more specific than or otherwise not
predictable from the sum of their meanings when used
independently. The study of phraseological
figurativeness is one of the main and perspective aspects of modern
phraseology development. World vision through the phraseological
images is specific for each nationality and can be observed as one
of characteristics of language system specificity. In this
case the great interest is presented with comparative
phraseologisms as one of the more efficient means
of figurativeness and
expressiveness. “The figurativeness
as real peculiarity of various levels’ language units is manifested
in their ability to call in our consciousness visual images,
bright pictures on the basis of which we accept objectively real
and definitely logical content of these
units…”. By phraseological
figurativeness we mean “combined vision of two pictures” out of
which the third one, new, appears absorbing all the necessary
significant features of the previous ones. In other words, we may
say about the image as ‘the form of new idea’s
embodiment.
As the result of combinability
of these features new structures are formed in our consciousness,
so called ‘concepts’. The concept is “mental representation which
determines the way things associate with each other and how they
refer to definite categories… ”. The main role which concepts play
in our thinking is categorization; it is the ability to group all
the objects possessing definite similarities into corresponding
classes.
No doubt, phraseologisms bear
the “pictorial” character, among which we mark out the following
types: “pictures”, concept-schemes, concept-frames and
concept-sceneries.
1.2
History of the development of
phraseology Phraseology is a scholarly approach to a
language which developed in the twentieth century. It took its
start when Charles
Bally's notion
of locutions phraseologiques entered
Russian lexicology
and
lexicography
in the 1930s and 1940s and was subsequently
developed in the former Soviet Union and other Eastern European
countries. From the late 1960s it established itself in (East)
German linguistics but was also sporadically approached in English
linguistics. The earliest English adaptations of phraseology are by
Weinreich (1969) within the approach
of transformational
grammar, Arnold (1973), and Lipka (1992
[1974]). In Great Britain as well as other Western European
countries, phraseology has steadily been developed over the last
twenty years. The activities of the European Society of Phraseology
(EUROPHRAS) and the European Association for Lexicography (EURALEX)
with their regular conventions and publications attest to the
prolific European interest in phraseology. Bibliographies of recent
studies on English and general phraseology are included in Welte
(1990) and specially collected in Cowie & Howarth
(1996) whose bibliography is reproduced and continued on the
internet and provides a rich source of the most recent publications
in the field. The
hypothesis is that by using idioms you
can distinguish a native speaker from the advanced learner and the
beginner in studying the English language.
The methods of research
used:
analysis
comparison
questionnair
2. Main
part
The definition of the term
“idiom”
An idiom is a set expression,
the meaning of which is different from the literal meanings of its
components. It refers to a figurative meaning that is known only
through common use. Idioms present a great variety of structures
and combinations that are mostly unchangeable and often not logical
and may not follow basic rules of grammar.
The Webster dictionary gives
following definition: Idiom is an expression
whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its
constituent element as kick the bucket, hang one's head etc., or
from the general grammatical rules of language, as the table round
for the round table, and which is not a constituent of a larger
expression of like characteristics.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary of
English Idioms gives us definition of “idiom”. The word ‘idiom’ is
used to describe the ‘special phrases’ that are an essential part
of a language. Idioms may be ‘special’ in different ways: for
example, the expression to kick the
bucket seems to follow the normal
rules of grammar, although we cannot say ‘kick a bucket’ or ‘kick
the buckets’ , but it is impossible to guess that it means ‘to
die’. Phrases like all right, on second
thoughts, and
same
here, which are used in everyday
English, and especially in spoken English, are ‘special’ because
they are fixed units of language that clearly do not follow the
normal rules of grammar.
Another formulation of “idiom
(Dubrovin M., 'Russian-English Idioms) is set phraseological units
which meaning does not result from the meaning of its
components.
The definition by Dean Curry
is “the assigning of a new meaning to a group of words which
already have their own meaning”. Idioms are informal in nature and
although they appear in literature, they are not necessary
considered to be “literary”. They are often colloquial, often
slang, and through overuse can become cliches. Idioms may be
adjectival, adverbial, verbal, or nominal. They also may take the
form of traditional saying and proverbs.
The origin of the word
“idiom”
In fact, the
word idiom comes from the Greek
root idio, meaning a unique signature.
Thus, each language contains expressions that make no sense when
translated literally into another tongue.
Some idioms of the "worldwide
English" have first been seen in the works of writers like
Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, Lewis Carroll or even in the
paperbacks of contemporary novelists. An example of Shakespearian
quotation can be found in the following sentence:"As a social
worker, you certainly see the seamy side of life." Biblical
references are also the source of many idioms. Sports terms,
technical terms,
legal terms, military slang
and even nautical expressions have found their way to the everyday
use of English language. Many idioms are similar to
expressions in other languages and can be easy for a learner to
understand. Other idioms come from older phrases which have changed
over time.
What for do we use
idioms? For emphasis, e.g. The singer’s second album sank like a
stone, [failed completely] To agree with a previous
speaker, e.g.
A: Did you notice how Lisa started listening when you said
her name?
B: Yes, that certainly made her prick her ears
up. [start
listening carefully]
To comment on people, e.g. Did
you hear Tom has been invited for dinner with the prime minister?
He’s certainly gone up in the world! [gained a better social
position - or more money - than
before]
To comment on a situation,
e.g. The new finance minister wants to knock the economy into
shape, [take action to get something into a good
condition]
To make an anecdote more
interesting, e.g. It was just one disaster after another today, a
sort of domino effect, [when something, usually bad, happens and
causes a series of other things to
happen]
To catch the reader’s eye.
Idioms - particularly those with strong images - are often used in
headlines, advertising slogans and the names of small businesses.
The writer may play with the idiom or make a pun (a joke involving
a play on words) in order to create a special effect, e.g.
a debt of
dishonour instead of the usual debt of honour, [a debt that you owe
someone for moral rather than financial
reasons] To indicate membership of a particular group, e.g. surfers
drop in on someone, meaning to get on a wave another surfer is
already on.
We will see and hear idioms in all sorts of speaking and
writing. They are particularly common in everyday conversation and
in popular journalism. For example, they are often found in
magazine horoscopes, e.g. You’ll spend much of this week licking
your wounds [trying to recover from a bad experience], or in
problem pages, e.g. Do you think that my relationship has run its
course? [come to a natural end] However, idioms are also used in
more formal contexts, such as lectures, academic essays and
business reports, e.g. It is hoped the regulations will open the
door to better management, [let something new
start].
Common metaphors in idioms.
What is a metaphor?
Metaphors describe a person,
object or situation by comparing it to something else with similar
characteristics. They are often used in poetry and literature. In
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for example, Romeo says ‘Juliet is
my sun’, suggesting that she is the most important force in his
life, bringing him light and
warmth. Many idioms are based on
metaphors. However, idioms are expressions that are used so
frequently and are so fixed in the language that people often do
not think about the metaphors behind them. The metaphors used in
idioms are therefore much less original and thought-provoking than
those used in literary contexts. People say, for example, ‘The new
president was / took centre stage at the meeting’ [was the most
important or noticeable thing or person], without thinking of the
original image of a theatre. Why idioms and metaphors
are so important? Firstly, they are important
because they are very common. It is impossible to speak, read, or
listen to English without meeting idiomatic
language. The second reason is that very
often the metaphorical use of a word is more common today than its
literal use. For example, we know that farmers plough their field,
but we can plough through a long novel or report; we can plough on
with our work; we can plough money into a business; profits can be
ploughed back into a company; a lorry can plough into a row of
parked cars. Using plough in its literal farming meaning is now
much rarer than all its other non-literal
uses.
Types of
idioms
Binominals
Binomials are a type of idiom
in which two words are joined by a conjunction (linking word),
usually and.
The order of the two words is
fixed. For example, we always say black and white, NOT white and
black: Managing climate change isn't a black and
white issue, [separate and
clear]
The words can
be: synonyms (words which mean the
same): Sara’s work is always very neat and
tidy;
opposites: If you go for
cheaper speakers, the sound quality may be a bit hit and miss,
[sometimes good, sometimes had
(informal)]; the same word: They finished
the race neck and neck, [equal]; rhyming: Tables in the canteen
take a lot of wear and tear, [damage through everyday
use]; alliterative: After the match
the players’ legs were black and blue, [very
bruised];
joined by words other
than and:
The traffic was bumper to
bumper all the way to the coast, [very heavy] Little by little,
Vera gained the horse’s confidence, [gradually] The house must be
worth a quarter of a million, give or take a few thousand, [plus or
minus (informal)];
Trinomials are a similar type
of idiom, in which three words are joined, e.g. I’ve looked here,
there and everywhere for my glasses but can’t find them,
[everywhere]
Euphemisms Euphemisms are a type of idiom
used to avoid saying words which may offend or be considered
unpleasant. They are useful to learn, as they will help to
communicate using language which is appropriate for the
situation. Euphemisms are
used: To talk about subjects which
may upset or offend, such as death.
It was obvious he was not long
for this world, but he never lost his sense of humour. [going to
die soon] To avoid using direct words
for body functions
I’m just going to spend a
penny. [use the toilet (UK public toilets used to charge a
penny.)] For humorous effect when
telling anecdotes.
My boss was effing and
blinding because he had lost a confidential report. [swearing (some
common English swear words begin with f or b)
(informal)] By the media or political
instructions to tone down unpleasant
situations.
Many soldiers have made a
supreme / ultimate sacrifice for their country.
[died]
He died in a friendly fire
accident. [killed by his own side, not by the
enemy] Euphemism Example Meaning Four-letter
words The play may offend some
people, as it’s full of four-letter
words. Swear words (many of these
have four letters in
English) Pardon my
French He’s such a bloody idiot,
pardon my French. Apologies for swearing
(humorous) Powder my
nose I’m just going to powder my
nose. Use the
toilet
Answer the call of
nature Go behind a tree if you need
to answer the call of
nature. Urinate (more
direct) Play the
field He said he’s too young to stop
playing the field and settle
down. Having many romantic
relationships without committing to one
partner My number was
up I saw the car heading straight
for me and I thought my number was
up. I was about to die
(informal)
Breathe my
last ‘This is where I was
born and where I will breathe my last’, said the old
woman. Die Be six feet
under We’ll be at six feet under by
the time you finish writing your
novel! Be dead
(informal)
Comparing and analyzing
English and Russian idioms There is a plenty of Russian
phraseologisms that don’t have any analogs in the English language.
For example, «повесить нос»,
«один как перст», «без царя в голове», «душа в пятки ушла», «губа
не дура», «на лбу написано», «а Васька слушает да ест», «слона-то я
и не приметил», «рыльце в пуху», «мартышкин труд», «медвежья
услуга». While comparing and analyzing English and
Russian idioms, I noticed a similarity in their structure, figure
of speech and style: Russian
idiom English
idiom Играть
с огнем to play with
fire сжигать
мосты to burn
bridges нет дыма без огня there is no smoke without
fire трудолюбивый |













