Idioms. Idiom quiz. 1. Improve after going through something A. As plain as day

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1 Idiom quiz 1. Improve after going through something A. As plain as day very difficult 2. Very difficult to understand B. Like pulling teeth 3. Very easy C. Turn the corner 4. Easy to see or understand D. As clear as mud 5. Extremely difficult E. As easy as pie/a piece of cake/like taking candy from a baby Idioms 1

2 Idioms General idea of idioms and non-linguistic perspective* vs. linguistic (technical) definition * form of expressiobn peculiar to a language, person or group of people (COD) > e.g. first person pronoun spelt with capital letter in English Idioms complex lexical item which is longer than a word form but shorter than a sentence, and which has a [unitary] meaning that cannot be derived from a knowledge of its component parts (Gramley & Patzold 1992: 71) lexical complex which is semantically simplex (Cruse 1986: 37) red herring 2

3 Idioms Not euqally difficult to decode, they show different degrees of semantic opacity give somebody the green light red herring Idioms Many idioms have two meanings: literal and idiomatic How to recognize idioms? Knowledge of world Context clues Common sense 3

4 Idioms Many idioms [e.g. red tape] have two meanings: literal and idiomatic How to recognize idioms? Knowledge of world Context clues Common sense Idioms and their origins Many derive from more or less recognizable metaphors Task: what do they mean and where do they come from? white elephant kick the bucket red herring give someone a piece of one's mind 4

Idioms and context clues Lexical repetition around the idiom: a state of affairs is described the sender refers to it with an idiom it is picked up again by a

5 Idioms and context clues Lexical repetition around the idiom: a state of affairs is described the sender refers to it with an idiom it is picked up again by a non-idiomatic, literal lexical item Cf. The detectives were following a red herring, but they're on the right track now Can you guess? Wear (have) one's heart on one's sleeve 5

6 Can you guess? wear one's heart on one's sleeve Cf. John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels. Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings. I showed my feelings and wore my heart on my sleeve. Can you guess? wear one's heart on one's sleeve Cf. John always has his heart on his sleeve so that everyone knows how he feels. Because she wears her heart on her sleeve, it's easy to hurt her feelings. I showed my feelings and wore my heart on my sleeve. >>> make one s feelings apparent; to display one's feelings openly and habitually, rather than keep them private 6

7 Idiom classification Several approaches According to the image they evoke (e.g. body idioms: to find your feet = to become familiar with a new place or situation) According to the concept they express (e.g. danger: on the loose = free to move about and dangerous) Cf. In the know Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue Out of the blue To black out In the pink To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know 7

8 Color idioms! To see red > to become very angry In the red To feel blue Out of the blue To black out In the pink To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know Color idioms! To see red In the red > in debt, having net losses To feel blue Out of the blue To black out In the pink To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know 8

Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue > to feel sad or unwell, depressed Out of the blue To black out In the pink To give someone the green light Cf.

9 Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue > to feel sad or unwell, depressed Out of the blue To black out In the pink To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue Out of the blue > unexpectedly To black out In the pink To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know 9

Unit 36 In the know To see red In the red To feel blue Out of

10 Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue Out of the blue To black out > to become unconscious suddenly, but for a short period of time In the pink To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue Out of the blue To black out In the pink > in very good health/condition To give someone the green light Cf. Unit 36 In the know 10

11 Color idioms! To see red In the red To feel blue Out of the blue To black out In the pink To give someone the green light > grant someone permission to proceed with some action or task Cf. Unit 36 In the know 11

12 Proverbs and commonplaces Free utterances or self-contained statements Can be equivalent to a complete sentence Are concerned with general rather than specific meanings 12

13 Commonplaces AKA truisms, platitudes an idea, expression, remark, etc., that is not new or interesting (Merriam Webster) E.g. If I am for it, I am for it. Nothing succeeds like success. Proverbs Short, traditional saying in general use; usually express some obvious truth or familiar experience A proverb is a short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or tells you something about life Means for understanding the culture of a country There are many proverbs in English. They reflect important typical values. Proverbs are a part of folklore, history and traditions. 13

Proverbs: what are their origins? Age-old English proverbs show traditions and history of the country, for example: Good wine needs no bush Proverbs: what are their origins?

14 Proverbs: what are their origins? Age-old English proverbs show traditions and history of the country, for example: Good wine needs no bush Proverbs: what are their origins? Age-old English proverbs show traditions and history of the country, for example: Good wine needs no bush >>> there's no need to advertise or boast about something of good quality as people will always discover its merits But how about the origins??? 14

Establishments like inns and pubs used to hang ivy and flowers to tell travelers

15 Proverbs: what are their origins? Good wine needs no bush >>> An item of good quality needs no advertisement. Establishments like inns and pubs used to hang ivy and flowers to tell travelers that wine was available inside. Proverbs: what are their origins? Proverbs borrowed from the Bible, for example: Forbidden fruit is the sweetest 15

16 Proverbs: what are their origins? Proverbs borrowed from the Bible, for example: Forbidden fruit is the sweetest >>> Forbidden things have more worthwhile short-term consequences;people are drawn to things that they are forbidden from doing or having A: "I know you're intrigued by Derek, but he's married! B: "But forbidden fruit is the sweetest!" Proverbs: what are their origins? Farmer world: It is raining cats and dogs 16

Proverbs: what are their origins? Farmer world: It is raining cats and dogs Houses had thatched roofs of thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath.

17 Proverbs: what are their origins? Farmer world: It is raining cats and dogs Houses had thatched roofs of thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs. There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence. Fonte: Proverbs: linguistic aspects Not completely frozen Tolerate variations (shortening/addition) Marked by specific expressions ( as they say ) Irregular syntax ( Like father, like son ) Anglo-Saxon vocabulary Present tense (deal with timeless meanings) Have no known author Show non-literal meaning E.g. Better late than never It takes two to tango 17

18 Proverbs Sound patterns/prosodic features rhyme alliteration assonance Structural repetition/parallelism Two part structure Proverbs Rhyme pattern: A friend in need A stitch in time Birds of a feather 18

19 Proverbs Rhyme pattern: A friend in need is a friend indeed A stitch in time saves nine Birds of a feather flock together 19

20 Contradictory proverbs! Look before you leap. He who hesitates is lost. If at first you don t succeed, try, try again. Don t beat your head against a stone wall. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Out of sight, out of mind. It s better to be safe than sorry. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Many hands make light work. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Proverbs: what about Italian? 1. A friend in need is a friend indeed 2. Better to live well than to live long 3. A barking dog never bites 4. Actions speak louder than words 5. A stitch in time saves nine 6. Better late than never 7. Do not look a gift horse in the mouth 8. Every rose has its thorns 9. One does not wash dirty linen in public 10.Out of mind out of sight 11.It takes two to tango 12.What never had never missed 13.Absence (distance) makes the heart grow fonder 14.Better safe than sorry 15.Too many cooks spoil the broth 16.When in Rome, do as the Romans do 20

21 Readings: Gramley, S., and Patzold K.-M. (1992). A Survey of Modern English. London: Routledge > Words in combination Leaney, C. (2005). In the know. Understanding and using idioms. Cambridge: CUP. > Introduction > Units 21

An Idiom a Day Will Help Keep the Boredom In Schooling Away #1. What are idioms?

An Idiom a Day Will Help Keep the Boredom In Schooling Away #1 What are idioms? Dictionary A- noun- form of expression peculiar to one language; dialect Dictionary B- noun- A form of expression whose understood