1、Chapter 10 English IdiomsI.Warming up What does this mean really?Hurry up What about this one?disgust someoneThese idioms are all about food.Can you explain what they really mean?ngoing bananas nIm going bananas over the noise in the apartment next door.They play their television loud enough for the
2、 whole building to hear.And they never turn it off until one oclock in the morning!n这个人抱怨说：“隔壁人家的闹声真快把我逼疯了。他们把电视机开得那末响，整个楼都听见了。而且，不到半夜一点他们从来不关电视机。”nselling like hot cakesnFake iPads selling like hot cakes in Beijingn热卖 nplaying gooseberrynOn,you two go by yourselves!You dont want me coming along pla
3、ying gooseberry.啊，你们俩还是单独去吧！你们不想我硬夹在你们中间吧。nI dont wish to play gooseberry.我不想当不识趣的人。n陪伴两个想单独在一起的人陪伴两个想单独在一起的人 Numbers upndressed up to the _(打扮得极为入时,衣着华丽)ntalking _ to the dozen(不停地说；唠唠叨叨)none in a _nplaying _ fiddle(居次位；当副手)nin the_ heaven(极乐世界)nines nineteen second seventh thousand Animal Crackers
4、nIts raining _ and dogs!nIve got a _ in my throat.我得了咽喉炎。nThose are just _tears.nHes taken the _ share.n 最大的份额最大的份额 nI can smell a _.感到不妙感到不妙 cats frogcrocodile lion srat II.Definition n An idiom is an expression,word,or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common
5、 use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.nIdioms are set phrases and short sentences made up of two or more words;it functions as a unit of meaning which cannot be predicted from the literal meaning of its component words.1.Sema
6、ntic unity 语义的整体性语义的整体性 Each idiom is a single semantic unity.The meaning of an idiom is not the total sum of the meaning of its constituents.till the cows come home:The idiom functions as one wordan adverb meaning“forever”.show the white featherfunctions as a verb meaning“to show fear”.III.Characte
7、ristics of idioms Other Examples:nTo stick your neck out is to say or do something that is bold and a bit dangerous.A similar idiom is go out on a limb.nTo break the ice is to be the first one to say or do something,with the expectation that others will then follow.A similar idiom is get the ball ro
8、lling.打破冷场；打破僵局,抛砖引玉nTo have a chip on ones shoulder is to describe a person who acts rudely or aggressively.The person seems always ready for a fight.nTo get long in the tooth means to get old.2.Structural stability 结构的固定性结构的固定性 The structure of an idiom usually remains unchangeable.In other words,
9、the constituent components of an idiom can not,generally speaking,be changed or replaced by other words.bury the hatchet 休战，和解休战，和解 *bury the ax in(*the)question out of(the)question Many idioms are grammatically wrong,but idiomatically accepted.Long time no see.Like cures like.以毒攻毒 Go great guns.进展神
10、速进展神速,高速高效地干 3.Semantic opacity 语义的不透明性 Idioms are usually semantically opaque,ie.metaphorical rather than literal.a feather in sbs cap an honour,success,of which one can be proudAccording to grammatical function,idioms can be divided into 5 types:1)Nominal idioms2)Adjectival idioms 3)Verbal idioms4
11、)Adverbial idioms5)Sentence idiomsIV.Classification of idiomsAccording to grammatical function,idioms can be divided into 5 types:1)Nominal idioms2)Adjectival idioms 3)Verbal idioms4)Adverbial idioms5)Sentence idiomsIV.Classification of idiomsThey function as the subject or the object in a sentence:
12、a white elephant(沉重的负担沉重的负担,无用的累赘东西无用的累赘东西)brain trust (智囊团、思想库智囊团、思想库 )the salt of the earth(社会中坚分子；高尚的人社会中坚分子；高尚的人)apple of discord (祸根)What is the apple of discord for this disaster?1.Idioms nominal in natureThey function as complements or modifiers ina sentence.cut and dried(determined)wide of t
13、he mark(irrelevant)up in the air(uncertain)The plan is cut and dried.What he told me was quite wide of the mark.The plan is still up in the air.2.Idioms adjectival in nature They function as predicate verbs in a sentence.make sure run short of keep after(反复提醒）反复提醒）get at （批评）（批评）move in on（准备）攻击；影响（
14、准备）攻击；影响 sit down under (忍受）忍受）make do with (凑合着用）凑合着用）poke ones nose into(探听，干涉）探听，干涉）make a clean breast of(和盘托出）和盘托出）3.Idioms verbal in natureVerbal idioms may also function as predicates.谓语 keep the pot boiling（维持生活）（维持生活）bite the hand that feeds one（恩将仇报）（恩将仇报）give sb.the bag(解雇某人）解雇某人）cut a sh
15、ine 招摇过市，出风头；摆阔招摇过市，出风头；摆阔 put a spoke in ones wheels（破坏某人的计划）破坏某人的计划）play to the gallery（讨好观众，迎合低级趣味）（讨好观众，迎合低级趣味）pull the wool over ones eyes（蒙蔽某人）（蒙蔽某人）3.Idioms verbal in natureThey function as adverbials in a sentence:tooth and nail:拼命拼命We will work tooth and nail.heart and soul:We will serve pe
16、ople heart and soul.in nothing flat:立刻，马上立刻，马上I will go there in nothing flat.through thick and thin:不畏艰险不畏艰险We made it through thick and thin.4.Idioms Adverbial in natureSuch idioms are usually in complete sentential form.They are usually proverbs or sayings.Never do things by halves.做事情不要半途而废做事情不要
17、半途而废。All is not gold that glitters.Nothing ventured,nothing gained.不入虎穴不入虎穴,焉得虎子焉得虎子。Speech is silver,silence is gold.Many hands make light work.Time tries all things.5.Sentence idioms In order to use the idioms appropriately,one should be aware of the following features of idioms:1.stylistic featur
18、es,2.rhetorical features,and 3.structural variations of idioms.V.Use of idioms Different idioms show different stylistic meanings.Some are casual,others formal or neutral in style.1.Stylistic features1)Colloquialism big wheel:有影响或重要的人物有影响或重要的人物 Chomksy is a big wheel in linguistics.2)Slang cancer st
19、ick:癌棒（指香烟）癌棒（指香烟）hit the sack:上床睡觉上床睡觉 in the soup:处于困境处于困境 I am deep in the soup now.3)Literary expressions come to pass:take place;happen bear witness to:prove,show His action bore witness to his kindness.The same idiom may show stylistic differences when it is assigned different meanings.screw u
20、p informal:I get screwed up at the thought of going to see a dentist.(become nervous)slang:He has the ability to screw things up from start to finish.(to make a mess of)neutral:He screwed up the letter and threw it in the wastepaper basket.(destroy or ruin)Stylistic features (1)Phonetic manipulation
21、 音韵手段音韵手段 a.alliteration 头韵头韵 part and parcel重要部分重要部分 sum and substance 要旨要旨 fall flat(未能达到预想效果或完全失败）未能达到预想效果或完全失败）make ends meet dish the dirt到处散播别人的谣言到处散播别人的谣言 chop and change时常改变（主意时常改变（主意)at sixes and sevens乱七八糟乱七八糟2.Rhetorical features b.rhyme 押尾韵押尾韵 toil and moil辛苦工作辛苦工作 wear and tear 磨损磨损 by
22、hook and by brook 不择手段地不择手段地 fair and square 正大光明正大光明 art and part 策划并参与策划并参与 high and dry 孤立无援孤立无援 hoity-toity 神气十足神气十足 hurry-scurry 慌慌忙忙慌慌忙忙 Might makes right.强权即公理。强权即公理。(2)lexical manipulation 词语手段词语手段 a.reiteration(duplication of synonyms)pick and choose 挑剔挑剔 aches and pains 各种疼痛各种疼痛 babes and
23、sucklings 天真而单纯的人们天真而单纯的人们 by leaps and bounds 飞跃地飞跃地 toss and turn 翻来覆去翻来覆去 cool and calm镇静镇静 safe and sound 安然无恙安然无恙 puff and blow 喘气喘气 b.repetition(repetition of the same word)词语重复词语重复 by and by 不久，马上不久，马上 neck and neck并驾齐驱；不分上下并驾齐驱；不分上下 out and out 十足的，十足的，彻底的彻底的 such and such 这样那样的这样那样的 through
24、 and through 彻头彻尾地彻头彻尾地 over and over 反复地反复地 on and on 连续不断地连续不断地 measure for measure 针锋相对的针锋相对的 call a spade a spade 直言不讳直言不讳 c.juxtaposition(combination of two antonyms)并置并置对举对举 day and night rain or shine不论晴雨不论晴雨(无论如何无论如何)(3)Figurative manipulation 修辞手段修辞手段 a.Simile as proud as a peacock as mute
25、as a fish feel like a fish out of water If you feel like a fish out of water,you feel awkward or uncomfortable because you are in an unusual or unfamiliar situation.Todd is a country boy raised in a small town in Northumberland and was like a fish out of water when he visited bustling London.b.Metap
26、hor a white elephant a black sheep败家子；败类；害群之马败家子；败类；害群之马 dark horse wet blanket扫兴的事或人扫兴的事或人 a stage whisper(有意让别人能听到的耳语）有意让别人能听到的耳语）to set ones home in order(内部整顿）内部整顿）between the devil and the deep sea(进退维谷）进退维谷）c.Metonymy from cradle to gravelive by ones pen red tape d.Personification Actions spea
27、k louder than words.Failure is the mother of success.The pot calls the kettle black.(五十步笑一百步）五十步笑一百步）e.Hyperbole a world of troubles a flood of tears Despite the property of structural stability,idioms occasionally do show structural changes in terms of 1)addition 2)deletion3)replacement 4)position-
28、shifting3.Structural Variations 3.Variations of idioms1)Addition:增加增加 “in good condition”from“in condition”2)Deletion:减少减少 “the last straw”from “It is the last straw that breaks the camels back.”3)Position-shifting:位置替换位置替换 day and night=night and day4)Replacement:替换替换 “lose heart”vs.“take heart”振作
29、“break ones word”vs.“keep ones word”Origin of English IdiomsnLiterary worksnThe BiblenMythologynFablesnHistorical eventsnAnimal metaphornDaily lifeIdioms from literary worksnscrew ones courage（鼓起勇气、壮起胆子）-Shakespeare Macbethnto the manner born（与生俱来的）-Hamletnpond of flesh（合情但悖于情理的要求）-Merchant of Venic
30、enman Friday（忠仆、得力助手）-Daniel Defoe Robinson CrusoenBrevity is the soul of wit.言以简洁为贵(Shakespeare)nLive not to eat,but eat to live.(Franklin)nKnowledge is power.(Bacon)Idioms from the BiblenJudass kiss（犹大之吻，比喻出卖朋友）nmuch cry and little wool（雷声大，雨点小，比喻空叫喊根据圣经故事：魔鬼看见纳巴尔在羊身上剪羊毛，也模仿着在猪身上剪，结果把猪弄得嗷嗷叫，却什么也没有
31、剪下来）nturn the other cheek（忍受暴力、忍受侮辱，上帝在布道时讲如果有人打你的左脸，你就把右脸也递出去)nThe spirit is willing,but the flesh is weak.（心有余而力不足）nSpare the rod and spoil the child.（棒打出孝子）。Idioms from MythologynPandoras box（潘多拉的盒子，引申为灾祸之源）nSphinxs riddle（难解之谜，狮身人面怪兽提出“什么动物早晨四条腿，中午两条腿，而晚上三条腿”的谜语）nthe heel of Achilles（亦作 the Achi
32、lles heel，阿基里斯的脚踵，引申为唯一的弱点、要害）nbetween Scylla and Charybdis（比喻进退维谷、腹背受敌）nDead Sea fruit（比喻某些事物金玉其外、败絮其中，华而不实）nScylla and Charybdis were mythical sea monsters noted by Homer;later Greek tradition sited them on opposite sides of the Strait of Messina墨西拿海峡 between Sicily and the Italian mainland.Scylla
33、 was rationalized as a rock shoal(described as a six-headed sea monster)on the Italian side of the strait and Charybdis was a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily.They were regarded as a sea hazard located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors;avoiding Char
34、ybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa.According to Homer,Odysseus was forced to choose which monster to confront while passing through the strait;he opted to pass by Scylla and lose only a few sailors,rather than risk the loss of his entire ship in the whirlpool漩涡.Idioms from fables
35、nnaked truth（原原本本的事实、赤裸裸的事实）nkill the goose that laid the golden eggs（杀鸡取卵、涸泽而鱼）nsour grapes（聊以自慰的话，狐狸吃不到葡萄就说葡萄是酸的）nbell the cat（替别人冒风险，老鼠要给猫带上铃铛的寓言故事）ncats paw（被别人利用的人，猴子想吃火中的栗子，骗猫为其火中取栗）nthe last straw（终于使人不能忍受的最后一击）na wolf in sheeps clothing（披着羊皮的狼，比喻危险人物、面善心毒的人）ncry wolf（狼来了！比喻发假警报）Idioms from h
36、istorical eventsnmeet ones Waterloo（一败涂地，出自 1815 年的“滑铁卢之战”，类似中国的败走麦城）nburn ones boats(bridges)（破釜沉舟，讲的是古罗马恺撒等名将出征时，常烧毁船只，士兵无路可退，只有勇往直前，战胜敌人）Idioms from animal metaphornas wise as owls（聪明，西方人认为猫头鹰是聪明智慧的象征）nas quiet as mouse（安静如鼠，非常安静）nas timid as rabbit（胆小如鼠）nno spring chicken（已不再年轻的女人）nswans song（告别
37、演出，源于天鹅将死时凄婉的鸣叫声）nbury ones head in the sand（采取逃避措施、逃避现实，鸵鸟在遇到危险的时候会把头埋在沙子里）ncome out of the cocoon（停止自我封闭，开始与人交往）Idioms from daily life(navigation,agriculture,etc.)non the rocks（触礁、濒临毁灭）nall at sea（茫然）ngo with stream（随波逐流）nhold out an/the olive branch（愿意讲和，在西方橄榄枝被认为是和平的象征）nreap what one has sowed（种
38、瓜得瓜，种豆得豆）nbed of roses（舒适的生活）nas cool as cucumber（泰然自若、冷静）nturn on a new leaf（改头换面）nhear through the grapevine（道听途说）nbeat around the bush（旁敲侧击）nbe sour grapes（尖酸刻薄的人）nspill the beans（泄露秘密）Cat w the cat represents the guardian of the Underworld,stoic,silent and mysterious,They keep the secrets of the
39、 Otherworld eternally to themselves,as they gaze with guile upon a world that does not see or understand the depth of their knowledge.w In Western tradition,black cats have been associated with witchcraft.catw A cat has nine lives w Cats hide their claws.w A gloved cat catches no mice w The cat shut
40、s its eyes when stealing cream w A cat may look at a king.w It rains cats and dogs.w 猫有九条命(吉人天相)w 知人知面不知心w w 不愿吃苦的人成不了大事业。w 掩耳盗铃 w 小人物也应有些权利w 下倾盆大雨,大雨滂沱Cat w let the cat out of the bag w see how the cat jumps w The scalded cat fears cold water.w When the cats away,the mice will play.w 说走了嘴说走了嘴w 看风使舵
41、看风使舵,随机应变随机应变w 一朝被蛇咬一朝被蛇咬,三年怕井三年怕井绳绳w 大王外出大王外出,小鬼跳粱小鬼跳粱 Dog w Fidelity w Loyalty w Assistance w Intelligence w Obedience w Protection w Community w Cooperation w Resourcefulness w Communication w Sensory Perception Dogw A staff is quickly found to beat a dog with.w Every dog has his day w Let sleepi
42、ng dogs lie w All are not thieves that dogs bark at.w Give a dog an ill name w 欲加之罪，何患无词w 人人皆有得意时w w 勿惹事生非 w 不要以貌取人 w 人言可畏 Dog w Fight dog,fight bear.一决雌雄 w An old dog will learn no new tricks老年人很难适应新事物 w To help a lame dog over a stile.雪中送炭 w Better a living dog than a dead lion.好死不如歹活 Fish w Never
43、 offer to teach fish to swim.切勿班门弄斧。w Go to the sea,if you would fish well.不入虎穴，焉得虎子 w It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.智者不上第二次当w If water is noisy,there are no fish in it.夸夸其谈者无真才实学 w Theres as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.海里的好鱼多的是.(强中更有强中手.)w Fish begins to
44、 stink at the head.上梁不正下梁歪Bird w Its an ill bird that fouls its own nest.家丑不可外扬 w Fine feathers make fine birds.人要衣装，马要鞍 w Birds of a feather flock together.物以类聚，人以群分 w A bird is known by its note,and a man by his talk.听音识鸟，闻言识人 w Each bird loves to hear himself sing.鸟儿都爱听自己唱。（自我欣赏)w You cannot catc
45、h old birds with chaff.有经验的人难骗 some interesting idiomsOne:one too many 多余的，不需要的多余的，不需要的 one in a thousand 优秀的人（或事物）优秀的人（或事物）One boy is a boy,two boys half a boy,three boys no boy.一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。一个和尚挑水喝，两个和尚抬水喝，三个和尚没水喝。One eyewitness is better than ten hearsays.百闻不如一见。百闻不如一见。One good turn de
46、serves another.行善积德。行善积德。One mans fault is other mans lesson.前车之鉴。前车之鉴。One swallow does not make a summer.一燕不成夏。一燕不成夏。Better master one than engage with ten.会十事不如精一事。会十事不如精一事。When one will not,two cannot quarrel.一个巴掌拍不响。一个巴掌拍不响。Two:two-way 双向的双向的 in twos 两个两个地两个两个地 in two twos 立刻；一转眼立刻；一转眼 put two a
47、nd two together 根据所见、所闻等推测根据所见、所闻等推测出真相出真相e.g.He is rather inclined to put two and two together and make five.他一推测就出圈儿。他一推测就出圈儿。Four eyes see more than two.集思广益。集思广益。If you run after two hares,you will catch neither.脚踏两条船，必定脚踏两条船，必定落空。落空。Kill two birds with one stone.一箭双雕。一箭双雕。One can not be in two
48、places at once.一心不可二用。一心不可二用。One hour today is worth two tomorrow.争分夺秒效率高。争分夺秒效率高。Two heads are better than one.三个臭皮匠顶一个三个臭皮匠顶一个诸葛亮。诸葛亮。Three:by twos and threes 三三两两三三两两 three-bottle man 大酒徒大酒徒It takes three generations to make a gentleman.十年树木，百十年树木，百年树人。年树人。Four:four square 直率的；坦白直率的；坦白的的 on all f
49、ours 爬着爬着 four-lettered words 下流话下流话w At sixes and sevens w 为习语，意为：乱七八糟，七上八下，杂乱无章，一片混乱w e.g.The boy made the room at sixes and sevens.w 这男孩把房间弄得乱七八糟的。w I havent had time to arrange everything so Im all at sixes and sevens.w 我没来得及把每件事都安排好，因此心里七上八下的。w They held a party last night and everything was at
50、 sixes and sevens when the guests left.w 昨晚他们开了一个家庭聚会。当客人散尽之后，一切物品都挪了位置。1.pull ones leg 开玩笑（不是开玩笑（不是“拉后腿拉后腿”）2.in ones birthday suit 赤身裸体（不是赤身裸体（不是“穿着生日礼服穿着生日礼服”）3.eat ones words 收回前言（不是收回前言（不是“吃话吃话”）4.an apple of love 西红柿（不是西红柿（不是“爱情之果爱情之果”）5.handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆（不是不祥之兆（不是“大字报大字报”）6.bring d
