1、Chapter 6English IdiomsDefinition of Idioms An element of a language that possesses a unique way of expression 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 word
2、s 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 secretSignificance of Studying En
3、glish 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
4、 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 ones coat according to ones cloth to plan ones
5、aims and activities in line with ones 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¬ clear in meaning To have a bee in ones bonnet/hea
6、d.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
7、 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 i
8、dioms 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
9、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 ones 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 f
10、orce English idioms represent a semantic unit,though they contain a group of words.make up ones 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 commo
11、nly-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 ambi
12、tious 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)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
13、(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)First come,first served;to be up and doingEnglish Idioms in Different Styles colloquial neutral form
14、al 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
15、 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 wi
16、th 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 bu
17、tter up to flatter someone to high on the hog well and richlyThe Difference Between Idiomatic and Free Phrases Idiomatic phrases:(opaque)with a special meaning that cannot be guessed from the combination of actual words used.blue book official report cold comfort poor consolation Free phrases:.(tran
18、sparent)The meaning can be guessed from their components blue sky cold winter Phrasal verbs:(Longman Dictionary of Phrasal verbs)can be both free phrases and idiomatic phrases.Verb+adverb Please take the children in;its getting cold out here.Were you really taken in(=deceived)by an old trick like th
19、at?Verb+preposition The quickest way to go about the city is by underground train.How do you go about(=started)building a boat?Verb+adverb+preposition You can put the shelf up with a hammer and nails.I cant put up with(=bear or suffer)him;hes always complaining.Classifications of English Idioms(pp.2
20、82-301)1.Idiomatic expressions with specific grammatical structures(pp.282-284)2.Phrases identified with the familiar parts of speech(pp.284-294)3.Idioms not with a given grammatical part of speech(pp.294-296)4.Idioms expressing greeting,surprise,praise,or criticism(pp.296-297)5.Proverbs(pp.297-301)
21、Some Useful Language Areas of Idioms(pp.301 319)15 useful language areas:1.Idioms containing words related to agreeing and disagreeing2.Idioms containing words related to anger3.Idioms containing words related to euphemisms4.Idioms containing words related to everyday life5.Idioms containing words r
22、elated to explaining and understanding6.Idioms containing words related to friends and family7.Idioms containing words related to happiness and sadness8.Idioms containing words related to health9.Idioms used in conversation10.Idioms used in formal writing11.Idioms containing words related to memory1
23、2.Idioms containing words related to money13.New idioms14.Idioms containing words related to telling stories15.Idioms containing words related to work and businessSources of English Idioms Everyday life of the English people keep ones shirt on 不发脾气，忍耐 Give somebody the cold shoulder 怠慢，冷落 Make(both)
24、ends meet 量入为出，收支相抵 Agricultural life go to seed 花谢结籽，退化，衰老,走下坡路 lead someone up the garden path 引诱人误入歧途 put ones hand to the plough 着手某项工作 Nautical and military life be in the same boat with 境遇相同 be in deep waters 陷入困境 go against/with the stream 逆流而行/随波逐流，随大流 cross swords with someone 交锋，争论 stick t
25、o ones gun 固执己见 rank and file 普通人士（非领导）business life come under the hammer 被拍卖 talk shop 谈论本行工作 turn an honest penny 老实挣钱 Student life speak by the book 说话有根据 turn over a new leaf 重新开始 read between the lines读出隐含之意 flunk out 考试不及格 food and cooking keep the pot boiling 谋生，维持生计 be in the soup 处于困境之中 bu
26、tter both sides of ones bread 左右逢源，两面获利 sports and card-playing keep the ball rolling 不使中断，让其继续 reach first base 初步成功 play ones last card 采取最后手段 follow suit 照着做（出同花色的牌）turn up trumps 意外地令人满意（将牌）play into somebodys hands 中了对手的计，对对方有利The Bible a thorn in the flesh 眼中钉 turn the other cheek 不予回击 the app
27、le of ones eye 掌上明珠 a drop in the bucket 沧海一粟 wolf in sheeps clothing pride goes before a fall 骄者必败 a living dog is better than a dead lion do as you would be done by己所不欲勿施于人Shakespeares play flutter the dovecotes扰乱鸽棚，使温顺的人骚动起来 give the Devil his due公平对待 wear ones heart on ones sleeves 十分坦率，感情容易激动 the primrose(樱草)path 享乐之路 ones salad days 年轻无阅历的时期，少不更事fables,myths or legends as sour grapes 酸葡萄，得不到的东西就说它不好 the lions share 最大的一份 the sword of Damocles 临头之危险 Achilles hell 唯一致命的弱点，看来很小但致命的弱点 Herculean labor 艰巨的工作 to work like a Trojan 努力工作
