1、,Chapter Ten English idioms,Main contents 1. definition of idioms 2. characteristics of idioms 3. classification of idioms 4. sources of idioms 5. rhetorical and stylistic analysis 6. variability of idioms Aim of learning idioms -to better appreciate idioms used in discourses,1. definition- a group
2、of words whose meaning is difficult or impossible to understand from the knowledge of words considered separately,2.characteristics of idioms2.1. semantic unity:It functions as a unit of meaning which can not be predicted from the literary meaning of its member words.wear ones heart upon ones sleeve
3、,2.2 . structural stability set structure / syntactic frozenness a. The constituents of idioms cannot be replaced. in the same boat(in the same ship),Where is the beef ? mutton?b. The word order cannot be inverted or changed. He kicked the bucket last year.The bucket was kicked by him. thick and thi
4、n thin and thick,c. The constituents of idioms cannot be deleted or added to, not even an article. out of the question impossible out of question no question d. Many idioms are grammatically unanalysable. diamond cut diamond,3.classification of idioms3.1 .grammatical function/ syntactic function a.
5、idioms nominal in nature white elephant a fly on the wheel flesh and blood,b.idioms adjective in nature as poor as a church mouse up in the air /on the go as cool as a cucumberc.idioms verbal in naturecome in,d. Idioms adverbial in nature behind the scenethrough thick and thine. Sentence Idioms Fish
6、 begins to stink at the head. Never offer to teach fish to swim.The mills of God grind slowly.,4. sources of English idioms a. everyday life: ones cup of tea Where is the beef ? b. Bible: to turn the other cheek c. literary works: man Friday / pound of flesh,d. fables, myth: sour grapesPandoras box
7、e. historical stories: to meet ones waterloo f. animal: as wise as owls g. sailing: on the rocks /all at sea,5.rhetorical and stylistic analysis-colloquial/slang/ : (forcible, terse, vivid ) look down upon - euphony: rhythmical, have alliteration - safe and sound - reiteration: neck and neck - figur
8、es: as old as the hill/more or less,6. variability of idiomsA stitch in time saves nine.-A word in time saves nine. a. replacement: pull a long face-pull an unhappy face b.addition: put into practiceput into widespread practice,c. shorting in proverbs and sayings silver lining-Every cloud has a silver lining.d. dismembering -can not see the wood for the treesHe sees too many trees, but not the forest.,Exercise: Point out the idiom in the sentence. Explain the meaning , effect, grammatical structure and rhetorical features.The sudden death of his father is a bolt from the blue to the old man.,
