1、1,* English Idioms: Features of English Idioms. Idiom is a broad term. It involves (a) standard idioms( where individual words still keep its separate meaning) : Extremes meet.( 乐极生悲),keep house (主持家务), as big as an elephant; open hand ( be generous), as white as snow, do justice, run double quick(
2、跑步), as mad as March hare ( 狂如春天三月里的兔子）；,2,It also includes (b) idiomatic phrases ( where the meaning of the idiom is not the combined meaning of separate words but comes from the meaning of a major or center word in the idiom): all of a sudden, to get hurt, to go to school, fall in love, leap in fa
3、me ( become famous), run straight( be an honest man), be on thin ice( 如履薄冰), play the first fiddle(当领导),break the ice( 打破沉默), sink ones interest(舍己为人);,3,Idiom also includes(c) fixed expressions ( where the meaning of the idiom is totally different from what it appears. It can never be derived from
4、any of the single word): do brown (做得彻底), above-board(光明磊落),another pair of shoes ( 完全另一回事), once in a blue moon( 千载难逢地), be on the carpet ( 在审议中), mill the wind(枉做努力), ride the high horse( 目中无人) , lets return to the muttons(言归正传),4,1.eleventh hour ( 最后的时刻）； （ ；2.hen party（ 妇女集会） ；3.house flag （ 公司旗
5、） ； 4.land shark （向岸上的水手行骗的人） ；5 .merchant of death （ 军火商）；6. monkey engine（ 打桩机）；7.sea cucumber（ 海参）,5,Features of English IdiomsGenerally speaking, English idioms have four features: inclusiveness, stability, unity,and expressiveness.We will only illustrate inclusiveness# English idioms come from
6、different sources. They have rich cultural and historical implication. Look at the following illustration.,6,1. From the religion a covenant of salt（不可背弃的盟约), as poor as a church mouse(家徒四壁), bear ones cross( 背负十字架), the forbidden fruit (禁果), No coming to Heaven with dry eyes (眼无泪水,难进天国), The way to
7、 Heaven is by the Weeping Cross( 忏悔难受, 进天堂),7,2. Historical allusion The king and the pope, the lion and the wolf ( 国王教皇, 狮子豺狼), The king sends his carriage.(囚车来了), Kings have long hands.(勿与帝王争), The pleasures of the mighty are the tears of the poor.(豪富纵欲,穷人流泪).,8,3.War and militia : mark time （踌躇，
8、犹豫不决），mask ones batteries（ 掩盖敌意）, stick to ones guns(坚持立场), have been in the wars (吃过苦头)； miss fire得不到预期的效果；shoulder to shoulder 肩并肩； lay down ones arms 投降, field hospital (野战医院),9,4 Sea and voyage : any port in a storm（风暴到来不择港），Tell that to the marines（哪有那样的事），on the rocks（手头拮据）,Trim the sails to t
9、he wind(顺着大势前进),turn adrift (辞退), clean the deck( 扫除障碍), sink or swim(孤注一掷),all at sea(茫然不知所措), half seas over (饮酒过多)；,10,cross currents相反的趋势; at full sea 最高点; in deep water 陷入困境; when ones ship comes home当愿望实现时; high and dry ( 搁浅, 落伍) To rest on ones oars(暂时歇歇),11,5Mythology “A sword of Damocles”(达
10、莫克勒斯之剑)( indicating the danger behind the apparent harmony),12,13,Here Goes the story( for reference ),Dionysius (II) was a fourth century B.C. tyrant of Syracuse, the Greek area of southern Italy. To all appearances Dionysius was very rich and comfortable, with all the luxuries money could buy, tas
11、teful clothing and jewelry, and delectable food.,14,One of these ingratiators （讨好者）was the court sycophant(献媚者）, Damocles. Damocles used to make comments to the king about his wealth and luxurious life. One day when Damocles complimented the tyrant on his abundance and power, Dionysius turned to Dam
12、ocles and said, “If you think Im so lucky, how would you like to try out my life?“,15,Damocles readily agreed, and so Dionysius ordered everything to be prepared for Damocles to experience what life as Dionysius was like. Damocles was enjoying himself immensely. until he noticed a sharp sword hoveri
13、ng over his head, that was suspended from the ceiling by a horse hair. This, the tyrant explained to Damocles, was what life as ruler was really like.,16,Damocles, alarmed, quickly revised his idea of what made up a good life, and asked to be excused. He then eagerly returned to his poorer, but safe
14、r life.,17,” The Gordian Knot(难解之结),Between Scylla and Charybdis”( 腹背受敌), “Juda”s kiss(死亡之吻)， “ the Last Supper”（最后的晚餐），“Sour Grapes”（酸葡萄）， “Pandoras box”潘多拉的盒子（灾难之源）,18,6. From art, game, education and daily life : wearing ones birthday clothes一丝不挂; change ones tune ( change ones attitude), play a
15、poor game (手法笨拙); sweep the board 获全胜; play ones last card采取最后手段; Art is long , life is short 人生有崖而知无 崖; in somebodys good books 为某人所喜欢;,19,poison pen 恶意的匿名信; keep to the record 不要扯到题外; be a law to oneself 随心所欲;take ones medicine 做必须做的事; bread and butter(生计), food for thought( 值得深思的东西), lay ones car
16、ds on the table( 公开计划), a piece of cake(轻松愉快的事), a stitch in time saves nine( 小洞不补, 大洞吃苦);,20,7 From birds, animals, and fishes a cats paw为他人利用的人; a duck soup轻而易举的事; a fish 低能儿,新手; as blind as a bat( 瞎得厉害);bear the lion 敢于向上司直言; go to the dogs (毁灭);let sleeping dogs lie(别惹是生非),21,That is another cup
17、 of tea(那是另一回事); calf love , puppy love 初恋; cold turkey 实话实说; fish for compliment 沽名钓鱼; drink like a fish 牛饮; fish out of water 处境困难的人; crocodile tears, cry wolf ( 狼来了), donkey work ( 无需技术的苦活), eat like a bird( a small appetite),22,8.From medicine, law and trade # to feel the pulse of ( to someones
18、intention ),law and order(社会的安宁), pay sb back in his own coin, take ones medicine ( do what one has to do) , two of a trade ( 同行),23,9. From human body Have no backbone ( 没有骨气), stab the back ( 背后中伤), Blood will tell(本性迟早要暴露),Chin up! ( 鼓起勇气), a word in the ear(知心话), be all eyes( be very attentive )
19、, take sth at its face value (只看表面价值), lend sb a hand, fall head over in love, by heart, neck-deep ( busy with), keep ones nose clean (安分守己), rub shoulders with sb ( 常与某人接触);,24,10.From Other Languages,1. a snake in the grass (Latin) 暗藏的敌人2.ones second self ( Latin ) 得力的助手3. Live and let live ( Fren
20、ch) 自己活也让别人活4.laugh in ones beard (French) 背地里笑5. on the knees of the Gods (Greek ) 人力所不及,25,6.lose face ( Chinese) 丢脸ride a tiger ( Chinese ) 骑虎难下7.first chop ( Arabic ) 头等8.beg the question ( Greek) 以假定为依据的狡辩9.a storm in a teacup ( Arabic )小题大做10.froce sbs hand ( French )迫使某人表态,26,Many English idi
21、oms have stories behind them. Study the following idioms and translate them into Chinese.,27,#Look at some typical examples: “Bark up the wrong tree”.攻击错了目标 This saying implies something similar to “ getting hold of the wrong end of the stick.”From the US and originated in the practice of racoon hun
22、ting. Racoons are partly nocturnal animals and hunted with dogs. The raccoons often take sanctuary in trees. When the dogs spot them up a tree they stand at the base and bark; Occasionally, in the dark, they get the wrong tree.,28,# Blue blood” 贵族血统Old , aristocratic Spanish families used to boast t
23、hat their skin was fairly light because they had not intermarried with the darker-skinned Moors. The Spaniards veins showed through their skins as visibly blue in color. If they had intermarried the blood would not appear blue. Today anyone can be called a blue blood if he or she is of noble birth,
24、a member of the up class.,29,Wing and a prayer有希望但不可能成功 Meaning: Hopeful but unlikely to succeed. Example:She is driving on a wing and a prayer in that old jalopy(old plane).Origin:During World War One airplanes were still a novelty and untested in war. A “wing and a prayer“ was first uttered when a
25、n American flyer came in with a badly damaged wing. His fellow pilots and mechanics were amazed he didnt crash. He replied he was praying all the way in. Another pilot chimed in that “a wing and a prayer brought you back.“,30,Pass the buck 推卸责任 Meaning:Pass off responsibility to someone else. Exampl
26、e:In times of trouble, my old boss was quick to pass the buck But when things went well, her mantra (符咒)became “the buck stops here“. Origin: Some card games use a marker called a (庄家标志). Players take turns acting as dealer with the buck marking the current dealer. When the buck is passed to the nex
27、t player, the responsibility for dealing is passed.,31,Straight from the horses mouth 来自权威和可靠的消息 Meaning:Directly from the source. Example:If you want the real story you have to get it straight from the horses mouth. Origin: This is a boast of confidence from a racetrack tipster(情报贩子), who says he g
28、ets his information from the horses themselvesthereby assuring the bettor that the info is the correct.,32,When the chips are down 关键时刻 Meaning: Tough times, when things are looking bleak. Example:A bit of advice for you - when the chips are down you need to fall back on a technique I like to call q
29、uitting. Origin:From the practice of using chips as a substitute for money when gambling. When winning you accumulate a lot of chips. But when you lose, your chips dwindle down.,33,In the pink 健康，脸色红润 Meaning:In good health and ready to go. Example:Ive been training for the marathon and I am feeling
30、 in the pink. Origin:In traditional English fox hunting, hunters wore scarlet colored jackets called pinks. If you are wearing your pink, you are ready to go hunting. Alternatively, refers to the rosy color in ones cheeks when in good health.,34,Bought the farm 突然死亡 阵亡 Meaning:To die. Example:Oscars
31、 bungee jumping experience came to an abrupt stop when he bought the farm on his first try. Origin:It comes from W.W.I. When a US soldier was killed in combat his family was given a “death benefit“ that amounted to a enough money to buy a parcel of farm land in the mid west.,35,Feather in your cap (
32、 for reference ) 引以为傲之物 可夸耀的事Meaning:To gain approval. Example:You put a feather in your cap when you bought lunch for the bosss secretary. Origin:It was once a common practice to award a feather to a soldier who had killed an enemy. These feathers were worn on the helmet, or other headgear and were considered symbols of social status much as modern soldiers receive and display medals.,36,Tell me your stories of Chinese and English idioms,
