1、英语习语,英语的idiom一词语义范围： 广义上：idiom泛指一种民族语言中所有的习惯用法和特殊表达方法，可以是一个词，也可以是一个词组或句子。 Idiom：A form of expression peculiar to a language, person, or group of people.-COD 简明牛津词典,狭义上：一种语言中长期以来习用的、表达完整意义的、结构定型的固定词组或短句。“习语、熟语、惯用法”,I. 英语习语的特征 英语习语有两个特征： a. 语义的统一性(semantic unity) 习语是个固定的词组，在语义上是个不可分割的统一体，其整体的意义往往不能从组成
2、习语的各个词汇意义中揣测出来。 如：do sb. brown, do up brown, show the white feather, to have an axe to grindFriday face, hard names.under the weather,b. 结构的固定性(structural stability) 从结构上来看，习语也有本身的完整性，其中各个组成部分是固定的，不可任意拆开或替换。 如：on board 在船上on the board 在会上讨论on the boards 登台做演员in the same boat None of your sauce!Diamo
3、nd cut diamond, crook cut crook.Like cures like. to tread/ walk on air 洋洋自得，飘飘然,英语习语 idioms 与自由短语free phrase 的区别,自由短语(free phrase)可从其组成部分的字面意义来判定其释义。英语习语则不尽然。如：red tapes, cold winter. red tape, cold comfort.短语动词既可看作习语，也可不作习语对待，视上下文而定。 如：He took off his shoes.He took off the comedian to perfection.?T
4、here are ten dark horses in the stable.Whatever the outcome of the election, he is still a dark horse.,II. 英语习语的分类 从语法功能和结构成份来看，习语可分为：,一、动词性习语 动词性习语(idioms verbal in nature)以动词为中心与其他动词搭配使用，在句中起谓语作用。 动词性习语有以下几种结构： 1. 动词 + 小品词(verb + particle)(1) 动词 + 副词如：Some parts of the story didnt add up. 合乎情理The
5、official blundered out government secrets again. 不慎泄漏，顺口说出,(2) 动词 + 介词 如：a. Why are they always biting at each other? 朝吼叫b. She cut across our talk. 打断 (3) 动词 + 副词 + 介词如：a. The products of Japan are gradually edging those of the United States out of the European market. 逐渐排除去b. I think that man is j
6、ust hanging out for a better offer. 故意拖延以待,2. 动词 + 名词 如：bide ones time, blaze the trail, hang firea. When the story of the barbers ill-treatment of his wife got wind, he left town. 泄漏，传播b. Its slow service gave the restaurant a bad name. 使名声不好c. The police gave him the collar as he was leaving the a
7、partment. 逮捕，抓获d. He killed time by reading a newspaper while waiting for the bus. 消磨时间,3. 动词 + 介词短语 如：beat about the bush, fall by the waya. He amuses himself by setting other people by the ears. 引起纷争，挑拨离间b. He took the boy to the station and set him on his way. 给某人指明路途c. My mother packed some food
8、 for the beggar and giving him a shilling, set him on his way. （给予帮助后）送某人上路,4. 动词 + 名词 + 介词短语 如：burn the candle at both endscatch a hare with a tabor 试图作几乎不可能做到的事He spent all his life in dropping buckets into empty wells.5. 动词 + 名词 + 介词 如： make short work of, make a clean breast of get wind of, pick
9、 holes in,6. 动词 + 形容词 如：go easy, come clean, sit pretty a. We have set apart a special sum of money for new equipment.b. Her bright red hair sets her apart from her sisters.,二、名词性习语,名词性习语(idioms nominal in nature)以名词为中心，与其他词语搭配使用，这类成语由以下几种结构组成： 1. 形容词 + 名词如： high tea cold shoulder, red herring white
10、 elephant,fond dream blue chip,2.名词 + 介词 + 名词 如：a fly in the ointment, a fly on the wheel,the apple of ones eyean apple of discord,3. 名词或专有名词 + s + 名词 如：the lions share, cats paw, Kings weather,4. 名词 + and + 名词 如：wear and tear, rank and file flesh and blood,5.名词 + 名词 如：sheet anchor, brain trust, a m
11、oot point,三、形容词性习语 1. 形容词 + and + 形容词如： high and mighty,null and void,free and easy,2. 介词 + 形容词 如： on the go, on call, out of sorts,3. 形容(或副词）+ 介词短语 如：wide of mark, wet behind the ears,4. as + 形容词 + as + 名词 如：as stiff as a poker, as cool as a cucumber,四、副词性习语 1. 名词+ and + 名词如： heart and soul, tooth
12、and nail, hammer and tongs,2. 介词+ 名词 如：in a breeze, with flying colors, behind the scenes, by the way,3. 介词+ 名词+ and + 名词 如： between the devil and the deep blue seathrough thick and thin,与动物有关的： 1. smell a rat 2. go to the dogs 3. take the bull by the horns 4. horse of a different color 5. let the c
13、at out of the bag 6. for the birds 7. straight from the horses mouth 8. be fishy 9. cat got your tongue,与身体有关的： 10. get in someones hair 11. shoot off ones mouth 12. jump down someones throat 13. get off someones back 14. tongue-in-check 15. pull someones leg 16. play it by ear 17. stick out ones ne
14、ck 18. shake a leg 19. all thumbs 20. not have a leg to stand on,五、谚语,谚语不同于上面的四种习语，习语一般起到句子成分的作用，而谚语往往起到句子的作用。谚语一般以句子的形式出现，表示判断或推理。谚语是人民智慧的结晶，语言简练，寓意深刻。 如： He that sups with the devil must have a long spoon.The pot calls the kettle black.The mills of God grind slowly.He laughs best who laughs last.O
15、ne cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear.,1.Birds of a feather flock together. 2.In unity there is strength. 3.It takes two to tango. 4.A man is known by the company he keeps. 5.Misery loves company. 6.Too many cooks spoil the broth. 7.Two heads are better than one. 8.Twos company, but threes a
16、 crowd. 9.Do as I say, not as I do. 10.If you cant beat them, join them. 11.If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.,12.Look before you leap. 13.May hay while the sun shines. 14.Strike while the iron is hot. 15.The way to a mans heart is through his stomach. 16.Curiosity killed the cat. 1
17、7.Dont bite the hand that feeds you. 18.Dont count your chickens before theyre hatched. 19.Dont look a gift horse in the mouth. 20.The road to hell is paved with good intentions. 21. The first step is always the hardest.,III. 英语习语的整体与结构成分之间的语义关系,一、无理据习语( de-motivated idioms)。习语的意义与构成这习语的词的意义已经丧失联系,
18、整个习语的意义已经不能从构成这一习语的各个词的意义中得出来了。 这一类习语可称之为无理据习语( de-motivated idioms)。 如：fly off the handle, between the devil and the deep blue sea, drop the pilot, wear ones heart on ones sleeve.,二、有理据习语(motivated idioms), 习语的意义与构成这习语的词的意义有一定联系,这一类习语的意义虽然不是由构成该习语的各个词的意义合成的，但却是由整个词组的意义引申出来的。 所以是有理据习语(motivated idio
19、ms)。 这类习语的特征之一是形象化，带有隐喻或明喻色彩。 如：eager beaver, as cool as a cucumber, smooth tongue,put a spoke in ones wheels, dance attendance on, as easy as rolling off a log.,这一类习语的另一个特征是：由组成习语的各个词的字面意义引申出转义。如： draw the curtain拉开、拉上帘子-结束或掩盖drag ones feet拖着脚步走-故意拖拉,IV 英语习语的修辞色彩和语体色彩,一、修辞色彩/修辞方法英语习语言简意赅，表达方式简洁洗炼，语
20、言生动活泼，具有浓厚的修辞色彩。不少习语利用各种修辞手段。 如：a. 对比手段hit or miss make neither head or tail of sth.make or mar, sink or swim, rain or shine,b. 词语的重复neck and neck, out and out / through and throughround and round c. 意义相近的词语起强调作用by leaps and bounds,pick and choose, with might and main,chop and change,d. 利用押头韵的手段构成习语
21、neck or nothing, hum and haw,rough and ready, as blind as a batas large as life,二、语体色彩,一般来说，大部分英语习语属于口语语体。但由于习语含义深刻并富于形象性，所以会经常出现在其他语体中。 一、属于语言的共核部分的习语 如：We dont usually admit anyone under the age of twenty-one to our meetings, but I think we might stretch a point in your case. 二、带有口语色彩的习语 如：He like
22、s to let on that he is an expert in electronics.Dont take what he says too much to heart, hes just letting off steam.If youve got a complaint, the best thing is to see the person concerned and have it out with him.,三、带有俚语色彩的习语 如：As soon as they realized that there was likely to be trouble, his compa
23、nions deserted him and left him to carry the can. (fair weather friend)They used to chew the rag after dinner. 同一个习语在不同语境中有不同意义和语体色彩。 如：John kept at the job until he cleaned it up.The company cleaned up in real estate.To keep the enemy from crossing the river they blew up the bridge.He relieved his
24、feeling of annoyance by blowing up his assistants.,V. 英语习语的应用,一、英语习语的句法功能语法功能与结构成份有其一致的一面，也有其不一致的一面。 单从表层结构不能判断其句法功能。 如：以动词为中心构成的习语多半在句中起谓语作用，这可从动词性习语的结构中加以判定。pick and choose, round up, kick over the traces. 由名词为中心构成的习语比较复杂，不能只从起结构上确定其句法功能。part and parcel:Microbiology is part and parcel of biology.微
25、生物学是生物学的组成部分。a bed of rose: A teachers job is not a bed of roses., 有的习语形式上似乎是名词性结构，而实际上并 非是名词性习语。pepper and saltHis hair is pepper and salt.heart and soulWe must serve the people heart and soul.我们必须全心全意地为人民服务。tooth and nailThat woman fought tooth and nail during the war to protect her children.那个妇女在
26、那场战争中竭尽全力的保护她的孩子。, 同一个习语也有及物和不及物之分，而且意义也不相同。 如：clear up It will probably clear up this afternoon.今天下午天气大概将晴朗。His responsibility is to clear up the mess.他的责任是收拾这个烂摊子。knock aboutWe just want to go to Beijing, and knock about for a few Days. 我们想去北京，在那儿几天到处逛逛。The ship was badly knocked about by storm.船被
27、暴风雨击打得很厉害。,二、英语习语与其他词语的搭配 要精确地使用英语习语，除了掌握其语法功能之外，还需要注意该习语与哪些词语经常搭配使用。 根据与习语搭配使用的词语，还可判定习语的确切意义。如：gain on The horsemen were rapidly gaining on their enemy.骑兵们迅速追上了敌人。The sea has been gaining on the east coast of England for many years. 多年来，海洋一直在侵蚀英国东海岸。,Pass awayThe storm should pass away before dark
28、.天黑前风暴就会停止了。Even the time pass away, it sill can work well.即使时间流逝再多他们也还是能工作。Im sorry to hear that the old man passed away last night. 听到老人昨晚去世的消息很难受。,三、英语习语的灵活运用 英语习语的组成部分不容任意更动或替换，即使更动或变换，也受一定的限制。然而，为了渲染气氛，烘托思想感情或突出某种概念，或者为了修辞的需要，作者在形文时往往对习语作一定的更动。 1、习语组成部分的替换和分拆：a cut above = several cuts abovepul
29、l a long face = pull an unhappy facebring into line = wrestle into line,2.习语组成部分的扩充 如：put into practice = put into widespread practicecome of age = come of college agekeep company = keep rather disreputable company3. 习语组成部分的缩略 如： silver lining = Every cloud has a silver lining.velvet paw = Velvet paws hide sharp claws.,
