English Language
Idioms and Idiomatic Speech
Idiom: an expression of language made up of a group of words which have a different meaning as a group than the direct translation of each word.
Characteristics of an Idiom
They are not literal in their meaning. A single idiom can be defined in many ways, and carry many implications about the subject, speaker and listener.
They are 鈥渇ixed expressions鈥 whose grammar or structure usually can鈥檛 be changed without destroying their meaning.
Forty winks does not mean ten less than fifty winks.
He kicked the bucket does not mean the bucket was kicked by him.
BUT, the tense of a verb can often be changed without altering the meaning.
He gets up at last! --- He finally got up.
Don鈥檛鈥 blow your stack! --- She blew her stack.
Appropriate usage varies according to the formality or informality of a situation and the speaker鈥檚 relationship to the listener.
Generally, the more formal the situation, the less appropriate the use of idiom.
Idioms are very culturally specific. Sayings and proverbs especially represent ideas that are deeply embedded in how a society sees itself.
The early bird gets the worm. 鈥 American idiom
The first bird out of the bush gets shot. 鈥 Chinese idiom (roughly)
Types of Idioms
- Idioms that act like a particular part of speech within a sentence.
I think I鈥檒l turn in. (verb = go to bed)
She鈥檚 broke. (adjective = penniless)
It disappeared into thin air. (adverb = completely)
- Entire phrases, 鈥渢urns of phrase鈥 or phraseological idioms:
On the right track (the correct direction in solving a problem)
Make a clean sweep (doing something without mistakes or win everything in a game or series of games)
Fly off the handle (to become angry)
All in the same boat (all experiencing the same difficulties)
- Sayings and proverbs: These self-contained idioms are fixed by long use which sometimes dates the vocabulary. They embody the 鈥渉istorical wisdom鈥 of a society and sometimes become clich茅s.
Don鈥檛 count your chickens before they鈥檙e hatched.
Practice makes perfect
Don鈥檛 air your dirty linen in public
Blood is thicker than water.
| It鈥檚 about time you showed up. | You finally arrived. |
| Take (have) a seat. | Please be seated. |
| We鈥檙e working against the clock. | We haven鈥檛 much time. |
| All systems are a go. | Everything is ready. |
| I鈥檓 all thumbs. | I鈥檓 clumsy. |
| It costs an arm and a leg. | It鈥檚 very expensive. |
| He was taken aback! | He was very startled (or surprised)! |
| His back is to the wall. | He鈥檚 trapped by the circumstances. |
| Stop beating around the bush. | Stop avoiding the issue. |
| Sal鈥檚 behind the eight-ball. | Sal鈥檚 in trouble. |
| Have you met my better half? | Have you met my spouse? |
| Carl鈥檚 just biding his time. | Carl鈥檚 just waiting for a chance. |
| It makes your blood run cold. | It鈥檚 horrifying. |
| She鈥檚 boning up on her German. | She鈥檚 reviewing her German lessons. |
| Mom鈥檚 got a green thumb. | Mom鈥檚 a successful gardener. |
| The girls are having a ball. | The girls are enjoying themselves. |
| I think he has a screw loose. | I think he鈥檚 a little crazy. |
| I have to hit the books tonight. | I have to study tonight. |
| Her feathers were ruffled (or nose bent out of shape). | She was irritated (or aggravated or annoyed or offended). |
| His toes were stepped on. | He was offended. |
| They were tickled pink. | They were very pleased (or happy). |
| Keep your head above water. | Stay out of trouble. |
| My heart goes out to her. | I feel sorry for her. |
| I have a little hole-in-the-wall. | I have a small, inexpensive apartment. |
| He is always in a fog. | He is always confused. |
| Joe鈥檚 in hot water. | Joe鈥檚 in trouble. |
| It鈥檚 still up in the air. | It鈥檚 still undecided. |
| The bottom line is NO! | The final answer is NO! |
| Dress down (or casual) day. | A day (usually Friday) when the employees are dressed more casually. |
ALASKA IDIOMS:
| He鈥檚 a cheechako. | He鈥檚 a newcomer to Alaska. |
| She鈥檚 a sourdough. | She鈥檚 lived in Alaska for a long time. |
| I鈥檓 going Outside next week. | I鈥檓 leaving Alaska next week. |
| He鈥檚 from the lower 48. | He鈥檚 from the contiguous or continental U.S. |
| Break up is coming. | The season of spring is arriving; the snow is beginning to melt; the ice on the rivers will be melting and breaking up soon. |
English Can Be a Strange Language
Below are some examples of how the English language can sometimes have the same use of a word which may have a different pronunciation or may have a different meaning:
- We polish (wax) the Polish (nationality) furniture.
- He would lead if he would get the lead out.
- A farm can produce produce (vegetables).
- The dump was so full it had to refuse (turn away) refuse (garbage).
- The soldier decided to desert (leave) in the desert (geographic physical description) and wanted to eat dessert.
- The present (time) is a good time to present (give) the present (gift).
- The dove (bird) dove (angle of flight) into the bushes.
- I did not object (protest) to the object (thing).
- The insurance for the invalid (an ill person) was invalid (worthless).
- The bandage was wound around the wound (injury).
- There was a row (disagreement) among the oarsmen about how to row.
- They were too close (near) to the door to close it.
- The buck does funny things when the does (female deer) are present.
- They sent a sewer (seamstress) down to stitch the tear in the sewer line.
- To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow (female pig) to sow (plant).
- After a number (numerical quantity) of Novocaine injections my jaw got number (no feeling).