Answers for lexicology 1

CHAPTER V. SEMANTICS – MEANING

V.1. Metaphor

E 1. Pick out the metaphors from the following word combinations:

- a green bush, a green man, a green apple, green with envy.

- seeds of a plant, seeds of evil.

- a fruitful tree, fruitful work.

- a fruitless tree, a fruitless effort.

- the root of a tree, the root of a word.

- a blooming rose, blooming health.

- a fading or faded flower, fading or faded beauty.

E 2. What do we mean when we say a person is:

Like a fox, like a bull in a china shop?

- When we say a person like a fox, we mean he/she is a cunning or smart one and if we say someone like a bull in a china shop we imply that he/she is a very careless person who always break every thing.
V.2. Metonymy

E 1. Comment on the type and meaning of the following cases of metonymy:

- sandwich, mackintosh, boycott, hooligan: thing known by the name of person who brought it to public/fashion.

- cheviot, madeira, champagne, bordeaux, Havana: geographical name is used for goods originating from place where they are exceedingly numerous.
E 2. Discuss the following cases of metonymy:

- He is the hope of family: states and properties serve as names for objects and people possessing them.

- She was the pride of her school: states and properties serve as names for objects and people possessing them.

- I have never read Balzac in the original: common name derived from proper name.

- My sister is fond of old china: geographical name is used for goods originating from place where they are exceedingly numerous.

- the coffee pot is boiling: symbol for thing symbolized – instrument for the product.

CHAPTER VI. HOMONYMS

E 1. Find the homonyms proper for the following words:

- band: a company of musician band: a thin flat strip of cloth

- seal: a warm-blooded fish-eating animal seal: close

- ear: part of human body ear: plant part containing grain

- cut: the result of cutting cut: change scene

- to bore: to make a long round hole bore: to make somebody uninterested

- corn: a hard, horny thickening of the skin, esp. on the foot corn: a type of cereal

- fall: the act of falling fall: autumn – the 3^rd season in the year

- to hail: to greet hail: pellets of ice

- ray: a kind of fish ray: single line or narrow beam of light

- draw: something that attracts attention draw: finish with equal score (sports).
E 2. Find the homophones to the following words. Explain meaning in English.

- heir /e(r)/: person entiled to property air /e(r)/: mixture of oxygen and nitrogen surrounding the earth.

- dye /dai/: substance used to change color of hair or cloth die /dai/: stop living.

- cent /sent/: common unit of currency scent /sent/: smell, perfume.

- tale /teil/: story tail /teil/: rear part of animal body.

- sun /sΛn/: star around which earth revolves son /sΛn/: boy in relation with parents.

- meat /mi:t/: edible animal flesh meet /mi:t/: to see another.

- steel /sti:l/: an alloy of iron and carbon steal /sti:l/: to take sth illegally.

- knight /nait/: honoured military man (hist) night /nait/: daily period of darkness.

- sum /sΛm/: total some /sΛm/: several.

- hare /he(r)/: mammal like rabbit hair /he(r)/: strands growing on the head or body.

- write /rait/: put words on paper with pen right /rait/: true, correct.

- sight /sait/: seeing site /sait/: place.
E 3. Find the homographs to the following words and transcribe both

- to bow /ba/: to bend the head of the body

bow /b/: looped knot

- wind /wind/: air in motion

wind /waind/: wrap sth with coil

- to tear /tзr/: to pull apart by force

tear /ti/: single drop of fluid from eyes

- bear /bi/: a large, heavy animal

bear /be/: to carry, bring

- to dessert /diz:t/: to go away from a person or place

desert /dezt/: arid area

- row /r/: number of person or things in a line

to row /ra/: noisy quarrel.

CHAPTER VII. SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

VII.1. Synonyms

E 1. In the following groups of synonyms, find the synonymic dominant:

- exact, precise, accurate

- salvage, uncivilized, barbarous

- hide, conceal, disguise

- agree, approve, consent

- recall, recollect

- cry, weep, scream, sheirk

- clever, able, intelligent, keen, sharp

- uneducated, ignorant, illiterate, misinformed

- agile, nimble, alert, quick, brisk, active

E 2. Arrange the following synonyms according to their degree of intensity:

- ask, implore, beg ask  beg  implore

- longing, desire, wish wish  desire  longing

- wither, decay, fade fade  wither  decay

- handsome, pretty, beautiful pretty  handsome / beautiful

- irritate, annoy annoy  irritate

- pierce, penetrate penetrate  pierce

- alarmed, frightened, terrified fightened  alarmed  terrified

- happiness, pleasure, delight pleasure  happiness  delight

- affiction, despair, sadness sadness  dispare  affiction

- astonishment, surprise, consternation surprise  astonishment  consternation

- excuse, pardon, forgive excuse  pardon  forgive

- accident, disaster, misfortune misfortune  accident  disaster

- malicious, naughty, nasty, wicked naughty  nasty  malicious  wicked

- genius, capability, talent capability  talent  genius.
VII.2. Antonyms

E 1. Give antonyms to the following words. Arrange them in three columns: derivational antonyms (eg. careful – careless), absolute antonyms (eg. slow – fast) and mixed (eg. correct – incorrect, wrong).
Alert, discord, alive, ugly, artless, appearance, assist, arrange, courage, attentive, descend, safety, consistent, aware, convinent, competent, continue, preceding, correct, sufficent, frequent, distinct, expensive, hostile, faithful, wet, enemy, temporary, legal, lower, kind, normal, painful, encourage.

Derivational antonyms	Absolute antonyms	Mixed antonyms
Artless – artful Appearance – disappearance Attentive - inattentive Arrange – disarrange Descend – ascend Consistent – inconsistent Convenient – inconvenient Competent – incompetent Sufficent – insufficent Frequent – infrequent Distinct – indistinct Legal – illegal Normal – abnormal Encourage - discourage	Discord – accord Alive – dead Ugly – beautiful Assist – hinder Courage – cowardice Safety – danger Preceding – following Hostile – friendly Wet – dry Enemy – friend Temporary – permanent Lower – higher	Aware – unaware, ignorant Continue – discontinue, stop Correct – incorrect, wrong Expensive – inexpensive, cheap Faithful – faithless, disloyal Kind – unkind, cruel Painful – painless, pleasant

E 2. Give derivational antonyms to the following words:

Just, justice, use (v), use (n), fortunate, fortune, grateful, like (v), like (adj), lovely, movable, moved, related, relative.

Just – unjust Justice – injustice Use (v) – misuse Use (n) – disuse Fortunate – unfortunate Fortune – misfortune Grateful – ungrateful

Like (v) – dislike Like (adj) – anlike Lovely – unlovely Movable – immovable Moved – unmoved Related – unrelated Relative - irrelative

CHAPTER VIII. SET EXPRESSION - PHRASEOLOGY

E 1. Analyze the structure of the following phraseological units. Give Vietnamese equivalents.

1. It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Function like noun. N + that clause. Già néo đứt dây.

2. Can the loepard change his spots?

Sentence. Đánh chết cái nết không chừa

3. To put all one’s eggs in one basket.

Function like verb. V + one’s + N + preposition. Được ăn cả ngã về không.

4. Burnt child dreads the fire.

Sentence. Chim phải đạn sợ làn cây cong.

5. To set the Thames on fire.

Function like verb. V + N. Kinh thiên động địa / Bán trời không văn tự.

6. It is not the grey coat that makes the gentleman.

Funtion like noun. N + that/ subordinate clause. Mặc áo cà sa không hẳn đã là sư.

7. As well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.

Function like Adj. As + adj + as + N. Đâm lao thì phải theo lao / Đã trót thì trét.

8. To let no grass grow under one’s feet.

Function like verb. V + N. Đừng để nước đến chan mới nhảy.

9. To give somebody a piece of one’s mind.

Function like verb. V + N. Mắng cho một trận / Thẳng thắn phê bình.

10. A stitch in times saves nine.

Sentence. Diệt cỏ diệt tận gốc / Nhổ cỏ nhổ cả gốc.

11. The game is not worth the candle.

Sentence. Lợi bất cập hại / Thu không đủ chi.

12. To look for a needle in a bottle of hay.

Function like verb. V + postpositive. Mò kim đáy bể.

13. A skeleton in the cupboard.

Funtcion like noun. N + preposition + N. Đẹp tốt phô ra, xấu xa đậy lại.

14. To have a finger in the pie.

Function like verb. V + N + preposition. Dây máu ăn phần.

15. To skate on thin ice.

Function like verb. V + postpositve. Liều lĩnh / Dễ gây sứt mẻ.

16. He who would catch fish must not mind getting wet.

Sentence. Muốn ăn thì lăn vào bếp.

17. To bring water to someone’s mouth.

Function like verb. V + N + preposition. Mỡ để miệng mèo.

18. Like fish out of water.

Function like noun. N + preposition + N. Như cá mắc cạn / Chim chích vào rừng.

19. To take the bull by the horns.

Function like verb. V + N + preposition. Đứng mũi chịu sào.

20. To let the cat out of the bag.

Funtion like verb. V + N + preposition. Để lộ bí mật / Cái kim trong bọc lâu ngày cũng lòi ra / Giấu đầu hở đuôi.

21. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Sentence. Chớ thả mồi bắt bóng.

22. Like a cat on hot bricks.

Function like noun. N + preposition + N. Bồn chồn / Lo lắng / Như ngồi trên đống lửa.

23. Once bitten twice shy.

Funtion like verb. V + N. Phải một cái thì vái đến già.

24. On the horns of dilemma.

Function like adj. Preposition + N. Tiến thoái lưỡng nan.

25. Beauty is only the skin deep.

Sentence. Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn / Cái nết đánh chết cái đẹp.

26. Better luck next time.

Function like adj. Adj + N. Thua keo này bày keo khác.

27. A big fish in little pond. (In the kingdom of the blind, one-eyed man is the king)

Sentence. Thằng chột làm vua sứ mù

28. A game that two can play, two can play at that game.

Sentence. Gậy ông đập lưng ông.

29. Give the game away.

Function like verb. V + N. Tiết lộ bí mật.

30. The devil looks after his own.

Sentence. Mèo mù vớ cá rán.

31. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Sentence. Có chí thì nên / Có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim.

32. To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.

Sentence. Sướng từ trong trứng nước.

33. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Sentence. Cái khó ló cái khôn.

34. One good turn deserves another.

Sentence. Ở hiền gặp lành.

35. The worm will turn.

Sentence. Con giun xéo mãi cũng quằn.

36. Play it by ear.

Function like verb. V + N. Tuỳ cơ ứng biến

37. Fish in trouble water.

Function like noun. N + preposition + N. Đục nước béo cò / Thừa nước đục thả câu.

38. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Sentence. Lắm thầy nhiều ma / Lắm sãi không ai đóng cửa chùa.

39. Two heads are better than one.

Sentence. Một cây làm chẳng nên non, Ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao .

40. Heap coals of fire on somebody’s head.

Function like verb. V + N. Lấy oán trả ơn / Gắp lửa bỏ tay người.

41. The devil makes work for idle hands.

Sentence. Nhàn cư vi bất thiện.

42. To talk of the devil and he will appear.

Function like verb. V + postpositive. Nhắc tới Tào Tháo thì Tào Tháo đến.
E 2. Explain whether the semantic change in the following phraseological units are complete or partial.

1. Cast pearls before swine.

Complete change. Đàn gảy tai trâu.

2. Go on a fool’s errand.

Complete change. Có tiếng mà không có miếng.

3. To eat humber pie.

Partial change. Ngậm bồ hòn làm ngọt / Nếm mật nằm gai.

4. To be in the same boat.

Partial change. Cùng hội cùng thuyền.

5. Tell it to the marine.

Complete change. Nói cho ma nghe.

6. To stick to one’s gun.

Partial change. Giữ vững lập trường.

7. To beat about the bush.

Partial change. Vòng vo tam quốc.

8. To throw cold water on smb.

Partial change. Dội gáo nước lạnh.

9. To pour oil on fire.

Partial change. Đổ thêm dầu vào lửa.

10. Like father, like sun.

Partial change. Cha nào con nấy.
E 3. Complete the following phrases so that they make English proverbs and phraseological units.

1. a bird in hand

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Chớ thả mồi bắt bóng.

2. the devil makes work

The devil makes work for idle hands. Nhàn cư vi bất thiện.

3. kill two birds

Kill two birds with one stones. Một mũi tên trúng hai đích.

4. there’s no fool

There’s no fool like an old fool. Chẳng có cái dại nào như cái dại nào.

5. to eat one’s cake

To eat one’s cake and have it. Vẹn cả đôi đường.

6. the die

The die is cast. Bút sa gà chết.

7. the early bird

The early bird catches the worm. Trâu chậm uống nước đục.

8. between the cup and the lip

There is a many slips between the cup and the lip. Miếng ăn đến miệng còn rơi mất.

9. the cap

If the cap fits, wear it. Có tật giật mình.

10. spilt milk

It’s no use crying over spilt milk. Thôi đừng tiếc rẻ con gà quạ tha.
E 4. Complete the following similes, using words from the list below.

a ditch-water, a post, a bear, day, nails, thieves, fiddles, bee, egg, bat, brass, fish, needle, gun, grave.

1. as dull as… As dull as a ditch-water. (Nhạt như nước ốc)

2. as fit as… As fit as a fiddle. (Khoẻ như vâm)

3. as sharp as… As sharp as a needle. (Sắc như dao)

4. as surly as… As surly as a bear. (Gắt như mắm tôm)

5. as silent as… As silent as grave. (Kín như bưng / Lặng như tờ)

6. as deaf as… As deaf as a post. (Điếc đặc điếc lòi)

7. as mute as… As mute as a fish. (Câm như hến)

8. as clear as… As clear as day. (Rõ như ban ngày)

9. as thick as… As thick as thieves. (Ăn ý / Hoà hợp)

10. as busy as… As busy as a bee. (Bận rộn)

11. as sure as… As sure as a gun. (Chắc như đinh đóng cột)

12. as bold as… As bold as brass. (Trơ tráo như gáo múc dầu / Mặt dày mày dạn)

13. as full as… As full as an egg. (Chật như nêm)

14. as hard as… As hard as nails. (Cứng nhắc)

15. as blind as… As blind as bat. (Mù tịt)
E 5. Compare the meaning of the expressions given in the two columns below. State which of them are phraseological.

#	Phraseological units
1. to have fling at smb/sth: speak in a ironical voice.	To have one’s fling: to be a playboy.
2. to lose heart: to be cowardice.	To lose one’s heart to smb: to fall in love with smb.
3. to take care: careful.	To take care of : to look after, mind.
4. to have a word with: to talk to smb.	To have words with smb: quarrel with smb.
5. in a family way: natural.	In the family way: to be pregnant.
6. in and out: to go in and out.	Ins and outs: specific.
7. a matter of fact: an obvious thing.	As a matter of fact: obvious.
8. before long: not long.	Long before: very long.
9. behind time: late.	Behind the times: backward.
10. nothing in common: different.	Nothing out of common: exactly the same.

E 6. Translate the following proverbs and idioms into English:

1. Trứng đòi khôn hơn vịt.

To teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs.

2. Khẩu phật tâm xà.

A woft in a sheep’s clothing.

3. Tránh vỏ dưa gặp vỏ dừa.

Out of the frying pan into the fire.

4. Vắng chủ nhà gà vọc niêu tôm.

When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

5. Liệu cơm gắp mắm.

To cut one’s coat according to one’s cloths.

6. Vỏ quít dày có móng tay nhọn.

Diamond cuts diamond / To set a thief to catch a thief.

7. Đứng núi này trông núi nọ.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence/hill.

8. Chớ múa rìu qua mắt thợ.

Never offer to teach fish to swim.

9. Nước đổ đầu vịt.

Like water off a duck’s back.

10. Dã tràng xe cát.

To build castle in the air.

11. Yêu cho đòn cho vọt, ghét cho ăn cho chơi.

To spare the rat spoil the child.

12. Chớ thả mồi bắt bóng.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

13. Ngưu tầm ngưu mã tầm mã.

Birds of a feather flock together.

14. Một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã.

Blood is thicker than water.

15. Cầm đèn chạy trước ô tô.

To put the cart before the horse.
E 7. Give as many phraseological units as possible, using the followingwords:

a. to beat, to catch, to draw, to keep.

To beat:

- to beat about: khuấy.

- to beat one’s brain: vắt óc suy nghĩ.

- to beat about the bush: vòng vo tam quốc.

- to beat up: đánh cho nhừ tử.

- to beat it: go way.

To catch:

- to catch one’s meaning: hiểu ý.

- to catch out: tìm thấy điểm yếu.

- to catch up: bắt kịp.

To draw:

- to draw back: rút lui.

- to draw in one’s horns: mất tự tin.

- to draw out: gặng hỏi.

- to draw one’s last breath: trút hơi thở cuối cùng.

To keep:

- to keep way: để xa, tránh xa.

- to keep smb add some words: bắt ai làm gì.

- to keep up: duy trì, tiếp tục.

- to keep an eye on: để mắt đến, để ý.
b. bone, mind

Bone:

- to be on one’s bone: túng quẫn.

- to be bred in the bone: ngấm sâu vào máu.

Mind:

- to cause smb to mind: nhớ lại.

- to keep one’s mind on doing sth: chú ý làm gì.

- to change one’s mind: thay đổi ý kiến.

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