|
Partially compositional idioms - there are some relationships between an idiom's constituents and its idiomatic meaning can be discerned and exploited
Fully compositional idioms - the constituents correspond directly with their idiomatic referents.
Based on the level of transparency, idioms can be classified according to the extent to which the meaning of an idiom can be derived from the meaning of its particular constituents. Glucksberg refers to:
Opaque idioms - where the relations between an idiom's constituents and its meaning may be opaque, but the meanings of individual words can nevertheless constrain both interpretation and use
Transparent idioms - where there are one-to-one semantic relations between the idiom's constituents and components of the idiom's meaning.
Furthermore, Glucksberg introduces a quasi-metaphorical type of idiom, the meaning of which is conveyed through its allusional content. These idioms refer to an ideal exemplar of a concept providing at the same time a characterization of an event or situation as an instance of that concept.
The notion of the continuum from opacity to transparency leads Cacciari [49] to come up with the following division of idioms:
Retrospectively transparent idioms - they become transparent once the speaker either knows the meaning or is reminded of the episode or setting that originated the idiom
Directly transparent idioms - the senses of the words lead the speaker to the idiomatic meaning of the string (e.g. by means of the recreation of an analogical or metaphorical mapping)
Figuratively transparent idioms - they are composed of other idioms, or parts that appear in other idioms or as metaphorical devices
On the other hand, sememic idioms are considered to be of a higher and more abstract linguistic level. They correlate with institutionalized culturally pragmatic meanings and their purpose is mainly to express culture-bound notions, such as politeness, understatement etc.
Here we want to suggest a list of some idioms with their meanings. The following sentences contain idioms. The fixed words constituting the idiom in each case are bolded in Crystal’s book “A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics” on page 11:
The ball is in your court. This means it is up to you to make the next decision or step.
It's in the ballpark. This means within an acceptable or similar range.
To take your ball and go home. This means to cease participating in an activity that has turned to one's disadvantage.
To kill two birds with one stone. This means to solve two problems at one time with a single action.
They are pulling my leg. This means they are teasing me by telling me something untrue.
To beat around the bush. This means to avoid doing something, to stall, to waste time.
It's my cup of tea. This means one's choice or preference.
You are on the ball. This means you have qualities, such as competence, skill, or knowledge, that are necessary for success.
That’s water under the bridge, It's spilled milk, To burn your bridges. This means a past occurrence, especially something unfortunate, that cannot be undone or rectified.
I'll drop you a line. This means to send a message or start a telecommunicated conversation.
To kick the bucket, They are going to croak. This means to die.
To tighten up something. This means to make something more disciplined.
They are a knock out, They are hot. This means that the person a is a very good-looking man or woman.
To beat a dead horse. This means to waste time doing something that has already been unsuccessfully attempted.
To put words into someone else's mouth. This means to interpret what someone said so that the words mean what you want and not what the speaker wanted.
You need to pull up your socks. This means you need to make an effort to improve your work or behavior because it is not good enough.
You are out to lunch, You have rocks in your head. This means you are wrong about what your belief is, or are very ignorant or stupid about your opinion.
I can't keep my head above water. This means inability to manage a situation.
To come around. This means to change your opinion of something.
It's raining cats and dogs. This means to rain very heavily.
I'm tied up right now. This means that you are busy.
Someone cut the cheese! This means someone farted.
Oh no! You spilled the beans!, You let the cat out the bag. This means to let out a secret.
Scraping the bottom of the barrel. This mean to choose from the very worst of what is available, even if unsatisfactory.
I'm feeling cold. This means to feel sad.
They are full of themselves. This means that they are conceited, self-centered, or self-important.
It's not rocket science, It's not brain surgery. This means something is not exceedingly difficult.
Put a cork in it, Shut your hole, To pipe down, You need to zip it. This means "shut up!" (another idiom), be quiet, and stop talking.
To mix oil and water, Putting a square peg into a round hole. This means trying to combine two things that do not belong or fit together.
To sit down with. This means to spend time with someone in order to discuss something.
I'm screwed. This means that one is doomed, is in big trouble, or has made a huge mistake.
I'll bet. This is a hyperbolic or sarcastic way of saying "certainly" or "of course".
Who knows. This is a hyperbolic or sarcastic way of saying "I don't have any idea or clue".
This is a piece of cake! This means a task will be easy.
Put your eye on it. This means to watch or monitor something or a person/persons closely and carefully.
Expressions such as these have figurative meaning. When one says "The devil is in the details", one is not expressing a belief in demons, but rather one means that things may look good on the surface, but upon scrutiny, undesirable aspects are revealed. Similarly, when one says "The early bird gets the worm", one is not suggesting that there is only one opportunity; rather one means there are plenty of opportunities, but for the sake of the idiom one plays along, and imagines that there is only one. Alternatively, the figurative translation of this phrase is that the most attentive and astute individual, or perhaps the hardest working or most opportunistic receives the most desirable opportunity. On the other hand, "Waste not, want not" is completely devoid of a figurative meaning. It counts as an idiom, however, because it has a literal meaning and people keep saying it.
Do'stlaringiz bilan baham: |
