Set Expressions The cliche

Allusion is an indirect reference, by word or phrase, to a historical, literary, mythological, biblical fact or to a fact of everyday life made in the course of speaking or writing. The use of allusion presupposes knowledge of the fact, thing or person alluded to on the part of the reader or listener.

Allusions are based on the accumulated experience and the knowledge of the writer who presupposes a similar experience and knowledge in the reader: In the stock market he met his Waterloo.

The title of Agatha Christie’s book "The Labours of Hercules ” (Подвиги Геракла) is an allusion to the 12 heroic deeds of this hero. The name of the main character, Hecule Poirot, is also an allusion to the name of Hercules.

Allusions are a frequent device in advertisements and headlines. Besides, they may function within the literary text as similes, metaphors, metaphorical epithets, periphrases: eg. She has got a Mona Lisa smile.

Decomposition of Set Phrases.

Linguistic fusions are set phrases, the meaning of which is understood only from the combination as a whole: to pull person’s leg -дразнить,

The meaning of the whole cannot be derived from the meanings of the component parts. The stylistic device of decomposition of fused set phrases consists in reviving the independent meanings which make up the component parts of the fusion.

In other words, it makes each word of the combination acquire its literal meaning which in many cases leads to the realization of an absurdity:

He had so many new schemes up his sleeve that he had to wear kimonos to hold them.

By decomposing a set phrase the author discloses the inner form of the phrase and either:

1. 
   pretends to understand the phrase or its constituents literally, i.e. distorting by 'literalizing';
   
2. 
   revives the additional meanings of the components of which the fusion is made;
   
3. 
   inserts additional components (words) or replaces the original ones, etc.
   

Set expressions are usually decomposed for creating a humorous, ironic, sarcastic effect or even the atmosphere of absurdity.

There are several types of decomposition of set expressions:

1. 
   inclusion or prolongation, e.g. She took a desperate hold of his arm\
   
2. 
   interaction, e.g. to be fed up with smth + to be fed to the teeth = There are the words of a man who for some reason not disclosed is fed up to front teeth with the adored object',
   
3. 
   substitution (partial or complete)
   

Divorces (instead of marriages) are made in heavens. (O. Wilde);

To dish or not to dish? (about a satellite antenna; instead of Shakespearean To be or not to be?)',

4. 
   changes in spelling (attaining a new meaning and at the same time preserving or imitating the phonetical form of the original set expression), e.g. Sofa, So Good! (instead of So far, so good, when a furniture shop praises its sofas).
   

Questions for self-control

1. 
   Give examples of proverbs and sayings used in different texts and in the titles of fiction books, advertisements.
   
2. 
   Give examples of epigrams used in oratory or publisictic texts.
   
3. 
   Give the definition of allusion. What facts stand behind the following allusions: the Scrooge Syndrome, The software included a Trojan Horse, to wash one’s hands of it, forbidden fruit, Achilles' heel.
   
4. 
   Give the definition of set phrase. Make your own research and find examples of decomposition of set phrases in expressive prose.