lavrova_n_a_a_coursebook_on_english_lexicology_angliiskaya_l
.pdf
III
Explain the meaning of the phraseological units below. Say whether they are fusions, combinations or unities. Consult a dictionary if necessary.
To pull a fast one, to be in the red, to take the biscuit, to be on the make, to make a meal out of something, to keep
one’s card close to one’s chest, to bark up the wrong tree, to be a slowcoach, to be quick off the mark (to be slow
off the mark), to be middle-of-the- road, to pour oil on troubled waters, to be the cat’s whiskers and the bee’s
knees, to buy a pig in a poke, to get a finger in every pie.
IV
Paraphrase the sentences:
1.TherearemoreholesinyourprojectthaninaSwisscheese.
2.This history essay is a complete dog’s breakfast. 3. When he entered the room, I realized he had heard everything, and I got egg on my face. 4.We took his story with a pinch of salt.
5.When the personnel manager asked him why he was leaving, he answered that he had bigger fish to fry elsewhere. 6. I chose not to spill the beans about my prospective promotion, because I am a little superstitious.
7.July was fed up with playing second fiddle to her boss, so she walked out. 8. Getting a second degree is important, because you get a second string to your bow.
9.The spokesman’s report struck a chord with the audience.
10.When Larry said he had done all his homework, his father answered that he was going to cast an eye over his essay.
11.When Jane heard the coveted words “I carry a torch for you”, she was on cloud nine. 12. I asked you to buy chicken, not veal. – Sorry, I got my wires crossed.
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V
Finish the proverbs. Some of them rhyme.
1.Badnewshas...2.Beslowtopromiseandquickto…3. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a… 4. Betwixt and… 5. Children and fools must not play with edged … 6. Envy shoots at others and wounds…7. Follow the river and you'll gettothe…8.Forcedkindnessdeservesno…9.Greatboast, small… 10. Great spenders are bad… 11. He that mischief hatches, mischief…12. Hedge between keeps friendship… 13. If things were to be done twice, all would be…14. Little strokes fell great… 15. No herb will cure … 16.The darkest place is under the….
Phraseological units are, as is well known, set expressions with a transferred meaning. If understood literally, which sometimes happens to foreigners, little children or those who don’t know the language well enough, they either mean something completely different or appear nonsensical.
VI
Below is the literal understanding of some well-known English idioms. Work out what kind of idiom is meant in each case.
1.There is an unpleasant smell in the room, as if a rat has died somewhere.
2.My feet are very cold.
3.They say that there is a land when everyone nods.
4.I have eaten a lot of beans today, my stomach is full of them.
5.As he was going home, he saw a vehicle and some
things fell off its back.
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6.The other day I visited my friend’s garden and he led me up its path to see the dahlias that grew at the back.
7.As I was driving, my hand slipped off the steering wheel and the car ended in a muddy groove .
8.The man was so tall and the ceiling so low that he could easily reach it and hit his head against it.
9.I asked my Granny to tie a knot, but she couldn’t do it properly.
VII
Below are some of the sources of idioms in English. Say what each item means and think of the possible contexts in which they could be used.
Family and children
Chip off the old rock
Spitting image
Smb.’s middle name
Put through the mangle
Household name
Sports and Games
To be on the ball To take a rain check To touch base
The real McCoy Who ate all the pies? From pillar to post
To turn the tables on smb.
The cards are stacked against smb. To pass the buck
Food and cooking
Big cheese
To nail jelly to the wall To go pear-shaped Eye-candy
On the back burner
To put a finger in every pie
Manners, moods and mores
Age before beauty To keep one’s shirt on To blow one’s top To take umbrage
A wet blanket
To take an early bath
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Popular culture and the arts
To make smb.’s day
To jump on the bandwagon To pull out all the stops Back to the drawing board To paint smb. warts and all
Fables
Sour grapes
Halcyon days
To add insult to injury
Drink
Wake up and smell the coffee Small potatoes
Small beer
To be meat and drink to smb. I’ll drink to that
Drinking in the last chance saloon
Proverbs
Tread on the worm and it will turn Ill-gotten gains never prosper Live fast, die young
All is fair in love and war
It takes all sorts to make a world Great minds think alike
The pen is mightier than the sword Marry in haste, repent at leisure
Quotations and allusions
Speak softly and carry a big stick (Theodore Roosevelt)
Coughs and sneezes spread diseases (the Second World War Ministry of Health slogan) Diamonds are a girl’s best friends (a song by Leo Robin and Jule Styne, 1953)
Catch-22 (the title of the novel by Joseph Heller, 1961)
W. Shakespeare
Salad days (Antony and Cleopatra)
It beggars description (Antony and Cleopatra) Method in smb.’s madness (Hamlet)
All Greek to me (Julius Caeser) To gild the lily (King John)
More sinned against than sinning (King Lear) The milk of human kindness (Macbeth)
A foregone conclusion (Othello) The seamy side (Othello)
Spare the rod and spoil the child (Taming of the Shrew)
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VIII
Match the idiom on the left with its explanation on the right (the right column contains three extra explanations)
To be taken to task |
to be in despair |
Against the grain |
American dream |
To lay it on thick |
to be reprimanded |
To be like putty in smb.’s hands |
to flatter |
Run of the mill |
to control smb. completely |
To shoot the messenger |
the wrong way |
Bread and circuses |
visual, sensual entertainment |
The dog ate my homework |
to be lucky, to bring profit |
To have the Midas touch |
a childish excuse for not having your work |
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done |
What’s the damage? |
A feeling caused by anxiety or apprehen- |
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To keep smb. posted |
How much does it cost? |
Sinking feeling |
to keep smb. informed |
Armed to the teeth |
fully prepared |
To have a chip on one’s shoulder |
average, middle of the road |
To pick up the gauntlet |
not to welcome bad news |
To pass muster |
to explore every possible way |
A shot in the dark |
to pass inspection |
Son of a gun |
to bear a grudge, to be resentful |
Flotsam and jetsam |
to accept a challenge |
To leave no stone unturned |
a wild guess |
A jaundiced eye |
the ultimate proof of smth. |
To be on the same wavelength |
odds and ends |
The acid test |
a rogue or rascal |
A sight for sore eyes |
to understand smb. completely |
To keep one’s nose clean |
trying to stay out of trouble by not getting |
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involved in any sort of wrong-doing |
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a person or thing that one is pleased or re- |
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lieved to see |
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cynical, resentful, bitter |
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a prejudiced view, a critical or resentful |
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manner |
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Supply a pertinent phraseological unit that the pictures below illustrate.
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X
There are a number of phraseological units in English that are centered around the thematic field “parts of the body”. Consult a dictionary of phraseological units and try to trace the origin of each unit. Does your dictionary explain the motivation behind the part of the body that was chosen as one of the components of the phraseological unit?
Parts of |
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the body |
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as con- |
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stituent |
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elements |
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of a phra- |
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seological |
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Arm, leg |
To cost an arm |
To be very expensive |
The new house cost me an |
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arm and a leg. |
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Elbow |
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I am writing a new novel |
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your elbow! |
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praise or encourage- |
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Well, more power to your |
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elbow. |
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new job, do not put it on the |
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long finger |
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long finger |
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working |
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bone |
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look |
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if |
To look innocent but |
He looks as if butter |
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butter |
wouldn’t |
to be capable of do- |
wouldn’t melt in his mouth, |
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but I know better and do not |
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mouth |
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To give financial sup- |
trust him too far. |
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causes that one be- |
I believe in charity and am |
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money |
lieves are right |
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going to help the homeless |
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mouth is |
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my mouth is. |
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Parts of |
Phraseological |
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as con- |
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stituent |
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elements |
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of a phra- |
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seological |
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Teeth |
To do something |
To just manage to do |
I escaped the predicament |
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the skin of |
smth. almost failing |
by the skin of my teeth |
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one’s teeth |
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To do smth. with a lot |
When he got promoted, he |
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immediately sank his teeth |
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teeth into smth. |
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into the new job |
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Foot, feet |
To |
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itchy |
To find it difficult to |
I can never stay long any- |
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feet |
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where. I’ve got itchy feet. |
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like travelling |
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discovering |
new |
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places |
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To be clumsy or awk- |
I am sorry for inadvertently |
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ward in one’s move- |
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To have two left |
ments |
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pushing you forward, I seem |
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feet |
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To have a small but |
to have two left feet. |
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successful start |
in |
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something |
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the door in any profession |
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foot in the |
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nowadays. |
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door |
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Ear |
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keep |
one’s |
To make sure that one |
When he found himself in |
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ear |
to |
the |
is aware of what is |
that new organization, he |
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happening around |
had to keep his ear to the |
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ground. |
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tention to what is be- |
When the students heard the |
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ing said |
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word “exam”, they pricked |
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up their ears. |
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one’s ears |
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