现代英语词汇学概论最强版复习资料chapter10.docx

Chapter10 English Idioms10.1 Introductory Remarks10.2 Sources of English Idioms 10.3 Classification of Idioms 10.4 Syntactic, structural and stylistic analysis of idioms10.1 Introductory RemarksIdiom: is a combination of two or more words which are usually structurally fixed and semantically opaque, and function as a single unit of meaning.English idiom: is a group of words with a special meaning different from the meanings of its constituent words.eg. a feather in sb.’s cap –an honour ,success ,of which one can be proud draw a blank –to fail to discover or find out about sth. after searching hard and asking many questions .* Idioms are usually semantically opaque, i.e. metaphorical rather than literal. An idiom functions as a unit of meaning.Features: a. semantic opaqueness; b. structural invariability.English idioms form an essential part of the general vocabulary. Idioms reflect the environment, life, history and culture of the native speakers, and are closely associated with their innermost spirit and feeling.10.2 Sources of English IdiomsMany idiomatic expressions come from:Everyday life of the English people;eg. to keep one’s shirt on要有耐心 ; 别紧张 ; 指不要紧张 to give sb. the cold shoulder冷落某人Agricultural life;eg. to go to seed花谢结子 ; 走下坡路 ; 花谢结籽 to lead sb. up the garden path迷惑某人,使某人产生错觉,花言巧语Nautical and military life;eg. be in the same boat with同舟共济 to be in deep waters陷入困境Business life;eg. to come under the hammer将要落锤 to talk shop三句不离本行Student life;eg. to speak by the book引经据典 to turn over a new leaf重新开始(改过自新,过新生活)Food and cooking;eg. to keep the pot boiling仅足糊口;苟延残喘 to be in the soup陷入困境Sports and cad-playing;eg. to keep the ball rolling不使中断 to reach first base取得初步成就The Bible;eg. a thorn in the flesh肉中刺,眼中钉,烦恼的根源 to turn the other cheek忍气吞声 the apple of one’s eyes掌上明珠Shakespeare’s plays;eg. to flutter the dovecotes扰乱鸽棚 to give the Devil his due勿掩恶人善，平心而论fables, myths or legends.eg. sour grapes（指某人因得不到某物而称该事物不好）酸葡萄 the lion’s share（最大份额或最大