Английские идиомы

English Idioms

Работу выполнила учитель иностранных языков МКОУ”Гмелинская СШ им.В.П.Агаркова

Салехова Асия Асхатовна

English Idioms

Idioms and idiomatic expressions in English

• An idiom is a group of words in current usage having a meaning that is not deducible from those of the individual words. For example, ”to rain very heavily” -is an idiom; and ”over the moon”-which means ”extremely happy”-is another idiom . In both cases , you would have a hard time understanding the real meaning if you did not already know these idioms!

• There are two features that identify an idiom : firstly, we cannot deduce the meaning of the idiom from the individual words; and secondly, both the grammar and the vocabulary of the idiom are fixed, and if we change them we lose the meaning of the idiom. Thus the idiom ”pull your socks up” means ”improve the way you are behaving” (or it can have a literal meaning); if we change it grammatically to ”pull your sock up” or we change it’s vocabulary to ”pull your stocking up” , then we must interpret the phrase literally-it has lost it’s idiomatic meaning.

I have butterflies my stomach

I'm short-handed

I don't have enough people to help

I am nervous about something

He's bending over backwards for you

He is doing more than is necessary

• How should one index an idioms reference? Do we list the idiom ” kick the bucket”? Given that Internet users have the option of searching for individual words with the search function, the approach we have taken is to list all idiom in strict alphabetical order, omitting the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the) and some pronouns if they occur at the beginning of the idiom. Thus, for example, the idiom ”kick the bucket” is indexed under K, while the idiom ”a ballpark figure” is indexed under B.

This is where I draw the line

I'll have to sleep on it

I will thing about it and let you know tomorrow

I will not do more (or tolerate more)

She has a green thumb

She is good at growing plants . She can grow plants.

Don't stretch the truth

• Many idioms originated as quotations from well-known writers such as Shakespeare. For example, ”at one fell swoop” comes from Macbeth and ”cold comfort” from King John. Sometimes such idioms today have a meaning that has been altered from the original quotation.

Watch your mouth

Don't turn the truth into a lie

Be careful what you say

He must put his foot down

You really take the cake

He must insist and say no

You did a good job. You really win the prize

He's blowing his own horn

• Some idioms are typically used in one version of English rather than another. For example, the idiom ”yellow journalism” originated and is used in American English. Other idioms may be used in a slightly different form in different varieties of English. Thus the idiom ”A drop in the ocean” in British and Australian English becomes ”a drop in the bucket” in American English. However, in general, globalization and the effects of film, television and the Internet mean that there is less and less distinction between idioms of different varieties of English. In this reference me have tagged an idiom with one variety of English or another only when the idiom really is restricted to a particular variety of English or to indicate that the idiom originated in that particular variety of English.
• Some idioms are typically used in one version of English rather than another. For example, the idiom ”yellow journalism” originated and is used in American English. Other idioms may be used in a slightly different form in different varieties of English. Thus the idiom ”A drop in the ocean” in British and Australian English becomes ”a drop in the bucket” in American English. However, in general, globalization and the effects of film, television and the Internet mean that there is less and less distinction between idioms of different varieties of English. In this reference me have tagged an idiom with one variety of English or another only when the idiom really is restricted to a particular variety of English or to indicate that the idiom originated in that particular variety of English.
• Some idioms are typically used in one version of English rather than another. For example, the idiom ”yellow journalism” originated and is used in American English. Other idioms may be used in a slightly different form in different varieties of English. Thus the idiom ”A drop in the ocean” in British and Australian English becomes ”a drop in the bucket” in American English. However, in general, globalization and the effects of film, television and the Internet mean that there is less and less distinction between idioms of different varieties of English. In this reference me have tagged an idiom with one variety of English or another only when the idiom really is restricted to a particular variety of English or to indicate that the idiom originated in that particular variety of English.

He is bragging about himself. To boast or praise oneself.

Zip your lip

Don't talk

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Entries

• a piece of cake
• If you say that something is a piece of cake, you mean that is it extremely easy.
• another string to your bow
• If you have another string to your bow, you have another way of making a living.
• eat humble pie
• If you eat humble pie, you admit that you are in the wrong and behave apologetically.
• a new lease of live
• If someone has a new lease of life, they have a new enthusiasm for living.
• can't see the wood for the tress
• If you can't see the wood for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.
• a drop in the ocean
• If an amount is a drop in the ocean, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.

• jobs for the boys
• If yon say "jobs for the boys" you're referring to the fact that people in positions of power sometimes use their power to give jobs to their friends or family members.
• a zebra crossing
• A zebra crossing is a pedestrian crossing that is marked on the road with painted black and white stripes.
• come up trumps
• If you come up trumps, you succeed in something that you may not have been expected to succeed in.
• itchy feet
• If you have itchy feet, you feel the need to go somewhere different or do something different or do something different.
• just the ticket
• You can say something is just the ticket if it’s the perfect thing or if it’s exactly what’s needed.
• off your own bat
• If you do something off your own bat, you do it without being asked to or told to.
• at a loose end
• If you’re at a loose end, you have nothing to do.
• come a cropper

• If you come a cropper, you fall over, or you make a mistake which has serious consequences for you.
• go down a treat
• If something goes down a treat, it’s a great success and everyone enjoys it.
• take the Mickey | Mick out of someone
• If you’re taking the Mickey out of someone, or taking the Mick out of them, you’re making fun of them or copying their behavior for a laugh.
• an axe to grind(2)
• If you have an axe to grind, you have a strong opinion about something and you express this opinion whenever you can.
• make a song and dance about something
• If you make a song and dance about something, you make a big deal out of, or a fuss over, something that isn’t very important.
• right up your street
• If something is right up your street, it would be perfect for you or ideal for your skills and interests.
• um and ah
• If you ”um and ah” you’re having trouble deciding what to say, or you’re having trouble telling somebody something.

Hold one’s tongue Keep still

Get lost Disappear

Knock it oft Stop or cease

It figures Seems likely

Make one tick Motivate

Not my bag Not when I like to do

Stick around Stay

Let is slide Neglect a duty

Search me I don’t know

At the end of this rope Pushed to the limit

Lose one’s cool Get angry

Straight from the shoulder Frankly , directly

Miss the boat Lose an opportunity

Make waves Create a disturbance

Throw the book at Be harsh in judgment

Pull one’s weight Do one’s share

Big deal Not really important

Dish it out Give abuse

Take the bull by the horns Act in a determined way

Give a big hand Applaud by clapping

Play by ear Play instrument without music

Answer the door See who is at the door

Push on Keep going

Keep an eye on Watch carefully

In tears Crying

Grow out of one’s clothes Get too large for clothes to fit

Give a ring Call on telephone

Drop a line Write a letter

Make faces A facial expression

Look down upon Scorn

Get on one’s nerves Make nervous

Drop in on Call on unexpectedly

Die down Decrease

Dry up Stop talking

Blow one’s stack Become angry

Fool around Play and joke

Stir up Arouse

Put this foot in his mouth Make a foolish remark

Kept his heard Remained calm

Cut in Interrupted

Make room for Create a space

Go off the deep end Be rash, hasty

Blow one’s top Become enraged

Brush up on Review studies

Blue in the face Can say no more to convince

Go Dutch Each pays own way

Be bent on doing something Strong desire to do

Firsthand Direct

• The future of idiomatic expressions in the English language seems certain. They are more and more based on American English. This development will continue through new mediums. It is hard to say what this will do to idioms and what kind of new idioms are created. This will be an interesting development to follow, and by no means does it lessen the humor, variety and color of English Language.