1. English Morphology and Lexicology

2. Chapter 9 English Idioms
9.1 Characteristics of idioms
1) Semantic unity
2) Structural stability
9.2 Classification of idioms
9.3 Use of idioms
1) Stylistic features
2) Rhetorical features
3) Variations of idioms

6. Idioms
Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements.
fly+off+the+handle≠ fly off the handle
Become excessively angry

7. Idioms
Strictly speaking, idioms are expressions that are not readily understandable from their literal meanings of individual elements.
put+up+with≠ put up with
tolerate

8. Idioms In a broad sense, idioms may include Colloquialisms
Catchphrases
Slang expressions
Proverbs …

9. 9.1 Characteristics of idioms
till the cows come home
adv.
forever
Semantic unity: the various words that make up the idiom have lost their individual identity; the part of speech of each word is no longer important, and the idiom functions as one word.

10. 9.1 Characteristics of idioms
How do you do?
Form of greeting≠
In what way do you do things?
Semantic unity: is also reflected in the illogical relationship between the literal meaning of each word and the meaning of the idiom.

11. 9.1 Characteristics of idioms
in a brown study (= deep in thought)
≠in a (red, green, white, …) study
≠in a brown (room, den, hall, studio, cell, …)
Structural stability: the structure of an idiom is to a large extent unchangeable.

12. 9.1 Characteristics of idioms
by twos and threes ≠by threes and twos
tit for tat ≠tat for tit
Structural stability: the word order can not be inverted or changed.

13. 9.1 Characteristics of idioms
Out of the question ≠out of question
in question ≠in the question
Structural stability: the constituents of an idiom can not be deleted or added to.

14. 9.1 Characteristics of idioms
diamond cut diamond
as sure as eggs is eggs
Structural stability: many idioms are grammatically unanalysable.

15. Idiomaticity scale
true idioms
Semi- idioms
combinations
Regular

16. 9.2 Classification of idioms
Idioms nominal in nature
Idioms adjectival in nature
Idioms verbal in nature
Idioms adverbial in nature
Sentence idioms

17. 9.3 Use of idioms 1. stylistic features Coloquialisms Slang
Literary expressions

18. In deep water Having lost her passport, she is now in deep water.
in trouble or difficulty

19. tide over
Will you lend me some money to tide me over until I get my pay cheque?
help sb through (a difficult period) by providing what he needs

20. Take the helm =be at the helm
at the head of an organization, etc; in control

21. kill two birds with one stone
achieve two aims with a single action or simultaneously

22. a bull in a china shop
person who is rough and clumsy when skill and care are needed

23. put all one's eggs in/into one basket
risk everything one has on the success of one plan, eg by putting all one's money into one business

24. new brooms sweep clean
a person newly appointed to a responsible position (starts to change and improve things energetically, in a way that is sometimes resented by others)

25. Wash one’s dirty linen in public
discuss one's personal (esp unpleasant) affairs or quarrels in public

26. Keep the pot boiling
(a) keep sth (eg a children‘s game) moving at a fast pace
(b) keep interest in sth alive

27. boil down boil (sth) down =reduce or be reduced by boiling
boil sth down (to sth) =(infml 口) summarize sth; condense sth: Could you boil that article down to 400 words?
boil down to sth= (be able to) be summarized as sth: The issue really boils down to a clash between left and right.

28. jump at the bait
be cheated

29. a fish out of water
=person who feels uncomfortable or awkward because he is in unfamiliar surroundings
With my working-class background I feel like a fish out of water among these high-society people.

30. hit below the belt
(fight) unfairly

31. play fair =play or act fairly, following rules or accepted standards
Come on, you‘re not playing fair.

32. bring around I'll try to bring him around to your views.
If you bring someone around, you cause them to change their opinion about something so that they agree with you.
I'd passed out and he'd brought me round.
If you bring someone around when they are unconscious, you make them become conscious again.

33. bring home the bacon
(infml 口) achieve sth successfully

34. 9.3 Use of idioms 2. rhetorical features Phonetic manipulation
Alliteration
Rhyme
Lexical manipulation
Reiteration
Repetition
Juxtaposition
Figures of speech
Simile
Metaphor
Metonymy
Synecdoche
Personification
euphemism

35. 9.3 Use of idioms 3. variations of idioms replacement
Addition or deletion
Position-shifting
Shortening
Dismembering

36. THANK YOU