ENGLISH IDIOMS

Classification
Special idioms:Some idioms can stand as a unique group owning to their own features such as simile idiom,figurative/metaphorical idiom, twin word, proverbs&saying,allusive idioms, phrasal verbs. Simile idioms：as firm as rock/as light as feather/as hot as fire/as white as snow;as wise as Solomon/as patient as Job/as poor as Lazarus.
Features
Long-term idiomaticity:Idioms are of great vitality. 4,000+5,000 out of the total of 100,000 idioms are commonly used. Semantic unity(opaqueness):understood as a whole. Structural stability:The components,order,etc of idioms are not supposed to be altered.
come into blossom/flower;rise from the dead/grave take pains---->take great/endless pains at the outs---->at outs;talk cold turkey---->talk turkey
day&night--->night&day/young&old---->old&young
Significance
J.Seidle et al:Idioms are not a separate part of the language which one can choose to use or omit. V.H.Collins:Idiom today is an established , universal and essential element that , used with care, ornaments and enriches the language. Idioms are an essentially important part of the vocabulary which have existed for centuries and are still in use and constantly appear. The use of idioms is one of the distinguishing characteristics of a natural language,which will add greatly to the naturalness,sophistication,liveliness&efficiency of communication.
Classification
Twin words:on&on,out & out,neck&neck/far&wide,part&parcel,watch&w ard,whims&fancies/bed&board,high&mighty,br ead&butter. Trinomials:Tom,Dick&Harry/Brown,Jones&Robi nson;Angles,Saxons&Jutes;Holy Father,Holy Son&Holy Spirit; here,there&everywhere;knife,fork&spoon;eat, drink&be merry;good,bad&indifferent.
Features
Collocative restrictions:Some idioms have a wide range of collocations while others have limited choice.
be/seem/like/come as(like) a bolt from the blue.
Definition
In short,Idiom is the use of common words in a special sense. In length,Idiom is a fixed group of words or a single word or even a sentence,with a special meaning than can not be guessed right from its structure and its composing words but must be learnt as a whole.
Features
Syntactic diversity:Idioms cover all kinds of parts of speech.The syntactic function of a phrase idiom usually corresponds with that of the key word of an idiom. Transformational restriction(word order/voice): The electricity went off>>Off went … I’ll ring up??Up I’ ll It’s easy to feel for people in need??People in need to be felt for is easy
Sources
Daily life: keep one’s shirt on,make ends meet Agricultural life: go to she plough Nautical life: be in the same boat,be in deep waters Business life:talk shop,turn an honest penny Student life: speak by the book, read between the lines Food & cooking: keep the pot boiling,be in the soup Sports: keep the ball rolling,reach first base Bible:thorn in flesh,the apple of one’s eye Shakespeare:give the Devil his due,one’s salad days Fable,myth or legend: sour grapes,Achilles’ heel
Features
Stylistic neutrality or informality Rhetoric coloring: Phonetically:alliteration,rhyme; chop&change,bag&baggage/wear&tear,toil&moil Lexically:reiteration,repetition,juxtaposition(of antonyms) rough&tough,odds&ends/by&by,lots&lots/up&down Figures of speech:simile,metaphor,etc. as dead as doornail,a dark horse,live by one’s pen
Classification
Classification can be approached from different angles such as source,semantic criterion, communicative function(as feeling), syntactic function and structural criterion. Syntactic criterion is more helpful in the actual use of idioms. Eg.Heart& soul(adv) Structural criterion divides idioms into Phrase idioms,clause idioms(verb+object/complement) &sentence idioms (proverbs,sayings & conversational expressions)
Structural variability(idiomatic variants):It’s not unusual for writers to give a new twist(slight change) to an idiom for rhetorical effect or special appropriateness,including replacement,insertion,deletion or position-shifting of its component,though it has to be made with utmost caution.
Significance
The general tendency of contemporary English is towards more use of idiomatic words in both colloquial & formal style A knowledge of E.idioms is essential for the comprehension of conversation,written material and another culture. One obvious way of distinguishing a native speaker from a non-native one is by his knowledge&correct use of idioms.Native speakers use them naturally&unconsciously. Learning idioms is not an easy thing which needs everyday practice and observation and should be one of the main aims of non-native learners
Sources
The abundance & variety of Idioms may be greatly owned to the language development A knowledge of the sources may help us to comprehend what idioms really mean. Idioms come from the British everyday life,agricultural life,nautical&military life,business life,student life,sports life;and from the Bible,Shakespeare’s plays,fables,myths or legends, and from other languages.
ENGLISH IDIOMS
Definition Significance Sources Features Classification Idiomatic phrase,Free phrase,Proverb Idioms around different Topics Use of Idioms Comparative study & Translation