Курс лекций по лексикологии английского языка для студентов факультетов иностранных языков
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- Exercise 5.
| Exercise 4.
Read an extract from Professor Adam Makkai's introduction to a Dictionary of American Idioms on the problem of roots of the English language prominent idiomaticity. Comment on it. "Why is English, and especially American English, so heavily idiomatic? The most probable reason is that as we develop new concepts, we need new expressions for them, but instead of creating a brand new word from the sounds of the language, we use some already existent words and put them together in a new sense. This, however, appears to be true of all known languages. There are, in fact, no known languages that do not have some idioms. In learning idioms, though, a person may make an incorrect guess. Consider the idiom Oh well, the die is cast! What would you guess it means - in case you don't know it? Perhaps you may guess that the speaker you heard is acquiescing in something because of the Oh well part. The expression means 'I made an irreversible decision and must live with it'. You can now try to reconstruct how this idiom came into being: the image of the die that was cast in gambling cannot be thrown again; that would be illegal; whether you have a one, a three, or a six, you must face the consequences of your throw, that is win or lose, as the case may be, (Some people may know that the phrase was used by Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon, an event that led to war.) Exercise 5. In the list below find set expressions, corresponding to the following definitions. 1. Express one's opinion openly, often with the suggestion of doing so to the annoyance of other people. 2. Direct one's attack, criticism or efforts to the wrong quarter. 3. Bear the 3 main stress or burden (of a task, contest, etc.). 4. Talk around the point instead of coming direct to the subject. 5. Fail to carry out one's promise. 6. Change ownership (generally used of a business). 7. Constantly follow smb. importunately, thrust one's presence upon smb. 8. Fail to gain any information, or achieve any result from inquiries, investigation, etc. 9. Be docile; give no trouble; do whatever smb. wishes. 10. Pay all the expenses incurred. 11. Do smth. completely; not stop at half-measures. 12. Give in, surrender. 13. Be almost decided to do smth. 14. State the real facts about a situation, guess accurately. 15. Push oneself in front of a queue in order to get on to a vehicle, or to get served with goods before one's turn. 16. Remain mentally calm, and keep control of oneself in an emergency or a difficult situation. 17. Know, from experience, the best way or method of doing something. 18. Help, assist. 19. Indulge in strong or violent language to relieve one's feelings. 20. Pass the time by continuing some kind of work or activity without getting any father in it. 21. Draw an inference from given facts. 22. Be in agreement, hold similar views. 23. Run away hurriedly. 24. Ignore smth, pretend not to see it. 25. Disclaim further responsibility or concern. The list: Jump the queue; bark up the wrong tree; foot the bill; let off steam; see eye to eye; air one's views; lend a hand; haul down one's flag; beat about the bush; take to one's heels; eat out of smb's hand; mark time; hit the nail on the head; keep ode's head; change hands; turn a blind eye to smth.; put two and two together; bear the brunt; know the ropes; have a good mind to do smth ; break one's word; draw a blank; go the whole hog; dog smb's footsteps; wash one's hands of smth. жүктеу/скачать 0,7 Mb. Достарыңызбен бөлісу:
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