Idioms and Translation 成语与翻译(1)
The Translation of Chinese Idioms (1)

The Translation of Chinese Idioms (1)爱屋及乌Love me, love my dog.百闻不如一见Seeing is believing.比上不足,比下有余"worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst笨鸟先飞: C: a slow sparrow should make an early start. / E: a lame traveler should get out betimes.不眠之夜white night不以物喜,不以己悲not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses 不遗余力spare no effort; go all out; do one's best不打不成交"No discord, no concord.拆东墙补西墙rob Peter to pay Paul吃一堑,长一智: by falling we learn to go safely.辞旧迎新bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old year and ring in the new此地无银三百两: never try to prove what nobody doubts.大事化小,小事化了try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all大开眼界open one's eyes; broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener当局者迷,旁观者清: outsiders see more than insiders. / standers-by see more than gamesters.得不偿失: give a lark to catch a kite.对症下药: a disease known is half the cure.国泰民安The country flourishes and people live in peace过犹不及going too far is as bad as not going far enough; beyond is as wrong as falling short; too much is as bad as too little功夫不负有心人Everything comes to him who waits.好了伤疤忘了疼once on shore, one prays no more好事不出门,恶事传千里Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide.和气生财Harmony brings wealth活到老,学到老One is never too old to learn.化干戈为玉帛: bury the hatchet.既往不咎let bygones be bygones家和万事兴: he is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.江山易改,本性难移: the leopard cannot change its spots.金无足赤,人无完人Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect.金玉满堂Treasures fill the home脚踏实地be down-to-earth脚踩两只船sit on the fence狡兔三窟: the mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.举一反三: half a tale is enough for a wise man.君子之交淡如水the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal; a hedgebetween keeps friendship green老生常谈,陈词滥调cut and dried, cliché冷暖自知: every man is best known to himself.礼尚往来Courtesy calls for reciprocity.留得青山在,不怕没柴烧"Where there is life, there is hope."马到成功achieve immediate victory; win instant success名利双收gain in both fame and wealth茅塞顿开be suddenly enlightened没有规矩不成方圆Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.每逢佳节倍思亲On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.It is on the festival occasions when one misses his dear most.谋事在人,成事在天"The planning lies with man, the outcome with Heaven. / Man proposes, God disposes. "弄巧成拙be too smart by half; Cunning outwits itself.拿手好戏masterpiece宁为玉碎不为瓦全: better death than dishonor.赔了夫人又折兵throw good money after bad抛砖引玉 a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale破釜沉舟cut off all means of retreat;burn one‘s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end抢得先机take the preemptive opportunities巧妇难为无米之炊If you have no hand you can't make a fist./ One can't make bricks without straw.千里之行始于足下 a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step前事不忘,后事之师Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.前人栽树,后人乘凉One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.One sows and another reaps.前怕狼,后怕虎fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind/ hesitate in doing something强龙难压地头蛇Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies.强强联手win-win co-operation情人眼里出西施: if ja ck is in love, he is no judge of jill’s beauty.拳不离手,曲不离口: no day without a line.瑞雪兆丰年A timely snow promises a good harvest.人之初,性本善Man's nature at birth is good.人逢喜事精神爽Joy puts heart into a man.人海战术huge-crowd strategy仁者见仁,智者见智: E: the donkey means one thing, and the driver another. / C: the benevolent see benevolence and the wise see wisdom.。
成语谚语-英语翻译

Idioms and proverbs
• • • • • 3 意译/解释 a far cry from 与…相差甚远 to face the music 勇亍承担后果 to spill the beans 不慎泄密 to cut corners 节约
Idioms and proverbs
• to hold one’s horses 别忙,耐心点,别沉不住 气 • in one’s element 在行,擅长 • on one’s toes 机灵 • straight from the shoulder 直截了当
• 一言既出,驷马难追 • Words, once uttered, cannot be retrieved by the fastest steed. • Even four horses cannot take back what one has said. • What is said cannot be unsaid.
Idioms and proverbs
• Content is happiness. 知足者常乐。 • Know your own faults before blaming others for theirs. • 欲责他人,应先 and proverbs
• • • • • • 沧海一滴 a drop in the ocean 实事求是 to seek truth from facts 一见如故 to feel like old friends at the first meeting 同甘共苦 to share each other’s joys and hardships
Idioms and proverbs
• • • • • • to beat the dog before the lion 杀鸡给猴看 Lock the door after the horse is stolen. 亡羊补牢 He who takes charge knows the responsibility. 不当家不知柴米贵。
C-E Idiom Translation

A good conscience is a soft pillow. 为人不做亏心事,半夜叫门心不惊。 A word spoken is past recalling. 说出去的话就难改了(君子一言,驷马难追)。 Let the sleeping dog lie. 莫惹睡狗(不要自找麻烦;不要随便打草惊 蛇)。
直译联想法
Bad workmen often blame their tools. 拙匠常怪工具差。 联想:不会撑船怪河弯 He who laughs at crooked men should need walk very straight. 笑别人驼背的人得自己首先把身子挺直. 己不正不正人
It’s a long lane that has no turning. 路必有弯;世上没有直路 联想:事必有变;瓦片也有翻身日
Idioms from W.Shakespeare
Bay (or:bark at) the moon 对月亮吠叫 干徒劳无益的事 What’s done is done. 事情干了就算了。 联想:既往不咎 strange bedfellows 同床异梦
Murder will out (Truth will come to light). 纸包不住火 联想:真相终将大白 Love is blind. 爱情是盲目的。(情人眼里出西施)
Idiom Translation
直译加解释法
(There is) no rose without a thorn. 没有不带刺的玫瑰(世上没有十全的福; 有苦必有乐) An old dog will learn no new tracks (you can not teach old dogs new tricks.) 老狗学不出新把戏。(老顽固认真 弄清其确切含义之后再动手翻译;否则会 出大错。
英语idiom与汉语成语对比分析

英语idiom与汉语成语对比分析摘要通过对比分析英语idiom与汉语成语的相同点和不同点,最后得出结论:idiom不适合译作成语。
关键词英语idiom;汉语成语;跨文化交际中图分类号:h313 文献标识码:b 文章编号:1671-489x(2013)09-0119-02英语中的idiom数量浩繁,在英语中有不可或缺的地位,对于中国的英语学习者来说,掌握这些idiom也成为他们成功进行跨文化交际的要点和难点。
英语中的idiom有如此重要的地位,但在语言学界,它的中文译名却至今仍未达成共识。
英语idiom一词常被译成“成语”,甚至一些专门性的词典也将idiom译成“成语”,如:english colloquial idioms(英国语言学家f.t.伍德)的译本《英语通俗成语词典》(云南人民出版社,1980),a dictionary of common english idioms with chinese translation的译本《常用英语成语双解词典》(四川人民出版社,1986),chinese idioms and their equivalents的汉译名为《汉英对照成语词典》(商务印书馆,1983)。
但究竟idiom是否能译作“成语”?下文将对英语idiom和汉语成语进行对比分析。
1 英语idiom与汉语成语的相同点1.1 地位相同英语是世界上使用范围最广、词汇最多的语言,英语中的idiom 数量浩繁,应用广泛,有的学者把它们比喻为食物中的维生素,有的专家甚至把它们视为语言的生命和灵魂,这些说法都从不同的角度阐明了idiom在英语中占着毋庸置疑的重要地位。
汉语源远流长,词汇丰富多彩,它言简意赅、生动形象,比一般的词语有着更强的表现力。
汉语成语还是汉语言文化的“活化石”和“全息块”。
由此可以看出,汉语成语与英语idiom都是两种语言中的精华部分。
1.2 都具有结构的稳固性英语idiom和汉语成语在结构上都有稳固性这一特点。
英语成语俗语和寓言故事

One good turn deserves another.
It means “善有善报” in Chinese. This saying comes from the fable The Dove and the Ant. In it a dove saves an ant from drowning in a river. Later the ant saves the dove’s life by stinging a hunter in the foot, making him miss his aim at the dove.
Idioms & sayings & fables
Translation of idioms
白手起家 百里挑一 包罗万象 饱经风霜 悲欢离合 背道而驰 本末倒置 笨鸟先飞 必由之路 变本加厉 兵不厌诈 不耻下问
build up from nothing one in hundred all-embracing/ all-inclusive weather-beaten vicissitudes of life run counter to run in the opposite direction put the cart before the horse the slow need to start early the only way be further intensified in war nothing is too deceitful feel not ashamed to learn from one's subordinates
Байду номын сангаас
Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
第八章 Idioms and Translation 成语与翻译(2)..

(4). 不透明性(semantic opacity)
a). beat the air 徒劳无益
b). hang one’s head
c). spill the beans
3). Sources of E. Idioms (成语/熟语的来源) (1)、地理环境 a). drink like a fish
c). Colloquialisms (俗语) keep hands in pockets, have another fish to fry
早霞不出门,晚霞行千里
d). Slang Expressions(俚语) to pay the debt of nature answer the call of nature
c). tit for tat
d). as sure as eggs is eggs
(3). 整体性 (semantic unity)
a). know the ropes 懂行 b). fall off one’s chair
c). fly off theБайду номын сангаасhandle
d). under the weather (euphemism)
a). Set Phrases (成语) call a spade a spade after one’s heart 才高八斗 b). Proverbs/Sayings/Maxims(谚语、箴言) Forbidden fruit is sweet Enough is as good as a feast 江山易移,本性难改
(2). An idiom is a set phrase of two or more words that means something different from the literal meaning of the individual words. (Ammer, 1997) 成语(习语)是由两个或多个词组成的固定 词组,它的意义不同于各组成词的字面意义
idioms 123条汉语成语英译
[转] 英语中常见的123个中国成语写作就不用愁字数啦转载自吕亚维转载于2010年05月08日 17:42 阅读(0) 评论(0) 分类:随笔举报1.爱屋及乌 Love me, love my dog.2.百闻不如一见 Seeing is believing.3.比上不足比下有余 worse off than some, better off than many; to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst.4.笨鸟先飞 A slow sparrow should make an early start.5.不眠之夜 white night6.不以物喜不以己悲 not pleased by external gains, not saddened by personnal losses7.不遗余力 spare no effort; go all out; do one's best8.不打不成交 No discord, no concord.9.拆东墙补西墙 rob Peter to pay Paul10.辞旧迎新 bid farewell to the old and usher in the new; ring out the old year and ring in the new11.大事化小小事化了 try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all12.大开眼界 open one's eyes; broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener13.国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace14.过犹不及 going too far is as bad as not going far enough; beyond is as wrong as falling short; too much is as bad as too little15.功夫不负有心人 Everything comes to him who waits.16.好了伤疤忘了疼 once on shore, one prays no more17.好事不出门恶事传千里 Good news never goes beyond the gate, while bad news spread far and wide.18.和气生财 Harmony brings wealth.19.活到老学到老 One is never too old to learn.20.既往不咎 let bygones be bygones21.金无足赤人无完人 Gold can't be pure and man can't be perfect.22.金玉满堂 Treasures fill the home.23.脚踏实地 be down-to-earth24.脚踩两只船 sit on the fence25.君子之交淡如水 the friendship between gentlemen is as pure as crystal;a hedge between keeps friendship green26.老生常谈陈词滥调 cut and dried, cliché27.礼尚往来 Courtesy calls for reciprocity.28.留得青山在不怕没柴烧 Where there is life, there is hope.29.马到成功 achieve immediate victory; win instant success30.名利双收 gain in both fame and wealth31.茅塞顿开 be suddenly enlightened32.没有规矩不成方圆 Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. 33.每逢佳节倍思亲 On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.It is on the festival occasions when one misses his dear most.34.谋事在人成事在天 The planning lies with man, the outcome with Heaven. Man proposes, God disposes.35.弄巧成拙 be too smart by half; Cunning outwits itself36.拿手好戏 masterpiece37.赔了夫人又折兵 throw good money after bad38.抛砖引玉 a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale39.破釜沉舟 cut off all means of retreat;burn one‘s own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end40.抢得先机 take the preemptive opportunities41.巧妇难为无米之炊 If you have no hand you can't make a fist. One can't make bricks without straw.42.千里之行始于足下 a thousand-li journey begins with the firststep--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step43.前事不忘后事之师 Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future. 44.前人栽树后人乘凉 One generation plants the trees in whose shade another generation rests.One sows and another reaps.45.前怕狼后怕虎 fear the wolf in front and the tiger behind hesitate in doing something46.强龙难压地头蛇 Even a dragon (from the outside) finds it hard to control a snake in its old haunt - Powerful outsiders can hardly afford to neglect local bullies.47.强强联手 win-win co-operation48.瑞雪兆丰年 A timely snow promises a good harvest.49.人之初性本善 Man's nature at birth is good.50.人逢喜事精神爽 Joy puts heart into a man.51.人海战术 huge-crowd strategy52.世上无难事只要肯攀登 Where there is a will, there is a way.53.世外桃源 a fictitious land of peace away from the turmoil of the world;54.死而后已 until my heart stops beating55.岁岁平安 Peace all year round.56.上有天堂下有苏杭 Just as there is paradise in heaven, ther are Suzhouand Hangzhou on earth57.塞翁失马焉知非福 Misfortune may be an actual blessing.58.三十而立 A man should be independent at the age of thirty.At thirty,a man should be able to think for himself.59.升级换代 updating and upgrading (of products)60.四十不惑 Life begins at forty.61.谁言寸草心报得三春晖 Such kindness of warm sun, can't be repaid by grass. 62.水涨船高 When the river rises, the boat floats high.63.时不我待Time and tide wait for no man.64.杀鸡用牛刀break a butterfly on the wheel65.实事求是seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts66.说曹操,曹操到Talk of the devil and he comes.67.实话实说speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is68.实践是检验真理的唯一标准Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.69.山不在高,有仙则名'No matter how high the mountain is, its name will spread far and wide if there is a fairy; '70.韬光养晦hide one's capacities and bide one's time71.糖衣炮弹sugar-coated bullets72.天有不测风云Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue73.团结就是力量Unity is strength.74.“跳进黄河洗不清”'eve if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean--there's nothing one can do to clear one's name '75.歪风邪气unhealthy practices and evil phenomena76.物以类聚,人以群分Birds of a feather flock together.77.往事如风'The past has vanished (from memory) like wind.; What in past, is pas78.望子成龙hold high hopes for one's child79.屋漏又逢连阴雨Misfortunes never come singly. When it rains it pours.80.文韬武略military expertise; military strategy81.唯利是图draw water to one's mill82.无源之水,无本之木water without a source, and a tree wiithout roots83.无中生有make create something out of nothing84.无风不起浪There are no waves without wind. There's no smoke without fire. 85.徇私枉法bend the law for the benefit of relatives or friends86.新官上任三把火a new broom sweeps clean87.虚心使人进步,骄傲使人落后Modesty helps one go forward, whereas conceit makes one lag behind.88. 蓄势而发accumulate strength for a take-off89.心想事成May all your wish come true90.心照不宣have a tacit understanding; give tacit consent; tacit understanding 91.先入为主First impressions are firmly entrenched.92.先下手为强catch the ball before the bound93.像热锅上的蚂蚁like an ant on a hot pan94.现身说法warn people by taking oneself as an example95.息事宁人pour oil on troubled waters96.喜忧参半mingled hope and fear97.循序渐进step by step98.一路平安,一路顺风speed somebody on their way; speed the parting guest99.严以律己,宽以待人be strict with oneself and lenient towards others100鱼米之乡101.有情人终成眷属'Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.'102.有钱能使鬼推磨Money makes the mare go. Money talks.103. 有识之士people of vision104.有勇无谋use brawn rather than brain105.有缘千里来相会Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.106.与时俱进advance with times107.以人为本people oriented; people foremost108.因材施教teach students according to their aptitude109.欲穷千里目,更上一层楼'to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther; Would eye embrace a thousand miles? Go up, one flight.' a land of milk and honey110.欲速则不达Haste does not bring success.111. 优胜劣汰survival of the fittest112.英雄所见略同Great minds think alike.113.冤家宜解不宜结Better make friends than make enemies.114.冤假错案'cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases'115.一言既出,驷马难追A real man never goes back on his words.116.招财进宝Money and treasures will be plentiful117.债台高筑become debt-ridden118.致命要害Achilles' heel119. 众矢之的target of public criticism120.知己知彼,百战不殆Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.121. 纸上谈兵be an armchair strategist122.纸包不住火Truth will come to light sooner or later.123.左右为难between the devil and the deep blue sea红稣手,黄藤酒,满城春色宫墙柳。
英语成语 Figurative idioms隐喻成语
• the sear and yellow leaf
– 暮年
• single harness
– 光棍生活
• bite one’s thumb拇指 at somebody
– 侮辱,鄙视某人
• 2.2.3 borrowed idioms 外国成语 • 希腊神话/荷马史诗Greek mythology /Homeric epics 史诗
• 瘦骨伶仃
– Have a heart of stone – Fish in troubled waters浑水摸鱼 – Look with folded arms袖手旁观 – Constant dripping wears the stone滴水穿石 – Know something like the palm of one’s hand 了如指掌
– Armed to teeth武装到牙齿 – Ivory tower象牙塔,脱离实际的小天地 – Crocodile’s tears – Sour grapes酸葡萄 – Bottle neck – Turn the page
• 翻开新页
• 2.3.3. 意译法 free translation • Pass the buck
• • • • • • •
2.2.1 from daily life日常生活 航海业 农业 磨坊和铁匠铺 狩猎 体育娱乐 人体各部分
• P.387-390
• 颜色 • Once in the blue moon
– 偶然有一次
• Out of the blue
– 完全意外地
• Be in brown study
• 2.1.1 semantic classification of figurative idioms语义分类 • From the perspective观点 of pragmatics语 用论 • Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Idioms:
On English and Chinese Idioms Translation论英汉成语的翻译
On English and Chinese Idioms Translation论英汉成语的翻译AbstractThe idiom is a very common phenomenon of language in both Chinese and English. And it is the most important part of language and culture. It is also the language crystal through human being’s activit ies and associations. The idioms have the tremendous similarities between Chinese and English. And there are also some differences because of different social backgrounds, customs and religions.The author of this paper examines the sources and characteristics of idioms between English and Chinese and the strategies of the translation so that we can master and use the idioms well to make our idioms translation more vivid and live.The key word: similarities; differences; translation; idioms摘要成语无论在汉语中还是在英语中都是一个常见的语言现象,是一个社会语言和文化的重要组成部分,也是人们在长期实践和认识过程中提炼出来的语言结晶。
[英语学习]中国成语中英文对照idioms
[英语学习]中国成语中英文对照idioms译员必须“后退”:汉语成语的英译死亡之后,士兵们在死亡之地,他们将活着.比路高一英尺,比魔法高一英尺。
最高的爬一英尺,魔鬼爬十英尺.高预防胜于治疗预防胜于治疗.新官上任三把火新扫帚扫净.塞翁失马不幸可能是因祸得福路遥知道马的力量已经增长了很长一段时间,人们会看到它。
一次长途旅行考验一匹马的力量,一项长期的任务证明一个人的性格.沧海一粟沧海一粟岁月不等人时间不等人.经验是一个好老师。
经验是老师.小型汽车笔记:假装[常用短语]扭转局势vi.扭转局势创造是世界上的第一件事。
当某人倒下时,打他当一个人倒下时打他是有耳朵的。
墙有耳朵.开夜车开夜车.坦率真诚地说当他遇到问题时,他总是向他的配偶敞开心扉盗贼之间有荣誉。
狗不吃狗.一个好机会应该得到另一个一种仁慈是另一种仁慈的代价.损人利己注:配偶(示例)他从未提到过他的配偶他从未提到过他的妻子。
充实自己:自我充实、自我利益和智慧,都会有损失。
不骄傲地赢,优雅地输不以成功宣布,也不以失败区分。
智者没有困惑。
聪明人没有困惑哪里有烟,哪里就有火。
无风不起浪.(哪里有烟,就有火给百合花镀金百合利用这个麻烦来维持收支平衡。
和尚不能管理寺庙。
小型汽车笔记:荷马:n.荷马(希腊诗人)事实上,很难找到摆脱这种局面的方法。
古怪的两个头比一个.好混日子情人眼里出西施。
对某事物表现出特别的偏爱所有的女孩都喜欢凯文,但他只喜欢玛丽我们什么时候分开最好消除敌意,而不是收缩它.反对归反对,但没有办法,只好抛开不管眼不见,心不烦.舌尖上口误有时会给你带来麻烦小型汽车笔记:一只教堂老鼠:一个乞丐的口误:口误,口误,口误,口误非常恭顺的表情他总是对他的老板毕恭毕敬浅薄的人稍有成就就会忘记应该持有的态度。
早起的鸟儿有虫吃欲速则不达欲速则不达匆忙,低速.给狗起个坏名字,然后绞死它。
给一只狗起个坏名字,然后绞死它搅水捕鱼如果你没有足够的钱,你就得付钱。
对不起,但是我不知道该怎么办。
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B. pre.+n on the go 忙个不停,活跃着 on call 随叫随到的 beyond the pale 失宠,丢脸 C. adj.(adv.)+pre.phrase up in the air 十分激动,气愤,悬而未决的 wet behind the ear 缺乏经验的
(3). Idioms Verbal in Nature (动词性成语) A. v+n Draw a blank 终于失败 Fit the bill 适合某人的目的 Miss the boat 坐失时机 B. v+pre. Phrase
2). Features of English Idioms (英语成语的特征) (1). 习用性(idiomaticity) (2). 定型型(syntactic stability) (3). 整体性(semantic unity) (4). 不透明性(semantic opacity)
(1).习用性(idiomaticity) 指成语广泛地为英美国家所沿用,具有广泛的社会 基础和强大的生命力
C. prep+n+and+n through thick and thin, between the devil and the deep sea
4)Methods to Translate English Idioms 1). Literal translation (直译)— (找汉语对应的成 语或习惯表达式。在不违背汉语语言规范的前 提下,尽可能地将英语习语的民族特点和地方 色彩体现出来) a. fish in troubled waters 混水摸鱼 b. call white black 颠倒黑白 c. add fuel to the flames 火上浇油 d. give up halfway 半途而废 e. mindful of personal gains and losses 患得患失 f. rack the brain 绞尽脑汁
b). Idioms from Fables A fly on the wheel 盲目自负的人 cry wolf 虚张声势 (5)、风俗习惯 a). Social convention (社会习俗) above the salt/below the salt 受人尊敬/无足轻重
b). Idioms related to colors(与颜色有关) Bleed somebody white 榨干某人的钱财 Black spot 交通事故多发地段 A true blue 守旧派 Roll out the red carpet 隆重欢迎
Idioms and Translation 成语与翻译
英语成语汉译 Translation of English Idioms
1). Defintion (定义)
2). Features (特点)
3). Sources (来源) 4). Classification (分类) 5). Methods (翻译方法)
C. n+n brain trust, brain drain, sheet anchor 最后的或主要的靠山
(2). Idioms Adjectival in Nature (形容词性成语) A. adj.+adj. cut and dried 呆板的,没有生气的 high and mighty 神气活现
c). Profession (与职业有关) put out to grass 年老退休 throw in the towel 承认失败,认输 bark up the wrong tree 攻错目标
4). Classification (分类) In terms of their grammatical functions, English idioms can be classified as follows: (1). Idioms nominal in nature (名词性成语) A. Adj.+n white elephant, blue chip, high tea B. n+prep+n an apple of discord, a friend at court, the milk of human knidness C. n+and+ n rank and file, flesh and blood, part and parcel
(2). 宗教信仰
宗教信仰是文化的一个重要组成部分,往往贯穿 人们的精神生活和社会生活,同时也在语言中表现 出来。 a). Idioms from The Bible (源自《圣经》故事、传说) handwriting on the wall 不祥之兆 turn the other cheek 甘受侮辱 the parting of the ways 紧要关 Nhomakorabea,转折时刻
(4). 不透明性(semantic opacity) 成语的意义往往是约定俗成的,其使用与一 定的语境有关,脱离了具体语境,其意义会 显得不那么透明,难以理解。 a). beat the band (beat the record, beat the air ) 闻所未闻 b). hang one’s head 感到羞愧 c). spill the beans 泄密
King Charles’s head (David Copperfield) 常谈的话题 man Friday (Robinson Crusoe) 忠实的仆人 (4). 神话和寓言 a). Greek and Roman Mythology under the rose 严守秘密,私下里 between Scylla and Charybdis 左右为难
(3)文学作品 a). Idioms from Shakespeare’s Works one pound of flesh (The Merchant of Venice) 合法而不合理的要求 cakes and ale(The Twelfth Night) 吃喝玩乐 man of mould (King Henry V) 凡人 b). Idioms from Works by Other Writers mind one’s eyes (Barnaby Rudge) 小心谨慎
In a word, an idiom can be understood in different senses. In a broad sense, an idiom may refer to a short phrase or a short sentences, such as a set phrase, a proverb, a saying, a quotation, a maxim, a colloquialism, or a slang expression, as is shown as follows: a). Set Phrases (成语): call a spade a spade(直言不讳); b).Proverbs/Sayings/Maxims(谚语、箴言): Enough is as good as a feast(知足常乐); c). Colloquialisms: have another fish to fry(另有企 图); d). Slang Expressions(俚语): to pay the debt of nature (告别人世). In a narrow sense, an idiom refers to a set phrase, as is evident as follows: chop and change (反复无常)
a). Play one’s cards close to one’s heart 保守秘密 b). Bill and coo 说情话
(2).定型性 (syntactic stability) 词、形式、结构都是固定的,一般不能更改或替换。 a). in a brown study 冥思苦想 b). lip service 口头承诺(光说不做) c). tit for tat 针锋相对 d). as sure as eggs is eggs 确凿无疑
3). Sources of English Idioms (成语的来源) (1)、地理环境 特定的地理环境造就了特定的文化,特定的文 化又产生了特定的表达方式。 a). drink like a fish 牛饮(会喝酒) b). do by the board 被遗忘,被忽视 c). nail one’s colours to the mast 坚持到底 d). as close/fresh as an oyster 守口如瓶(精力充沛)
D. v+n+prep. make short work of 迅速处理 make a clean breast of 和盘托出
(4). Idioms Adverbial in Nature (副词性成语) A. n+and +n Tooth and nail 竭尽全力地
B. prep+n With flying colors 出色地,成功地 In a breeze 轻而易举地
(3). 整体性 (semantic unity) 成语的意义是一个整体,其意义不能凭组成 词的字面意思去理解。
a). know the ropes 懂行 b). fall off one’s chair 大吃一惊 c). eat one’s head off 吃得太多 d). go the whole hog (slang) 一干到底 e). under the weather (euphemism) 感到不舒服
Dip into one’s purse 乱花钱 Jump down one’s throat 使某人哑口无言,粗暴打断某人的话 C. v+n+pre.phrase Take the change out of someone 报复某人 Burn the candle at both ends 过分地耗费精力