Transcript English idioms

English idioms
Classification of
idioms

The idioms ,in a broad sense ,include
slang, proverbs, common sayings and
idioms. They have various forms, for
example, phrases、clauses and sentences.
Different ways to classify the idioms
1.By origin
Idioms from the bible :
lead by nose
control someone completely
wheels within wheels
complicated situation or
relationship
eat one’s own flesh
lazy and idle persons
Different ways to classify the
idioms
2.according to semantic relationship
the meaning of the idioms can be clearly
figured out from each word’s meaning.
show one’s teeth
(angry)
What done is done. (木已成舟)
green as grass ( young or inexperienced )
Different ways to classify the
idioms

3.according to the morphological structure
Strike while the iron is hot.
Barking dogs do not bite.
More haste ,less speed.
Different ways to classify the idioms


4.according to the grammatical functions
Reason:
help us to correct the wrong use of the
idioms in our daily life ,and make us have
a clear mind of the idioms which have
their own liberal meanings
Classification according to the
grammatical functions

1.idioms nominal in nature
They have a noun as the key word in each and
work as a noun in the sentence.
Classification according to the
grammatical functions

Examples
a white elephant :something useless and
unwanted but big and costly
(a +n)
flesh and blood :relatives and family
(n + conj + n)
clean hand: innocence
green hand: inexperienced person (a+ n )
land of promised :paradise (n + prep + n)
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
2.Idioms adjective in nature
Their constituents are probably not
adjective , but they function as adjectives.
Examples:
as poor as a church mouse: having or
earning barely enough money for one’s own
needs (as + a + as + n)
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
all things to all men :take great pain to
today to all person (n +prep +n)
eg.
Being a man of the world ,he is all things
to all men.
bone of the bone and the flesh of the flesh:
closely linked( n +conj +n)
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
3.Idioms verbal in nature
(1)Phrasal verbs ( v + prep/particle )
go off with sth: leave someplace with that does not belong
to one (v + particle + prep)
eg.
He went off with 10,000,000 dollars of the company’s
money
look into :investigate
take after sb: resemble (one’s father or mother )in
appearance or character
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
 (2).other verb phrases
burn one’s boats:破釜沉舟（v +’s +n)
wash the feet of sb: serve sb
(v + n +prep + n)
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
4. idioms adverbial in nature
The idioms here contain numerous
prepositional phrases, which can be
considered both as adjective and
adverb, so the idioms which have the
same structure may function
differently in a sentence.
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
Examples
tooth and nail: with great violence
and determination ( n+ conj +n)
heart and soul （全心全意）(n +
conj +n)
Classification according to
the grammatical functions
 5. sentence idioms
 As we mentioned before, idioms are
stable. The constituents can not be
changed or replaced, so the sentence
idioms are sayings and proverbs, which
can be subdivided into simple, compound
and complex sentences.
Classification according to
the grammatical functions




Examples:
Am I your brother’s keeper?
(simple)
Pig might fly if they had wings (complex).
One boy’s a boy; two boys are half a boy; three
boys are no boy at all.
(compound)
 He who has ears, let him hear. (complex)
 Whatsoever a man sowed, that should he also
reap.
(compound)
 Thank you for your listening !
God bless you!