Every person studying English must have come across such cases when the meaning of an English expression cannot be understood, although all the words are individually familiar and understandable.
For example:
- Can you finish the cleaning by 2 p.m.?
- sure. It will be a piece of cake.
Reading this dialogue, it's hard to understand how cleaning is related to a piece of cake. In fact, the English idiom used here is "a piece of cake", which means "easier than simple, without difficulty." And if you know this, there will be no difficulties in understanding.
Idioms, or phraseological units, exist in any language. These are phrases and phrases that have a figurative meaning that is different from the meaning of the words that are part of it. They are the expressive means of speech, along with proverbs and sayings. Therefore, the translation of phraseological units from English into Russian can be confusing.
Each language has its own idioms, often completely incomprehensible to speakers of other languages, since idioms are a reflection of the history of the people, the culture of the country in which they originated.
Today we will look at some English idioms with translation into Russian, dividing them according to the most popular topics of communication.
English idioms. Emotions and feelings.
Can "t stand - unable to endure.
Please stop singing! I can't stand it anymore!
Please stop singing! I can't take it anymore!
Pull oneself together - pull yourself together
After the divorce he couldn't pull himself together for a long time.
After the divorce, he could not pull himself together for a long time.
Put on airs - act arrogant, put on airs
Mary is the best pupil in class. But she always helps us and never puts on airs.
Mary is the best student in the class. But she always helps us and never puts on airs.
Full of the joys of spring - glow with happiness
He feels full of the joys of spring, because his girlfriend has forgiven him.
He glows with happiness because his girlfriend forgave him.
Down in the dumps - depressed, depressed mood
I'm sorry I've been so down in the dumps lately. I've lost my job.
I'm sorry I've been so depressed lately. I lost my job.
Idioms. Food.
Duck soup - a trifle, simpler than simple, simpler than a steamed turnip
Our exam in Maths was duck soup.
Our math exam was easy.
Neither fish nor fowl - neither fish nor meat; neither this nor that
No wonder he can't make any decision. He's always been neither fish nor fowl.
No wonder he can't make up his mind. He has always been neither fish nor meat.
Eat high on the hog - eat expensive food, live in a big way
If you marry him, you "ll eat high on the hog.
If you marry him, you will live in a big way.
Either feast or famine - sometimes empty, sometimes thick
How are things in your bar? - Either feast or famine, you know. Sometimes it's full, and sometimes there "s not a single soul.
How are things at your bar? - Either empty or thick, you know. Sometimes it is full, and sometimes not a single soul.
An apple-pie order - the perfect order
Her children always keep their room in an apple-pie order.
Her children always keep their room in perfect order.
Idioms. Money.
Money to burn - chickens do not peck money
He seems to have money to burn. He's always ready to lend it.
It seems that chickens do not peck at his money. He is always ready to lend them.
To make (both) ends meet - make ends meet
Meg won't be able to pay for her education. Her family can hardly make both ends meet.
Meg won't be able to pay for her tuition. Her family is barely making ends meet.
To make a living by something - make a living
Her aunt makes her living by teaching music.
Her aunt earns her living by teaching music.
Flat broke - broke, penniless
We are flat broke today, so let's stay at home and watch a good film.
We're broke today, so let's stay home and watch a good movie.
Pretty penny - a tidy sum
His new car is really cool. I think it cost him a pretty penny.
His new car is really cool. I think it cost him a pretty penny.
Idioms. Time.
Against the clock - rush to do something by a certain date
The students are working against the clock to finish their presentation.
The students are in a hurry to finish their presentation.
Beat the clock - finish early
The company managed to beat the clock on finishing the reconstruction of the bridge.
The company managed to complete the reconstruction of the bridge ahead of schedule.
Call it a day - finish work, business
Let "s call it a day. I'm too tired to think about it anymore.
Let's end this. I'm too tired to even think about it.
In the nick of time - at the very last moment
They arrived at the station just in the nick of time.
They arrived at the station at the very last moment.
Bide one's time - wait patiently, wait for an opportunity
Don't hurry. Bide your time and you'll get this job.
Do not rush. Wait for the right moment and you'll get the job.
Idioms. Weather.
Raining cats and dogs - pouring rain
We are not going to the park. It's raining cats and dogs.nbsp;
We don't go to the park. It's pouring rain.
Come rain or shine - sure, no matter what happens
Come rain or shine, I'll go to the party
No matter what happens, I'm going to this party.
Under the weather - it doesn't matter to feel
You look pale. Are you OK? - I'm a little under the weather today.
You look pale. Are you okay? - I don't feel well today.
Take a rain check - postpone something, reschedule
I can't go to the movies tonight, but I'd like to take a rain check.
I can't go to the cinema tonight, but maybe another time.
Chase rainbows - chase the unattainable
He is constantly chasing rainbows and has nothing as a result.
He is constantly chasing the unattainable and as a result has nothing.
So, we got acquainted with only a small part of English phraseological units and their Russian equivalents. Idioms are an entertaining and interesting part of the English language, and studying them can be an additional source of new knowledge for you about the history and culture of English-speaking countries. Some phraseological units in English are very common, and you will surely meet them in modern educational materials. Others may be obsolete or outdated, but nevertheless, when reading English and American literature or fairy tales, these idioms may be useful to you.
For effective and successful mastering of English from scratch, we suggest you use the online. In addition to a variety of educational material, unique exercises and a guide to basic grammatical structures, here you will find beautifully voiced English fairy tales - an inexhaustible source of English idioms and phraseological units.
Friends, we have repeatedly mentioned how important the English language is in the modern world and how important it is for a person, how important are not only “dry” knowledge of grammar, but also “live” speaking practice . What is the most important thing in communication? Fuse, emotions, gestures. This, of course, is in addition to the very essence that needs to be conveyed to the interlocutor. Plus - the perception of the information provided and the understanding, at times, of incomprehensible expressions that are often used by native speakers.
Once upon a question "Krista, where are you going?" unperturbed Christa replied: "I'm going to see a man about a horse". You can't even imagine our surprise! It turned out that this is a set expression that is used as a way to report one's absence without specifying the reasons.
In order not to blush in front of the interlocutor, betraying ignorance or misinterpreting his words, get an idea of what phraseological units mean in English intensive in Kyiv
Speech is the main way people interact. To convey the meaning of the topic of conversation, mood, attitude to certain circumstances, quotes are used that are relevant in a particular situation, proverbs and sayings, phraseological units. The use of figurative expressions highlights a broad-minded person who thinks outside the box and has a certain amount of knowledge.
If you follow the publications on our blog, you probably remember amusing articles TOP 20 catchphrases in English and 25 proverbs in English that you should know. In them, we only partially touched on the topic of set expressions. Today we will analyze in more detail what English phraseological units are and how they are translated into Russian.
Phraseologisms in English: what is it?
Phraseologism is a special speech turnover, an invariable phrase that is not taken literally and is not always translated literally. For example:
- around the clock(literal translation "around the clock") - used in the meaning of "24 hours", "day".
- It is not my cup of tea("this is not my cup of tea") - has the meaning "this is not for me" (something inappropriate or unacceptable for a person).
Phraseological units are divided into several categories:
- Phraseological units (idioms) - speech turnover, the meaning of which does not correspond to the meaning of the words used: a bull in a china shop- an elephant in a china shop. By itself, this expression does not mean anything, but in context it can be used to describe a clumsy person.
- Phraseological combinations are expressions in which one word is used freely, and the second is associated with the first: a boss friend- bosom friend. The word "friend" is widely used, and only in combination with it is the word "bosom" used.
- Phraseological expressions are ready-made speech turns, which consist of words with a free meaning, they practically do not resemble phraseological units. At the same time, like the previous categories of phraseological units, they are always used exactly and without the use of any synonyms: live and learn- Live and learn.
Interesting phraseological units (idioms) in English with translation
Many English set expressions have analogues in Russian, that is, the direct translation of English phraseological units is simple and understandable. For example:
- Bite your tongue- Bite your tongue (meaning to ask / order someone to be silent).
- It takes two to tango– It takes two to tango (meaning two are responsible for this or that event).
Some phraseological units of the English language are used in Russian not just with a slightly different translation, they are modified, although they have the same meaning. For example:
- Buy a pig in a poke(buy a pig in a poke) - in Russian we use the expression "buy a pig in a poke" in the sense of buying something without knowing anything about the product.
- As cool as a cucumber(cold like a cucumber) - in Russian we use the expression “calm, like a boa constrictor” in relation to a calm, one might even say, a calm, cold-blooded person.
Well, in order to better assimilate the material, we offer a selection of phraseological units in English with translation and explanation. Please use!
A piece of cake- A piece of pie (have you heard the expression “It’s like eating a piece of pie”? So this means some very easy and simple thing).
A heart-to-heart talk– A heart-to-heart conversation (confidential conversation, discussion of something personal, disclosure of secrets).
When hell freezes– When hell freezes over (that is, never).
Neither here nor there- Neither there nor here (as they say about something inappropriate).
To promise the moon- Promise the moon (which means - to promise something impossible).
Just what the doctor ordered- What the doctor ordered (that is, what you need).
It's still all up in the air– It is still up in the air (unresolved until the end).
Butter the boss up– To cajole the boss (well, you get the idea, right? Suck up).
Have a frog in the throat- To have a frog in the throat (the meaning of a phraseological unit is the inability to speak due to strong excitement).
A flight of fancy- Flight of fantasy (imagination, inventing something new).
Make a flying visit- Pay a fleeting visit (drop in for a minute).
Smell a rat- To smell something was wrong (to feel a catch in some business).
Turn over a new leaf- Turn the sheet over (start all over again).
A penny for your thoughts- A penny for your thoughts (this is a way to find out what a person is thinking).
Cry over spilt milk- To cry over spilled milk (means to complain about something long lost).
Elvis left the building– Elvis leaves the building (it means the end)
Make a long story short– Making a long story short (cutting a long story short and getting to the point).
Come to the point- Get to the point (do not spend time on details, but be specific.
miss the boat- Skip the ship (miss any chance).
A crying shame- A flagrant injustice (so indignant against something dishonest).
Imbued with unpretentious expressions, you will make your speech more expressive, be able to surprise friends and acquaintances with interesting phrases, easily communicate with native speakers and read between the lines, if necessary!
Come to Native English School and demonstrate your new knowledge. Surprise us with interesting phraseological units that are not used in the article. After all, the English language is so diverse ... We are looking forward to the express course of spoken English!
How often did you come across expressions in English that simply did not make sense when translated into Russian? For example, when you hear the phrase "horse around", the first thing you think of is a horse. In fact, it was about fooling around.
And there are many such examples. Such expressions are called idioms, and the English use them quite often. By memorizing the most common of them, you can make your speech brighter and livelier.
So, let's look at some idioms that are most often found in English speech. Let's break them down by topic.
Weather
"When two English people meet, they first talk about the weather." This saying of Samuel Johnson, expressed several centuries ago, is relevant to this day. It is not surprising that a large part of the idioms is related to the topic of weather.
- rain cats and dogs- pour like a bucket
- face like thunder- darker than clouds
- storm in a teacup- a storm in a teacup, much ado about nothing
- chase rainbows- chase the unattainable
- lightning fast- lightning fast
- have one's head in the clouds- soar in the clouds
- be snowed under- be overworked
- be under the weather- to be unwell
- twist in the wind- languish
- under a cloud- under suspicion
- as right as rain- All right
- for a rainy day- for a rainy day
- bolt from the blue- like snow on the head
- throw caution to the winds- stop worrying
- weather the storm- survive hard times
- sail close to the wind- walk along the edge of the abyss
- on cloud nine- on the seventh heaven
- shoot the breeze- talk about nonsense
- in a fog- confused
- go down a storm- succeed
Money
An equally popular topic of interest is, of course, money. We offer you to get acquainted with the most common "money" idioms.
- a piece of the pie- share
- grave train- Easy Money
- bring home the bacon- to provide for the family, to succeed
- make ends meet- make ends meet
- hit the jackpot- break the jackpot
- be in the red- to be in debt
- make a bundle- make a lot of money
- bet your bottom dollar- guarantee something
- look like a million dollars- look your best
- cost a pretty penny- cost a lot of money
- go Dutch- pay your share
- nest eggs- stash
- golden handshake- big severance pay
- cheapskate- miser
- be flush with money- bathe in luxury
- at all costs- at any price
- live beyond one's means- living beyond one's means
- break the bank- spend a lot
- cost a fortune- cost a fortune
- on the breadline- below the poverty line
Time
"Time is money". This famous saying can often be heard among the English. It confirms their extremely careful attitude to time. No wonder many idioms are dedicated to him.
- once in a blue moon- rarely
- behind the times- obsolete
- time flies- time flies
- the big time- big success
- around the clock- around the clock
- dwell on the past- live in the past
- have the time of one's life- have a great time
- crack of dawn- with sunrise
- run out of time- dry up
- in the blink of an eye- in an instant
- like clockwork- without interruption
- for donkey's years- from time immemorial
- pressed for time- be in a hurry
- give someone a hard time- scold
- be ahead of time- get ahead
- to have a whale of a time- have a great time
- go with the times- to keep up with the times
- on the spur of the moment- with a swoop
- broad daylight- in broad daylight
- catch unawares- be taken by surprise
Animals
There is hardly a people more loving pets than the British. Therefore, animals take pride of place not only in the homes of the British, but also in speech.
- monkey business- meaningless work
- smell a rat- smell bad
- top dog- winner
- cash cow- source of funds, cash cow
- eager beaver- hard worker, business sausage
- black sheep- White crow
- elephant in the room- I didn’t notice the elephant, it’s obvious
- when pigs fly- when the cancer hangs down
- like a cat on a hot tin roof- be out of your element
- in the dog house- out of favor
- be as busy as a bee- work like a bee
- let a cat out of the bag- let the cat out of the bag
- horse around- to be fooling around
- as poor as a church mouse- poor as a church mouse, penniless
- lion's share of something- the lion's share
- eat like a horse- have a voracious appetite
- have a tiger by the tail- defy fate
- hear it straight from the horse's mouth- from the source
- butterflies in the stomach- neither alive nor dead
- like water off a duck's back- like water off a duck's back
| Original | Translation |
| - Mark, who do you think we should give some bonus for the previous month? - I don't know. Who are the main candidates? - So, there are Lucy, Michael and Judy. - I think that Lucy works a lot, but she is a black sheep of the team. Yes, I agree with you. What do you think about Michael? - It seems to me that he is an eager beaver. - But he is in the dog house, isn't he? - Yes, our boss doesn't like him. And what about Judy? - I like her. She is always as busy as a bee. - You "re right. She deserves our company" s bonus. |
- Mark, who do you think we should give the bonus for the last month? - I don't know. Who are the main contenders? - So, this is Lucy, Michael and Judy. - I think Lucy works a lot, but she White crow in a team. - Yes, I agree with you. What do you think of Michael? - I think he hard worker. - But he out of favor, is not it? - Yes, our boss doesn't like him. And what about Judy? - I like her. She always working like a bee. - You are right. She deserves company bonuses. |
Food
Despite the fact that English cuisine does not shine with variety, the number of idioms dedicated to food is considerable. We present you the most common "delicious" idioms.
- egghead- smart ass
- big cheese- influential person
- potato couch- loafer
- tough cookie- hooligan
- top banana- leader
- bad apple- scoundrel
- eat one's words- take back your words
- the apple of one's eye- apple of an eye
- hard nut to crack- hard task, tough nut to crack
- in a nutshell- briefly
- have egg on one's face- look stupid
- as cool as a cucumber- cold-blooded
- be full of beans- be energetic
- as slow as molasses- very slow
- chew the fat- sharpen fringes
- sell like hot cakes- be selling like hot cakes
- take something with a pinch of salt- do not trust
- bite off more than one can chew- overestimate your abilities
- cry over spilt milk- grieve about the irreparable
- hot potato- actual topic
| Original | Translation |
| - Tom, who do you think may be in charge of this project? - I "m not sure, but I think that Jack will cope with it easily. - If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure. Sometimes he is a coach potato. - Yes, but last time he tried to solve a very big problem of the company. - I agree. However, I think that he bit off more than he could chew. - But he has great advantages. He is a very sociable and reliable person. - Ok, I will think about his nomination. |
- Tom, who do you think will be able to lead this project? - I'm not sure, but I think Jack can handle him easily. I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. He sometimes messing around. - Yes, but the last time he tried to solve a very big problem in the company. - I agree. However, I think that he overestimated his abilities. But it also has great advantages. He is a very sociable and reliable person. - Okay, I'll think about his appointment. |
We hope that these idioms will help you diversify your speech. And the teachers of our school will be happy to sort out with you all the subtleties of their use.
Big and friendly family EnglishDom
Toropova Ekaterina
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Municipal educational institution secondary school with in-depth study of individual subjects No. 52 of the city of Kirov.
10 A class students
Toropova Ekaterina
Supervisor:
English teacher
Klestova Irina Leonidovna
Kirov, 2009
I. Introduction
II. Main part: “Phraseology and phraseological units of the English language”
2.2. Classification of phraseological units of the English language
2.3. Translation of phraseological units into Russian
2.4 Biblicalisms
2.5. Phraseologisms borrowed from the fiction of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
2.6. Phraseological units borrowed from the works of Shakespeare
2.7. The meaning of phraseological units and their regional value
III.Conclusion
I.Introduction
Phraseologisms are widespread both in oral speech and in fiction. In the learning process, I often come across literary texts, we often turn to them in English lessons, analyze excerpts from the works of various writers. In one of these texts, I came across such a phrase asto spill the beans, which means to spill the secret. I had some questions: why the translation of the whole phrase differs from its literal translation, and why in the sentence it was used as a whole. I decided to find answers to these questions. It turned out that such phrases are called phraseological units or phraseological units. I was interested in this topic, since I have been studying English for nine years, this language is widely spoken at the present time, its knowledge is necessary for my future profession. In the course of this work, I would like to know whether English phraseological units have equivalents in Russian and how phraseological units are translated from one language to another.
II. Main part
Phraseology and phraseological units of the English language.
2.1. What is phraseology and phraseology
Phraseology (gr. phrasis - "expression", logos - "science") is a linguistic discipline that studies stable combinations of words with a completely or partially rethought meaning - phraseological units (or phraseological units). Phraseology studies only such combinations of words that exist in speech, the total meaning of which is not equal to the sum of the individual meanings of the words that make up the phraseological phrase (“give in the paw” - give exactly a bribe, and nothing else.).
A phraseological unit, or phraseological unit, is a phrase that is stable in composition and structure, lexically indivisible and integral in meaning, performing the function of a separate lexical unit. Phraseologism is used as a whole, a ready-made combination of words that is not subject to further decomposition and usually does not allow rearrangement of its parts within itself.
Phraseological units include phrases of the following types:
- idioms (drink till all "s blue (drink till the green serpent), drink smb. under the table (drunk someone), burn the candle at both ends (burn life));
- collocations (torrential rain, make a decision, grain of truth, raise a question);
- proverbs (you go quieter - you will continue, don’t get into your sleigh); sayings (here, grandmother, and St. George's day; the ice has broken!);
- grammatical phraseological units (almost; almost; whatever it may be);
- phrase schemes (... he is also in Africa ...; to all ...-am ...; ... like ...).
As an independent linguistic discipline, phraseology arose relatively recently. The tasks of phraseology as a linguistic discipline include a comprehensive study of the phraseological fund of a particular language. Important aspects of the study of this science are: the stability of phraseological units, the consistency of phraseology and the semantic structure of phraseological units, their origin and main functions. A particularly complex branch of phraseology is the translation of phraseological units from language to language, which requires considerable experience in the study of this discipline. Phraseology develops the principles of identifying phraseological units, methods for their study, classification and phraseography - descriptions in dictionaries. Phraseology uses various research methods, such as component analysis of meaning. Phraseology offers various types of classifications of the phraseological composition of a language, depending on the properties of phraseological units and methods for their study.
The subject of the history of phraseology is the study of the primary, initial forms and meanings of phraseological units, determining their sources for all available monuments, identifying the areas of their use in different eras of the existence of the language, as well as establishing the scope of the phraseological composition and its systematic ordering in one or another historical era of language development.
Unfortunately, in the English and American linguistic literature there are few works specifically devoted to the theory of phraseology, but the most significant works (A. MacKay, W. Weinreich, L.P. Smith) do not raise such fundamental questions as scientifically based criteria for identifying phraseological units. , the ratio of phraseological units and words, the consistency of phraseology, phraseological variability, phrase formation, the method of studying phraseology, etc. English and American scientists also do not raise the question of phraseology as a linguistic science. This explains the lack of a name for this discipline in English.
Phraseologisms are an integral and specially distinguished component of the language, the brightest, original, unusual, “individual”, culturally significant and nationally specific, capable of expressing in a concentrated way not only the features of a given language, but also its speakers, their attitude, mindset, mentality, national character and style of thinking.
2.2 Classification of phraseological units of the English language.
As in any other language, phraseological units are a very important and valuable component in English. There is also a classification of phraseological units.They are divided into three types:
- phraseological fusions,
- phraseological unity,
- phraseological combinations.
Let us consider these types of phraseological units in relation to the modern English language.
- Phraseological unions
Phraseological fusions, or idioms, are absolutely indivisible, indecomposable stable combinations, the general meaning of which does not depend on the meaning of their constituent words:
Kick the bucket (colloquial) - bend, die; = to stretch one's legs; send smb. to Coventry - boycott someone, stop communicating with someone; at bay - driven, in a hopeless situation; be at smb.'s beck and call - always be ready for services; = to run errands; to rain cats and dogs - pour like a bucket (about rain); be all thumbs - to be awkward, awkward; Kilkenny cats are mortal enemies.
Phraseological fusions arose on the basis of the figurative meanings of their components, but subsequently these figurative meanings became incomprehensible from the point of view of the modern language.
The figurativeness of phraseological fusions is revealed only historically. For example, the words "bay", meaning "dead end", and "beck" - "wave of the hand" are archaisms and are not used anywhere except for the phraseological unit given above. Or, for example, the expression to be all thumbs has historically developed from the expression one's fingers are all thumbs. We see something similar in phraseological units Kilkenny cats (which, apparently, goes back to the legend about a fierce struggle between the cities of Kilkenny and Irishtown in the 17th century, which led to their ruin).
Thus, in phraseological fusions, the connection between direct and figurative meanings has been lost, figurative for them has become the main one. That is why phraseological fusions are difficult to translate into other languages.
Phraseological fusions have a number of characteristic features:
They may include so-called necrotisms - words that are not used anywhere except for this fusion, are therefore incomprehensible from the point of view of the modern language;
The composition of adhesions may include archaisms;
- they are syntactically indecomposable;
- in them it is impossible in most cases to rearrange the components;
- they are characterized by impenetrability - they do not allow additional words into their composition.
Losing their independent lexical meaning, “... the words included in the structure of phraseological fusion turn into components of a complex lexical unit, which approaches in meaning a single word” (No. 32, p. 73). Therefore, many phraseological fusions are synonymous with the words: kick the bucket - to die; ; send smb. to Coventry - to ignore, etc.
- Phraseological units
Phraseological units are such stable combinations of words in which, in the presence of a common figurative meaning, signs of the semantic separation of the components are clearly preserved:
to spill the beans - give out a secret; to burn bridges - burn bridges; to have other fish to fry - to have more important things to do; to throw dust into smb.'s eyes - speak teeth; to burn one's fingers - get burned on something; to throw mud at smb. - pour mud; to be narrow in the shoulders - not to understand jokes; to paint the devil blacker than he is - exaggerate; to put a spoke in smb.'s wheel - put sticks in the wheels; to hold one's cards close to one's chest - keep something a secret, not divulge anything, keep quiet, ~ keep your mouth shut; to gild refined gold - gild pure gold, try to improve, decorate something that is already quite good; to paint the lily - tint the color of a lily, try to improve or decorate something that does not need improvement.
unlike phraseological fusions, portability is perceived from the point of view of the modern language.
Characteristic features of phraseological units:
one). vivid imagery and the resulting possibility of coincidence with parallel existing phrases (to throw dust into smb.’s eyes, to be narrow in the shoulders, to burn one’s fingers, to burn bridges);
2). preserving the semantics of individual components (to put a spoke in smb.'s wheel);
3). the impossibility of replacing some components with others (to hold one's cards close to one's chest);
4). emotionally expressive coloration plays a decisive role (to throw dust into smb.’s eyes, to paint the devil blacker than he is);
5). the ability to enter into synonymous relations with individual words or other phraseological units (to gild refined gold = to paint the lily).
- Phraseological combinations
Phraseological combinations are stable turns, which include words with both free and phraseologically related meanings:
A bosom friend - a bosom friend, a pitched battle - a fierce fight, (to have) a narrow escape - to be saved by a miracle, to frown one's eyebrows - to frown, Adam's apple - Adam's apple, a Sisyfean labor - Sisyphean labor, rack one's brains - puzzle (think hard, remember), to pay attention to smb. - to pay attention to someone, etc.
Unlike phraseological fusions and phraseological units that have a holistic indecomposable meaning, phraseological combinations are characterized by semantic decomposability. In this respect, they are close to free phrases.
Characteristic features of phraseological combinations:
one). they allow the variance of one of the components (a bosom friend is a bosom friend, a bosom buddy is a bosom friend);
2). a synonymous replacement of the core word is possible (a pitched battle - a fierce battle, a fierce battle - a fierce battle);
3). possibly including definitions (he frowned his thick eyebrows);
4). permutation of components is allowed (a Sisyfean labor - Sisyphus labor, a labor of Sisyphus - labor of Sisyphus);
5). necessarily the free use of one of the components and the associated use of the other (a bosom friend is a bosom friend: an enemy or anyone else cannot be a bosom friend).
2.3. Translation of phraseological units into Russian.
Translating phraseological units into English is a very difficult task. Imagery, laconicism, integrity determine their significant role in the language. Phraseologisms give originality and expressiveness to speech, therefore they are widely used in artistic and oral speech. It is very difficult to translate phraseological units from English into Russian, because it is necessary to convey the meaning and display the figurativeness of the phraseological unit.
Phraseological equivalents can be full and partial.
Complete phraseological equivalents are those ready-made English equivalents that coincide with Russian in meaning, lexical composition, figurativeness, stylistic coloring and grammatical structure; for example: rest (rest) on laurels - rest on one's laurels, salt of the earth - the salt of the earth, play with fire - to play with fire, the hour has come (strike) - one's hour has struck, there is no smoke without fire - there is no smoke without fire, industrious as a bee - busy as a bee. With this translation, the meanings of phraseological units in different languages may differ slightly.
Partial phraseological equivalents can be divided into three groups.
The first group includes phraseological units that coincide in meaning, stylistic coloring and are similar in figurativeness, but diverging in lexical composition: to promise mountains of gold - to promise wonders, to promise the moon; it’s good to be away, but it’s better at home - East or West, home is the best; buy a pig in a poke - to buy pig in a poke; the first swallow - the first portent (sign); the game is not worth the candle - the game is not worth the candle. Some of these phrases are translated using antonymic translation, i.e. a negative value is transmitted by the translator using an affirmative construction, or vice versa (chickens are counted in the fall - don’t count your chickens before they are hatched).
The second group includes phraseological units that coincide in meaning, figurativeness, lexical composition and stylistic coloring; but they differ in such formal features as the number and word order, for example: to play into someone's hands - to play into smb.'s hands (here there is a discrepancy in number); not all that glitters is gold - all is not gold that glitters (discrepancy in word order); not to see the wood for the trees for the trees (discrepancy in word order).
The third group includes phraseological units that coincide in all respects, with the exception of figurativeness. In Russian we say - go to the side, while the English equivalent is the usual - to go to bed. In Russian there is a turn - to be at a glance, and in English in such cases it is customary to say - to spread before the eyes, to be an open book.
When translating, first of all, it should be established what kind of phraseological unit it is: full or partial. We should also not forget that phraseological units are also characterized by homonymy and polysemy. For example, the phrase to burn one's fingers has the meanings 1. burn your fingers and 2. burn yourself on something, make a mistake. “Don’t mention it” can mean “Don’t remind me of this” and “No thanks, please.”
Of particular difficulty for translation are author's transformations, which may include:
1. introduction of new components into the phraseological turnover. For example, to put the cart before the horse (doing the opposite) - “Let’s not put the cart too far ahead of the horse” (E.S. Gardner).
2. updating the lexical and grammatical composition of a phraseological unit as a result of replacing its individual components with other words. For example, to have a millstone about one's neck (wear a heavy stone on your heart) - have an albatross about one's neck (literally - wear an albatross around your neck)
3. splitting phraseologism and using its component (or components) as part of a variable phrase.
- reduction of the phraseological unit is not completely, with the preservation of only part of the components.
2.4 Bibleisms
The Bible is the main literary source of phraseological units. This greatest work enriched not only English, but also many other languages of the world with phraseological units. It had a significant impact on the formation of attitudes and linguistic consciousness of different peoples of the world. The "Book of Books" has become a source of an endless number of quotations and allusions, a multitude of lexical units and set expressions, as well as symbolic designations.
Recently, researchers have begun to show more interest and attention to biblical studies. Reference dictionaries appear, which explain the origin of many biblical expressions, as well as works devoted to them, both in individual languages and in several languages. However, a holistic multi-aspect description of these phraseological units, as well as a comparative analysis of biblical units in such related, but heterogeneous languages, as English, Spanish and Russian, has not yet been undertaken.
The study of phraseological units of biblical origin in several languages is of particular interest due to their specificity: on the one hand, biblical units have all the properties of phraseological units, and on the other hand, they represent a phraseological microsystem, the basis for combining into which is a common source - the Bible. For centuries, the Bible was the most widely read and quoted book in England. The number of biblical turns and expressions that have entered the English language is so large that it would be a very difficult task to collect and list them. The expressions used in modern English speech and whose biblical origin is firmly established include the following:
The apple of Sodom - a beautiful but rotten fruit; deceptive success;
The beam (the mote) in one's eye - "log" in one's own eye; own great disadvantage;
The blind leading the blind - the blind leads the blind;
By the sweat of one's brow - in the sweat of his face;
The camel and the needle's eye is an allusion to the gospel saying, which received this form in translation from Latin: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Can the leopard change his spots? - leopard change his spots;
A crown of glory - a crown of glory;
Daily bread - daily bread, livelihood;
A drop in the bucket - a drop in the ocean;
A fly in the ointment - a fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey;
Loaves and fishes - earthly goods (bread and fish, with which Christ, according to the gospel tradition, fed hundreds of people who gathered to listen to him);
No man can serve two masters - two masters are not served;
The prodigal son - the prodigal son;
The promised land - the promised land;
A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country - there is no prophet in his own country.
Phraseologisms of biblical origin often diverge in meaning from their biblical prototypes. This could happen due to the fact that over time the biblical prototypes are rethought, in which some words are replaced by others. For example, to kill the fatted calf in the parable of the prodigal son is used in the literal sense of “slay the fatted calf”. Later, this turnover took on a new meaning to treat the best that is at home.
2.5. Phraseological units borrowed from the fiction of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome
In addition to phraseological units taken from the Bible, in the English language, as well as in the languages of other European peoples that are the heirs of ancient culture, there are many proverbs, aphorisms and figurative expressions that arose among the ancient Greeks and Romans. For example:
the golden age - the golden age;
the apple of discord - the apple of discord;
Pandora's box - Pandora's box;
Achilles' heel - Achilles' heel;
the thread of Ariadne - Ariadne's thread, a guiding thread, a way to help get out of a predicament;
a labor of Sisyphus - Sisyphean labor;
Homeric laughter - Homeric laughter (turnover is associated with Homer's description of the laughter of the gods);
to blow hot and cold - hesitate, do mutually exclusive things, take an ambivalent position.
Phraseological units that came into English from the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome are endowed with extraordinary colorfulness and expressiveness, which explains their prevalence not only in English, but also in other languages of the world.
2.6. Phraseological units borrowed from the works of Shakespeare.
In modern English, there are many phraseological units, the main function of which is to enhance the aesthetic aspect of the language. Many phraseological units originated in connection with customs, realities, historical facts, but most of the English phraseological fund somehow arose thanks to literary works.
The works of the famous English classic W. Shakespeare are one of the most important literary sources in terms of the number of phraseological units that have enriched the English language. Their number is over a hundred. Examples of some of the most common Shakespeareanisms:
Macbeth
To make assurance double sure - what fills life, everything in life;
The milk of human kindness - - “balm of good nature” (iron.), compassion, humanity;
To win golden opinions - to earn a favorable, flattering opinion about yourself;
"Hamlet"
To be or not to be? - To be or not to be?;
To cudgel one's brains - puzzle over (something);
To be hoist with one's own petard - fall into your own trap;
From whose bourne no traveler returns - where no one has ever returned from (i.e. in the kingdom of death);
"Othello"
The green-eyed monster - “a monster with green eyes”, jealousy;
To chronicle small beer - note trifles, non-significant events, deal with trifles;
The seamy side - the unsightly side, the wrong side of something;
Curled darlings - rich grooms, "golden youth", rich loafers;
"King Henry IV"
To eat one out of house and home - ruin a person, living at his expense;
The wish is father to the thought - desire gives rise to a thought; people willingly believe what they themselves desire;
The better part of valor is discretion - one of the decorations of courage is modesty;
Midsummer madness - insanity;
Romeo and Juliet
A fool's paradise - fantasy world; ghostly happiness;
Neither rhyme nor reason - neither warehouse, nor fret, without any meaning;
In modern English, Shakespeareanisms can be used with some modifications. For example, the expression to wear one’s heart upon one’s sleeve for days to peck at (“Othello”) is to flaunt your feelings (This phraseological unit is associated with the medieval knightly tradition of wearing the colors of your lady on the sleeve). In modern English, it is usually used in an abbreviated form: to wear one's heart upon one's sleeve. Also, instead of the preposition upon, another preposition can be used - on. Many Shakespeareanisms acquire lexical variants over time. In modern English speech, Shakespeareanisms are also used, which include obsolete words, i.e. archaisms that are not used anywhere except for this phraseological unit. For example, from whose bourne no traveler returns - where no one has ever returned from (i.e. in the kingdom of death). The word bourne is archaic and denotes a border or limit; it is used in modern English only within the framework of this phraseological unit.
A large number of phraseological units created by Shakespeare came into general use, which indicates both the linguistic genius of Shakespeare and his colossal popularity.
2.7. The meaning of phraseological units and their regional value
The regional value of English phraseological units is very high, because by getting acquainted with a foreign language, assimilating, studying it, a person simultaneously penetrates into a new national culture, receives great spiritual wealth stored by the language being studied. In particular, a Russian schoolboy, student, ordinary layman, learning a foreign language, in this case English, gets a highly effective opportunity to join the national culture and history of the people of Great Britain. Phraseology, as an integral part and a kind of treasury of any language in the world, can especially contribute to this initiation. Phraseologisms and phraseological combinations reflect the centuries-old history of the English people, the originality of their culture, way of life, traditions. Therefore, phraseological units are highly informative units of the English language. For the most part, idiomatic expressions were created by the people, so they are closely related to the interests and daily activities of ordinary people. Many phraseological units are associated with beliefs and traditions. However, most English phraseological units originated in professional speech. All peoples, all people should cherish and keep phraseological units intact, because they are a real treasure that helps to comprehend all the secrets and mysteries of the language.
III.Conclusion
As a result of this work, I expanded my knowledge of the English language. I also answered all my questions about phraseology. I found out that in Russian there are equivalents of English phraseological units. The translation of English phraseological units into Russian is a very complex process, since it is necessary to take into account the stylistic features of a phraseological unit and preserve its lexical meaning. English is a rich and beautiful language, which is filled with various phraseological phrases. They give the language imagery and expressiveness.
Bibliography:
- Amosova N.N. Fundamentals of English phraseology. - L., 1989.
- Zakharova M.A. The strategy of speech use of figurative phraseological units of the English language. - M., 1999.
- Komissarov V.N. Modern translation studies. - M., 2001.
- Kunin A.V. English-Russian phraseological dictionary. 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Russian language, 2001.
- Litvinov P.P. English-Russian phraseological dictionary with thematic classification. – M.: Yakhont, 2000.
Slides captions:
Phraseological units of the English language The work was done by a student of grade 10A of the MOU secondary school No. 52 Toropova Ekaterina Head: Klestova Irina Leonidovna
What is phraseology and phraseology Phraseology (gr. phrasis - "expression", logos - "science") is a linguistic discipline that studies stable combinations of words with a completely or partially rethought meaning - phraseological units (or phraseological units). A phraseological unit, or phraseological unit, is a phrase that is stable in composition and structure, lexically indivisible and integral in meaning, performing the function of a separate lexical unit.
Phraseologisms include: idioms (burn the candle at both ends to burn life); collocation (heavy rain, make a decision); proverbs (quieter you go - you will continue); sayings (here's to you, grandmother, and St. George's day); grammatical phraseological units (almost; almost; whatever it may be); phrase schemes (Y he and in Africa Y).
Classification of phraseological units of the English language Phraseological unions; Phraseological unity; phraseological combinations.
Translation of phraseological units into Russian It is very difficult to translate phraseological units from English into Russian, because it is necessary to convey the meaning and display the figurativeness of the phraseological unit. When translating, first of all, it should be established what kind of phraseological unit it is: full or partial. We should also not forget that phraseological units are also characterized by homonymy and polysemy.
Bibleisms The Bible is the main literary source of phraseological units. This greatest work enriched not only English, but also many other languages of the world with phraseological units. Phraseologisms of biblical origin often diverge in meaning from their biblical prototypes. The blind leading the blind - the blind leads the blind; By the sweat of one's brow - in the sweat of his face;
Phraseological units borrowed from the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome Phraseological units that came into the English language from the literature of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome are endowed with extraordinary colorfulness and expressiveness, this explains their prevalence. the golden age - the golden age; the apple of discord - the apple of discord;
Phraseological units borrowed from the works of Shakespeare. The works of the famous English classic W. Shakespeare are one of the most important literary sources in terms of the number of phraseological units that have enriched the English language. Their number is over a hundred.
Examples of some of the most common Shakespeareanisms: To make assurance double sure - that which fills life, everything in life; To be or not to be? - to be or not to be?; The seamy side - the unsightly side, the wrong side of something; To eat one out of house and home - ruin a person, living at his expense; A fool's paradise - fantasy world; ghostly happiness.
The meaning of phraseological units and their country-specific value The country-specific value of English phraseological units is very high, because by getting acquainted with a foreign language, assimilating, studying it, a person simultaneously penetrates into a new national culture, receives great spiritual wealth stored by the language being studied. All peoples, all people should cherish and keep phraseological units intact, because they are a real treasure that helps to comprehend all the secrets and mysteries of the language.
Thank you for your attention
What are phraseological units? Not everyone can answer right away. These are stable phrases, sometimes incomprehensible and ridiculous when translated for people of other cultures. In English, such phrases are called idioms. What are phraseological units and idioms, why do they need to be studied? You can find answers to these and other questions in this article.
Comparison of phraseological units in Russian and English
When studying English, you probably come across strange phrases that confuse you quite often. These are phraseological units called idioms. Idioms are an integral part of the communication of English-speaking people and are sometimes used even more often than phraseological units in Russian.
What are phraseological units?
Phraseology (Greek phrasis - “expression”, logos - “teaching”) is a section of linguistics that studies stable combinations in a language. Phraseologisms are ready-made combinations of words. Researchers of phraseology drew attention to the national peculiarity. Therefore, phraseological units were defined by the term “idiom”, which in Greek means “peculiar”. In English, they are also called "idioms".
- Some linguists at first even argued that phraseological units are untranslatable into other languages. And indeed, we have discovered a huge layer of phraseological units that have no analogues in the English language: hang your nose, your soul has gone to your heels, your stigma to fluff, etc.
- Many of them were born in the works of Russian writers. A treasure trove of phraseological units was I. A. Krylov, from whose fables a large number of phraseological units came to our phraseology. The rest were created by the language-creating people.
- When comparing other phraseological units in English and Russian, we found phraseological units similar in structure:
- burn bridges - to burn bridges;
- live like a cat and dog - a cat and dog life
- The following expressions are very similar in Russian and English:
- appetite comes with eating - appetite comes with eating;
- marriages committed on the heaven - marriages are made in heaven;
- It is interesting to note that many Russian and English expressions go back to the same primary source - the Bible. The Bible is the richest source of phraseological units.
- A storm in a tea-cup Storm in glass water .
- Interestingly, the French idiom Cherches la femme (A. Dumas) is widely used in both Russian and English. But if in Russian his tracing paper is used (search a woman), then in English it is not tracing paper that functions, but a turnover that reveals the meaning of a foreign expression:
There is a woman in it Here involved female .
- In the English language, and later in Russian, units endowed with extraordinary brilliance entered. This explains their prevalence in both languages and the similarity of images. W. Shakespeare: To be or not to be be or not be .
English writer William Thackeray is the author of phraseological units: A skeleton in the closet - a skeleton in the closet (about a family secret hidden from strangers).
- It turned out that the names of body parts are among the most frequently used words in the formation of phraseological units. And what is most interesting, the images are similar in languages.
- To wash one's head - lather head ( neck ).
- To have a heart of gold have golden a heart
- However, when translating from language to language, imagery often changes. This is such an interesting phenomenon for the English and Russian languages. So we observe the difference in images in the following phraseological units:
- Buy a pig in a poke (buy a pig in a poke) - buy a pig in a poke
- As two peas (like two “peas”) - like two drops of water
So, idioms or phraseological units - These are stable combinations of words that cannot be translated just like that. Bright emotional cunning expressions. Due to the unusualness, these phrases are easy to remember. The main mistake of beginners in learning any language is an attempt to translate a phraseological unit (idiom) literally, as a result of which it often turns out to be just nonsense. It is impossible not to notice that idioms exist in all languages, and often inherit from each other the meaning of the expression.
Having studied a huge layer of phraseological units in Russian and English, we came to the following conclusion:
- And in Russian and English there are expressions that do not have an analogue for each other;
- Both in Russian and English there are expressions that have a common stylistic coloring;
- And in Russian and English there are expressions that came from other languages, for example, from Latin or French;
- Some Russian and English expressions go back to the same primary source - the Bible;
- It turned out that the names of body parts and the names of animals are among the most frequently used words in the formation of phraseological units.
Why study phraseological units?
First of all, the study of phraseological units (idioms) will greatly enrich your speech, which is no less important for live communication.
If you are still engaged in learning English seriously and for a long time, then you are unlikely to be able to bypass the study of idioms, which is why we have collected the most interesting, most used idiomatic expressions in our work!
100 most interesting and frequently used phraseological units (idioms) in English
(with literal translation and Russian equivalents)
- White crow. - The black ship.(lit.: " black ship»);
- White cash (colloquial, "legitimate cash fixed in financial documents and subject to taxes") - white cash.(lit.: " white cash»);
- Fight like a fish on ice. - To pull the devil by the tail.(lit.: " Pull the devil's tail»);
- Sick question. - A sore subject.(lit.: "Sick question");
- Was not. - Sink or swim. - (lit.: "Sink or swim");
- Be in worries, troubles. - In hot water.(lit.: " In hot water»);
- Be in seventh heaven. - To be in seventh heaven;
- Be out of place. - A round peg in a square hole.(lit.: "Round peg in a square hole");
- To be under someone's shoe. - To be under someone's thumb.(lit.: "Being Under Someone's Thumb");
- Important bird. - Big frog in a small pond. (lit.: " Big frog in a small swamp»);
- To be fooling around. - Act the fool. / Play the fool.(lit.: "Play the fool/donkey");
- That's right, like two and two. - As sure as eggs is eggs. (lit.: « True like eggs are eggs»);
- Spin like a squirrel in a wheel. - To be busy as a bee.(lit.: "Be busy as a bee");
- In a nutshell. - In a nutshell. - (lit.: "In a nutshell");
- Pull yourself together. - To take oneself in hand.(lit.: "Pull yourself together");
- Written with a pitchfork on the water. - It's still all up in the air.(lit.: "It's still up in the air");
- Hang by a thread. - To hang by a thread.(lit.: "Hanging by a thread");
- Hanging on the telephone. - To sit on the phone.(lit.: "Sit on the phone");
- Lead someone by the nose. - To draw the wool over someone's eyes.(lit.: "Put wool over someone's eyes");
- You won't spill water. - As thick as thieves.(lit.: "To be as close to each other as thieves");
- Lone wolf. - Alone wolf;
- That's where the dog is buried. - That's the heart of the matter.(lit.: "Here is the heart of the matter (case)");
- Get out of bed on the wrong side. - To get out of the bed on the wrong side.(lit.: "Standing on the wrong side of the bed");
- Lose temper. - To fly off the handle.(lit.: "Fly off the handle");
- Hungry as wolf. - Hungry as a hunter.(lit.: "Hungry Like a Hunter");
- Not worth a penny. - not worth a bean. (lit.: « Not worth a bean»);
- Goose pawed. (colloquial: "simpleton, simpleton") - A silly goose.(lit. "Stupid Goose");
- They do not look at a given horse's teeth. - Not look a gift horse in the mouth. (lit. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth");
- To make mountains out of molehills. - To make a mountain out of molehill.(lit.: "Make a mountain out of molehills");
- Chickens don't eat money. - rolling in money.(lit.: "Riding in the Money");
- Heart wide open. - open-hearted;
- The soul went to the heels. - One's heart sank into one's boots.(lit.: "Heart sank into shoes");
- Live like on a volcano. - To sit on a powder keg.(lit.: "Sit on a powder keg");
- Cover your tracks. - To cover up one's traces.(lit.: "Hide Traces");
- Nick down. - Put it into your pipe and smoke it.(lit.: "Put in your pipe and smoke it");
- There are not enough stars from the sky. - He won't set the Thames on fire.(lit.: "He won't set fire to the Thames");
- Play with fire. - To play with edge tool.(lit.: "Play with a sharp instrument");
- Pour out your soul. - To bare one's heart.(lit. "Open Heart")
- Looking for a needle in a haystack. - To look for a needle in a haystack.(lit.: "Looking for a needle in a haystack");
- Drink the cup to the bottom. - To drink the cup to the end.(lit.: "Drink the cup to the rest (draft)");
- What fly bit you? (colloquial, "what's bothering you?") - What's biting you?(lit.: "What's biting you?");
- How the wind blew it. - Vanish into thin air.(lit.: "Disappear into clear air");
- Like thunder from a clear sky. - Like a bolt from the blue.(lit.: "Like a blow (of thunder) in the blue sky");
- Like twice two is four. - As plain as the nose on your face.(lit.: "As clear as the nose on your face");
- Like peas on the wall. - You might as well talk to a brick wall.(lit.: "You might as well talk to a brick wall");
- How it was removed by hand. - Disappeared as if by magic.(lit.: "Vanished like magic");
- Like a herring in a barrel. - Packed like sardines.(lit.: "Stuffed Like Sardines");
- Like an elephant in a china shop. - Like a bull in a China shop(lit.: like a bull in a Chinese china shop);
- Heart stone. - A heavy heart.(lit.: "Heavy Heart");
- A drop in the sea. - A drop in the ocean.(lit.: "A drop in the ocean");
- Ride like cheese in butter. - To live in clover.(lit.: "Live in Clover");
- Wedge with a wedge to knock out. - Nail drives out nail.(lit.: "The nail kicks out the nail");
- When the cancer hangs on the mountain ( or) After the rain on Thursday ( i.e. never) - When the pigs fly(lit.: when the pigs fly) When hell freezes(lit.: "When Hell Freezes Over");
- Cat in a bag. - A pig in a poke. - (lit.: "Cdbymzin a bag»);
- Nice gesture. - A fine gesture;
- Toughie. - A hard nut to crack.(lit.: "A tough nut to crack");
- Buy a pig in a poke. - To buy a pig in a poke.(lit.: "Buy a pig in a sack");
- Pour like a bucket. - It rains cats and dogs.(lit.: "The rain is pouring with cats and dogs");
- Catch fish in troubled waters. - To fish in troubled waters.(lit.: "Fishing in Troubled Waters");
- Between the hammer and the anvil. - Between the devil and the deep blue sea.(lit.: "Between Hell and the Deep Blue Sea");
- Measure on your arshin ( =0,71 m). - To measure another's corn by one's own bushel.(lit.: "To measure someone else's grain with your own bushel");
- The world is small. - It's a small world.(lit.: "The world is small");
- Click on all buttons. - To pull strings.(lit.: "Pull the ropes");
- Call a spade a spade. - To call a spade a spade.(lit.: "Call a shovel a shovel");
- On half-bent (colloquial, "obsequiously"). - On bent knee.(lit.: "on bended knee");
- Not a sheep sneezed ( or) Not a pound of raisins ( or) Not khukhry-mukhry (colloquial, “about something important, significant). - Nothing to sneeze at.(lit.: "Nothing to Sneeze");
- Mute like a fish. - Dumb as an oyster.(lit.: "Mute like an oyster");
- Not for me. - It is not my cup of tea. (lit.: "Nthats my cup of tea»);
- Neither to the village nor to the city. - Neither here nor there.(lit.: "Neither there nor here");
- Nothing new under the sun Nothing new under the sun. (lit.: "Nnothing new under the sun");
- Promise mountains of gold. - To promise the moon.(lit.: "Promise the Moon");
- The black sheep spoils the whole herd - The rotten apple injures its neighbours.(lit.: "Ga rotten apple spoils the neighbors»);
- Pour from empty to empty. - to beat the air.(lit.: "beat the air");
- Shove like a tractor (colloquial, “stubbornly do your job”). - to flow through something.(lit.: "Plow through anything");
- Swim like a stone. - To swim like a stone.(lit.: "Swim Like a Stone");
- Spit on the ceiling. - To sit twiddling one's thumbs.(lit.: "Sit and twiddle your thumb");
- Tuck your tail. - To put one's tail between one's legs.(lit.: "Place the tail between the legs");
- Catch two rabbits. - Butter both sides of smb's bread.(lit.: "Butter on both sides of the bread");
- Put on the counter (colloquial, slang). - To turn on the meter./ The meter is running;
- Then soup with a cat (colloquial) - Later alligator.(lit.: "Later - Alligator", a rhyming answer to the word “later”);
- They look like two drops of water. - As like as two peas in a pot.(lit.: "Like two peas in a pod");
- Pass through fire and water. - To go through fire and water;
- A trifling business. - A piece of cake. (lit.: "TObit of cake») ;
- Born in a shirt - To be born with a silver spoon in the mouth. (lit.: « Born with a silver spoon in your mouth») ;
- In a personal meeting - Head to head, face to face. (lit.: "Gtin to head, face to face»)
- Sweet tooth. - A sweet teeth. (lit.: "sweet tooth");
- Verbal diarrhea (colloquial, "empty endless chatter"). - verbal diarrhea;
- Laugh into your fist. - Laugh in the beard. (lit.: « Withlaugh in beard»);
- Calm as a boa constrictor. - As cool as a cucumber.(lit.: « Xcold as a cucumber»);
- Shot sparrow. - A knowing old bird.(lit.: "Knowing Old Bird");
- Build castles in the air. - Build castles in the air. (lit.: "Build castles in the air");
- Just what the doctor ordered (colloquial, “what you need”). - Just what the doctor ordered.(lit.: "Just what the doctor ordered");
- Kill two birds with one stone. - To kill two birds with one stone.(lit.: "Kill two birds with one blow");
- Kill the goose that lays golden eggs. - Kill the goose that lays the golden egg. (lit.: "Kill the goose that lays the golden egg");
- Sip grief. - Smell hell.(lit.: "Smell Hell");
- To beat around the bush. - To beat about the bush.(lit.: Hang around the bush");
- Though a dime a dozen. - thick as blackberries. (lit.: "Tfat as a blueberry»);
- At least roll a ball. - Bare as a bone.(lit.: "Naked as a Bone");
- Thin as a match. - Thin as a rake.(lit.: "Thin as a rake");
- Black cash (colloquially, "unofficial, illegal cash, undocumented and tax-free"). - black money.(lit.: "Black money").
