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Analysis of the origin of idioms in English and their alternatives in Uzbek

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MINISTRY OF HIGHER AND SECONDARY

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ………………………………………….……….………….3
I. Functional characteristics of English idioms…………………..…………..5
1.1. Phraseology as a science………………………………….………………….5
1.2. Classification of idioms…………………………………………………..…10
II. Analysis of the origin of idioms in English and their alternatives
in Uzbek…………………………………………..………………………….…..16
2.1. Semantic peculiarities of idioms………………………………………….....16
2.2. Idioms in English and their alternatives in Uzbek……………………..…….24
CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………….……32
BIBLIOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………….……35
1

Introduction
Language is the system, phonological, lexical and grammatical which lies
on the base of speaking. It is the course which every speaker and writer has to
know upon if he is to be understood by other hand, is manifestation of language,
or by various speaker and writers of the given language. Thus what we have
before us, in oral on in written form, as material analyses, is always a product of
speech, namely something either pronounced or written by some individual
speaker or writer or, occasionally, a group of speakers or writers, there is no
other way for a scholar to get the language than though its manifestation in
speech.
Every language has words or phrases that cannot be understood directly.
Even if you know the meaning of all the words and understand all the
grammatical phrases, it is still difficult to understand the meaning of the
idiomatic phrase. Understanding proverbs, phrases, and colloquialisms poses a
number of challenges. An idiom is a phrase that does not derive from the sum of
its meanings. Idiomatic expressions are mainly used in everyday
communication. Such phrases are quickly memorized and become functionally
equivalent. They also serve to express ideas beautifully. Idioms are one of the
most complex areas of language learning, especially in English, and it requires a
special approach. Usually students translate idiomatic expressions directly,
which sometimes leads to funny translations. Idiomatic expressions and idioms
are often used in English-speaking countries. For example, the following
expressions are often used in everyday life and in movies.
• Break a leg - A way to wish someone good luck;
• To live it up - To enjoy life, to live widely;
• To kick the bucket - To die;
• Shape up or ship out - Used to tell someone that they should leave if they don't
improve their behavior or performance;
• To shed crocodile tears - To cry about something but without actually caring.;
• Wild goose chase - A useless journey or pursuit;
2

• There's no room to swing a cat - There is not a lot of space;
• To pay through the nose - To pay a lot of money, more than is normal;
Well, first of all, if we talk about what an idiom is, phraseological
expressions are fixed compounds, a combination of linguistic units that express
an idea or concept, in relation to words that have the same meaning, expresses
meaning in a strong way, and in them vividly reflects the imagery.
Phraseological expressions are figurative expressions of clear conclusions drawn
by the people on the basis of witnessing various events in life, evaluating
different behaviors of people, generalizing their experiences.
The resent course paper deals with analyses of the structural, semantic and
functional aspects of the English idioms. English idioms are colorful and one of
the fascinating aspects of the English language, therefore their semantic, their
denotational and usage plays great role in the vocabulary of every learner of the
English language. At the same time they are difficult because they have
unpredictable meanings of collocations. Idioms are frequently neglected in
general dictionaries and in classroom teaching, because they are considered
marginal items, which are quaint but significant. Yet research into idioms shows
that they have important roles in spoken and written language as well,
particularly in conveying evaluation and developing of maintaining interactions.
The actuality of the course paper can be seen in the necessity of the
study of functional characteristics of English idioms and their meanings.
The aim of the course paper is to analyze semantic classification and
functional properties of English idioms.
The practical value of the course paper is that the result of the
investigation can be used in theoretical practical lessons on lexicology, stylistic,
the practical translation lessons.
3

I. Functional characteristics of English idioms
1.1 . Phraseology as a science
An idiom is a common expression that differs in meaning when translated
literally, but is understood because of their widespread use among the general
public. Because phrases can take on a completely different meaning from the
meanings of the words, as a result, a person who does not know the language
well will have difficulty using them correctly. Some expressions are only used
by a certain group of people or at certain times. Forming or dropping a phrase,
such as improve your behavior or leave if you don’t, can be told to the employee
by the employer or supervisor, but not to other people.
Phraseology is one of the most interesting subjects of investigation in
Modern Linguistics. Phraseology, and especially idiomatically, was investigated
in a great number of research works. But in spite of it there still exist some
aspects of idiomaticity is the transformations of idioms in the context and their
communicative function.
The theoretical value and scientific novelty of our qualification paper are
determined by the attempt to define and examine the communicative functions
of idioms on the material of the literary texts and some dictionaries.
The phraseology deals with word groups consisting of two or more words
whose combination is integrated as a unit with a specialized meaning of the
whole such as at the eleventh hour, bad-mouth, be fed up with, beat around the
bush, coach potato, in the black, in the stock, keep an eye on, lend someone
hand, lose track of, make up one mind and so on, stability of such word groups
viewed in terms of statistical probability of co-occurrence for the member words
of has been offered as a reliable criterion helping to distinguish set expressions
from free phrases with variable context.
The chapter has received its heading because of great ambiguity of terms
phraseology and idioms accepted in our linguistics. Opinions differ as to how
this part of vocabulary should defined, classified, described and analyzed. The
4

word “phraseology” for instance, has very different meanings in this country and
in Great Britain or United States. In our linguistic literature the term has come to
be used for the while ensemble of expression where the meaning of one element
is depend on the other, irrespective of the structure and properties of the unit;
with other authors it denotes only such set expressions which, as distinguished
from idioms, do not possess expressiveness or emotional coloring and also vise
versa; only those that are imaginative, expressive and emotional: N N Amosova
overcomes the subjective ness of the two last mentioned approaches when she
insists on the terms being applicable only to what she calls fixed context units,
units in which it is impossible to substitute any of the components without
changing the meaning not only of the whole unit but also of the elements that
remain intact O S Ahmatova has repeatedly insisted on the semantic integrity of
their elements A V Koonin 1
lays stress on the structural separateness of elements
in a phase logical units, on the change of meanings in the whole as compared
with its elements taken separately and on a certain minimum stability. All these
authors use the some word “phraseology” to denote the branch of linguistics
studying the word-groups they have in mind.
Continued intelligent devotion to the problems of phraseology of such
scholars as N N Amasova 2
, A V Koonin and many others has turned phraseology
into a full-fledged Linguistic discipline. In English and American linguistics the
situation is very different. No special branch of study exists and the term
“phraseology” is a stylistic one, meaning mode of expressions, secularities of
diction, choice and arrangement of words and phrases characteristic of some
author or some literary work.
Functionally and semantically inseparable units cannot be freely made up
in speech but are reproduced as ready-made units. The lexical components in
phrase logical units are stable and they are no motivated i.e. its meaning cannot
be deduced from their meaning of its components and they do not allow their
1
Koonin A V “English phraseology” mos 1970
2
Amosova NN “Essentials of English Phraseology”, St. Petersburg. 1962
5

lexical components to be changed or substituted in phrase logical units the
individual components do not seem to possess any lexical meaning outside the
word group. Ex:
The bottom line – the most essential information.
Chow down – eat.
Catch some Zs – sleep for a while, take a nap.
Hit the book – study.
Head honcho – person in charge, tip boss.
Jump the gun – do something before it is time to do it.
If you remember, we stated above that in English and American linguists
they said that phraseology is the branch of lexicology. But A V Koonin thinks
that phraseology must be an independent linguistic science and not a part of
lexicology or stylistic. His classification of phrase logical units is based an the
functions of them in speech. They are: nominating, intersectional and
communicative.
Fraser 3
classified phrase logical units into three groups taking into
consideration their motivation. They are:
1. Phrase logical fusions: they are such units which are completely non-
motivated word groups;
Ex: to kick the bucket, to get ones goat, to show the white feather.
In those word groups the meaning of the whole expression is not derived
from the meaning of components.
2. Phrase logical units: the meaning of such word groups can be perceived
through the metaphorical meaning of the whole phraseological unit or the
meaning of the word group:
Ex: to show ones teeth, to show the way the wind blows, to stand to one’s guns,
to take care of.
3. Phraseological collocations: they include motivated relatively stable word
groups they have certain degree of stability;
3
Fraser B “Idioms within a transformational Grammar”, 1970
6

Ex: take an interest, to fall in love, to look one’s finger, meet the demand.
As present the term “phraseological unit” is usually used not all set
expressions but only to those which are completely or partially non-motivated.
Professor N Amasova gives two categories of phraseological units
depending on whether just one component or both are used in phraseologically
bound meaning such phraseological units are called “idioms”.
Ex: to catch one’s eye – attract one’s attention.
Pull someone’s leg – tease someone by trying to make her/him believe something
that is untrue.
Sleep on it – take at least a day to think about something before making decision.
Stability of phraseological units is seen in its disallowance of the
substitution of word groups. Idiomatically of phraseological units is lack of
allow word-by-word translation it is called idiomatic groups.
Ex: to kick bucket – ulmoq.
In the soup – qiyin xolatda.
Under a color – yomon kayfiyatda.
Professor McMordie 4
states that a phraseological unit may be defined as
specific word groups functioning as a word-equivalent. The phraseological units
are single semantically inseparable units. They are used in one function in the
sentence and belong to one part of speech. According to their semantic and
grammatical inseparability we may classify the phraseological units into:
Noun equivalents – heavy father.
Verb equivalents – take place, break the news.
Adverb equivalents – in the long run, high and low.
Adjective equivalents – cut and tired.
Professor A Koonin does not support F Chitra’s 5
point of view on the
equivalency that the components of phraseological units are mounted separately
and therefore cannot be used in one function in the sentence.
4
McMordie W, “English Idioms”, Lon 1972
5
Fernando Chitra “The Nature and Function of Idioms with Special Reference to English”. 1981
7

Ex: he gets rid of id.
The problem of equivalency of phraseological units of words demands
further investigation.
Among the phraseological units there are the so-called imperative
phraseological units.
Ex: God bless his soul.
Curse her.
Stay well.
Go well.
Heaven forbid.
Lord save us.
These phraseological units mostly denote the emotional and expressive
state of person.
Proverbs, saying and quotations exist also a readymade units with a
specialized of their own which cannot be deduced from the meaning of their
components.
Therefore they may be included in phraseological units.
Ex East or West home is best
A friend indeed.
To be or not to be.
The histories of much phraseologism are an interesting record of nation’s
past, of its way of life customs and traditions.
Many phraseological units are connected with commerce.
Ex: to talk shop.
To make the best of the bargain.
To have all one’s goods in the shop window.
There is subject of discussion among the linguists about the state of such
combinations like:
To give in.
To make up.
8

To make off.
To get up.
To give up.
What is the nature of the second element of such combinations?
The second element of such units is not a word therefore they are not
phraseological units. Phraseological units, as we know consist of words.
The second element is not a morpheme because it is not a part of a lexical
meaning and are used certain function in the sentence. But these units have
idiomatical meaning.
1.2. Classification of idioms
Idioms and fixed expressions
Idioms are fixed expressions that are usually not clear or obvious. The
expression to feel under the weather, which means to feel unwell is a typical
idiom. The words do not tell us what it means, but the context usually helps.
There are some simple rules how to deal with idioms. At first it's important to
think of idioms as being just like single words, then we must record the whole
phrase in the notebook, along with the information on grammar and collocation.
This tin - opener has seen better days. (it is rather old and broken
down; usually of Things, always perfect tense form).
Idioms are usually rather informal and include an element of personal
comment on the situation. They are sometimes humorous or ironic. As with any
informal “commenting” word. That's why we must be careful using them. It's
not a good idea to use them just to sound “fluent” or “good at English'. In a
formal situation we can't say : “How do you do, Mrs Watson. Do take the
weight off your feet. ” (sit down) instead of “Do sit down” or “Have a seat”. It
is important to know that their grammar is flexible. Some are more fixed than
others.
For instance, Barking up the wrong tree (be mistaken) is always used in
continuous, not simple form, e.g.
9

I think you' re Barking up the wrong tree.
Generally, set expression, for example, come to the wrong shop, go the
way of all flesh, make somebody' s blood boil, are idiomatical, they are also
named phraseological. Besides, there are set expression such as pay a visit, make
one' s appearance, give help. Their interpretation is disputable. Some linguists
consider them to be a not idiomatical part of phraseology, which is opposed to
idiomatical. If the expression is idiomatical, then we must consider its
components in the aggregate, not separately 6
. Idioms are a part of our daily
speech 7
. They give expressiveness and exactness to oral and written language.
It's not easy to master idioms fluently. Word - for - word translation can change
the meaning of the idiom. I've understood, that the study of the English
lexicology should necessarily include study of phraseology. So, what is an idiom
and phraseology? How can we translate idioms? Is it possible to translate idioms
word for word and not to change their meaning?
Classification of idioms .
Term “phraseology” is defined as a section of linguistics, which studies
word collocations, and, on the other hand, a set of all steady combinations of
words of the language. The stock of words of the language consists not only of
separate words, but also of set expressions, which alongside with separate words
serve as means of expressing conceptions 8
. A set expression represents a set
phrase.
Separate words Set expressions
6
Каменецкайте Н. Л. Синонимы в английской фразеологии. М.: «Международные отношения», 1971, с. 3.
7
Судзиловский Г. А. Сленг - что это такое? Английская просторечная военная лексика. М.: Военное издательство, 1973, с. 37.
8
. Ворно Е. Ф., Кащеева М. А. и др. Лексикология английского языка. Л.: Учпедгиз, 1955, с. 123
10

Phraseological
fusions To make up
one's mind
To make friends Phraseological unities
He plays with fire She
burst into tears Phraseological collocations
From head to foot To get
on like a house on fire
Stock of words of the language According to the Academician V. V.
Vinogradov's classification phraseological units may be classified into three
groups:
1. phraseological fusions,
2. phraseological unities
3. phraseological collocations.
Phraseological fusions are completely non - motivated word - groups, such
as heavy father - “serious or solemn part in a theatrical play”, kick the bucket -
“die”; and the like 9
. The meaning of the components has no connection
whatsoever, at least synchronically, with the meaning of the whole group.
Idiomaticity is, as a rule, combined with complete stability of the lexical
components and the grammatical structure of the fusion. Phraseological fusions
are called “traditional”, “set expression with fixed nomination”, “combinations”,
“set expression” in works of other researchers.
Phraseological unities are partially non - motivated as their meaning can
usually be perceived through the metaphoric meaning of the whole
phraseological unit 10
. For example, to show one' s teeth, to wash one' s dirty
linen in public if interpreted as semantically motivated through the combined
lexical meaning of the component words would naturally lead one to understand
these in their literal meaning. The metaphoric meaning of the whole unit,
however, readily suggests “take a threatening tone” or “show an intention to
9
Ворно Е. Ф., Кащеева М. А. и др. Лексикология английского языка. Л.: Учпедгиз, 1955, сс. 124 - 125.
10
Каменецкайте Н. Л. Синонимы в английской фразеологии. М.: «Международные отношения», 1971, с. 3
11

injure” for show one' s teeth and “discuss or make public one' s quarrels” for
wash one' s dirty linen in public. Phraseological unities are as a rule marked by a
high degree of stability of the lexical components.
Phraseological collocations are motivated but they are made up of words
possessing specific lexical valency which accounts for a certain degree of
stability in such word - groups. In phraseological collocations variability of
member - words is strictly limited. For instance, bear a grudge May be changed
into bear malice, but not into bear a fancy or liking. We can say take a liking
(fancy) but not take hatred (disgust). These habitual collocations tend to become
kind of clichés where the meaning of member - words is to some extent
dominated by the meaning of the whole group. Due to this, phraseological
collocations are felt as possessing a certain degree of semantic inseparability.
Classification of idioms for better understanding and learning.
Vocabulary. Idioms can be grouped in a variety of ways. According to “English
Vocabulary in Use” there are 3 groups of idioms. Phraseology of modern
English 11
Grammatical By meaning By verb or
another key word
verb + object verb +
preposition
phrase His fingers are all
thumbs [clumsy] Do you mind my
smoking? [object
to]
hold someone's
hand [to take care of] rise the eyebrows
[to wonder]
Different ways of grouping idioms. I've found some more or less
convenient ways of grouping the idioms.
Classification of phraseological units according to their structure. There
are two groups of idioms: nominal a black sheep ( of the family) [shame of the
11
http :// vernadsky . dnttm . ru / h 4/ w 01358. htm
12

family], and verbal to take risks (to risk) as I've already told you. As one can see
on the diagram, there are more verbal idioms, approximately 65 percents, than
nominal ones. In both groups there turns out to be too many idioms, therefore
such way is difficult for remembering.
Academician V. V. Vinogradov's classification.
There are three groups of idioms according to this classification. The
problem is the same as in the previous case. It's not easy to remember all of these
phraseological units.
Classification of phraseological units according to the parts of speech 12
.
There are four groups: nominal phrases: hard luck [misfortune]; adjective
phraseological units: all fingers and thumbs [clumsy]; verbal: to get on like a
house on fire [to make progress]; adverbial: vice versa [conversely]. At last I
tried to divide idioms into several groups, as it's written in “English Vocabulary
in Use”. I also added some more of them. According to this classification idioms
can be divided into following groups. As everyday spoken language is full of
fixed expressions that are not necessarily difficult to understand (their meaning
May be quite' transparent') but which have a fixed form which does not change
the first group is everyday expressions. These have to be learnt as whole
expressions. These expressions are often hard to find in dictionaries. For
example as I was saying (it takes the conversation back to an earlier point). This
group includes three sub - groups.
Conversation - building expressions - these are some common expressions
that help to modify or organize what we are saying. There are many expressions
like these. For example: as I was saying (it takes the conversation back to an
earlier point. Some everyday expressions can be grouped around key words. The
preposition “in” for example, occurs in several expressions: in fact (really), in
practice (actually). Common expressions for modifying statements are also a
part of this group. For example: as far as I'm concerned (from my point of view).
As... as... similes and expressions with 'like' are easy to understand. If you see
12
Арнольд И. В. Лексикология современного английского языка. М.: 1959.
13

the phrase as dead as a doornail, you Don' T need to know what a doornail is,
simply that the whole phrase means “totally dead”. But it's important to
remember that fixed similes are not “neutral”; they are usually informal or
colloquial and often humorous.
Idioms describing people can be divided into two sub-groups: 13

Idioms connected with positive and negative qualities , for example: His
fingers are all thumbs (he's clumsy) or She has iron nerves (she's composed).
How people relate to the social norm, for example: I think Mary has a secret to
hide (She keeps something from us). I have divided idioms describing feelings
or mood into three sub - groups. They are positive and negative feelings, moods
and states. For example: to get on someone's nerves (to exasperate), to have a
horror of (to disgust), to be as happy as the day is long (extremely content).
Physical feelings and states . For example: to burst into tears (to cry).
People's fear or fright. For example: She was scared stiff, (very scared).
Next group is idioms connected with problematic situations. The first sub -
group is problems and difficulties. For example: a hard luck (failure).
The second sub - group is idioms related to situations based on get . For
example: to get frustrated (defeat).
The third sub - group is changes and staves in situations. For example: to
change one's mind (think better of it).
At last idioms connected with easing the situation. For example: to do well
(recover), to get off lightly (escape).
Idioms connected with praise and criticism, for example: to go on at
someone (criticize).
Idioms connected with using language and communication
Idioms connected with communication problems . For example: to have a
row with somebody (to quarrel).
Good and bad talk. For example: stream of consciousness (flow of words).
13
Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell. English Vocabulary in Use. Cambridge University Press, 1994.
14

Talk in discussions, meetings , etc. For example: to strike up (a
conversation) (to start a conversation).
Idioms - miscellaneous.
Idioms connected with paying, buying and selling. For example: to save up
for (put by).
Idioms based on names of the parts of the body . For example: to lend an
ear (to listen to).
Idioms connected with daily routine . For example: to do up (tidy up).
There are also single idioms which cannot be included into described
above groups. For example to run out (to come to an end) and some special
groups of expressions in “Blueprint” such as all along (always), all in all (as a
result), all of a sudden (unexpectedly).
The last group of idioms is proverbs . For example: “Out of the frying Pan
and into the fire” (from one disaster into another).
II. Analysis of the origin of idioms in English and their alternatives in Uzbek
15

2.1. Semantic peculiarities of idioms
The meaning of an idiom is not to be result of the compositional function
of its constituent parts, i.e. its syntax is a non-correlative and the resultant
significant non-literal in terms of the referents denoted by these parts. Or, put
briefly, an idiom is a lexeme. Here lexeme is used to mean the smallest
semantically irreducible unit, whether expressed formally in monomorphemic
words or polymorphemic words or expressions.
E.g. Cat, man, house, demythologization, go out with, drop a brick, pass
the buck.
Such forms have been accepted as idioms in the consensus of scholarly
opinion or in idiom dictionaries.
Obviously idioms and lexemes are not interchangeable synonyms; single
morphemes for instance, are lexemes but not necessarily idioms, although
idiomatic compounds and phrasal verbs (eg, foxglove, come down with, etc) are
lexemic.
M Collins 14
comments on this issue:
A full lexical statement (i.e. an adequate dictionary) should provide
semantic explanation, as well as phonological and grammatical identification,
for every meaningful form whose signification cannot be inferred from a
knowledge of anything else in the language. It is convenient to refer to these
elementary units as “lexemes”, although other terms have been suggested, for
example “idiom” by Collins.
An idiomatic phrase, for example spill the beans, generally gives one
reading which is the superficial, literal sense derived from the correlative syntax
of that phrase. The meaning here is transparently clear, as in sentence below. It
is only minimally misleading in less clear-cut contexts in so far that the phrase
may be known as an idiom, and the idiomatic meaning expected, whereas in fact
the literal reading is to be taken. The other reading which an idiom gives is more
confusing in that if an idiom is not suspected then unless the context is
14
“ Cobuild idioms Workbook” Lon Harper Collins 1995.
16

particularly clear an unwary reader might be tempted to take the surface reading
that derives from the correlative syntax and miss the idiomatic sense. In (2), for
instance, a literal reading would be just possible, with some semantic
incongruity. In (3) a reader is much more likely to look for an idiomatic
interpretation.
1. Alfred spilled the beans all over the table.
2. Alfred spilled the beans all over the boarding-house.
3. Alfred spilled the beans all over the town.
It is with (3) that the semantic opacity of idioms is clearest. There is
discernible link between the literal reading of (1) and the meaning of (3) which
is paraphrasable as Alfred revealed secret to people everywhere in town.
Another example we might use to demonstrate the semantic opacity of idioms
arising from the asymmetry between syntax and sense is the phrase kick the
bucket. The method of killing pigs which gave rise to the expression kick the
bucket has long since died out. It is not generally known nowadays that the
bucket was (in Norfolk, England) the beam from which a pig about to be killed
used to hang by its hind feet. The nervous reflex actions of the pig, after its
throat was cut to let the blood drain into a receptacle below, caused it to kick the
bucket as it was dying.
What happens in these and other cases is that independent lexemes (spill,
the, beans; kick, the, bucket) initially are used in a straightforward, literal way
such that the resultant meaning of an expression formed with them is simply the
sum of the constituent lexemes. Slowly, through various semantic processes,
these expressions take on new, idiomatic meanings and at the same time calcify
talk of lexeme + lexeme giving the full meaning, i.e. a polylexemic construction,
but only of one single lexeme, with a sense not obviously connected with that of
the original constituent lexemes, i.e. a monolexemic construction.
The meaning of the idiom has now to be expressed by means of a
paraphrase. In fact the original lexemes are now positively misleading, and do
not carry any independent meaning of their own.
17

4. The pig kicked the bucket.
5. John kicked the bucket accidentally, and hurt his toe.
6. John kicked the bucket and they buried him next day.
In (4) and (5) each item carries its full lexemic value; in (6) only two
lexemes are present are present: John and kicked-the-bucket (=’died’). In
sentence (6) kicked, the and the bucket are pseudo lexemes which make possible
an erroneous interpretation of the expression, if it is not recognized that they
have no independent meaning of their own but together form a monolexemic
construction with the meaning ‘die’.
Any attempt, therefore, to give an independent meaning to the individual
constituent of idioms, rather than to the whole unit, is open to criticism.
At first sight, the so-called ‘idiom variants’ appear to throw into doubt this
principle of the semantic integrity of the whole idiom. Idiom variants are such
pairs or triplets as: bury the tomahawk/hatchet, lead someone a merry
chase/dance, not to touch something with a ten-foot/barge pose, blow one’s
stack/cool/top, hit the hay/sack, etc. The point here is that, despite difference of
register frequency, dialectal usage and so on, the same lexemic sense is involved
in each pair or triplet, even though there is variation in the form. There is still no
independent meaning given to the idioms’ constituents. That idiom variants exist
is not a proof against the lexemic nature of idioms; phonemic and morphemic
variations do not affect the concept of the phoneme or the morpheme.
A necessary corollary of the view that no constituent of an idiom carries
independent meaning is that if a constituent of a suspected idiom can be shown
to recur elsewhere with the same sense, then the phrase is at best only marginally
idiomatic. Phrasal verbs provide many illustrations of this principle: fill up might
be considered idiomatic, until contrasted with the recurrent completive or
effected sense ‘in the direction of’ recurs in leave for, set out for, etc.
A further example is blue joke. It might be suspected that blue joke
(meaning ‘obscene humorous story’) is a pure idiom. This is not so since joke
can be replaced by a range of other items (eg. Play, gag, picture, comedian, etc)
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and obviously blue retains its sense of ‘obscene’ outside the collocation with
joke.
Here we also will be dealing with the analysis of idioms consisting of
animal’s name.
Idioms including animals name are colorful and fascinating aspect of
English. They are commonly used in denoting various features of people such as
state, behavior, manner, etc. Besides we can see their semantically variation in
other branches such as animal idioms denoting the condition of the situation,
concerning the time, weather etc..
And here are their classification according to their semantic peculiarities.
Animal idioms denoting behavior:
To eat like a bird – to eat very little.
We went out for a meal, but she ate like a bird and hardly said a word.
Fight like cat and dog- to argue violently all the time.
We got on very well as adults but as kids we fight like cat and dog.
To put on the dog – to try to seen richer or more important than you really are.
They really put on the dog in front of their guests.
Act the goat – to behave in a silly way sometimes in order to make people laugh.
Insecure and lonely he resorted to act the goat to get people’s attention.
To eat like a horse – to eat too much foot.
She eats like a horse and I do not know how she managed to stay so thin.
To eat like a pig- to eat a lot unpleasantly.
Ann was so embarrassed, her husband was hungry and eat like a pig in front of
their guests.
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To make seep’s eye at – to look at someone in a way that shows that you love
them or are attracted to them.
Kan has been making sheep’s eyes at his ex-girlfriend all night.
Parrot fashion – if you learn parrot fashion you are able to repeat the words but
you do not understand their meaning.
When I went to Sunday school we had to reside passages from the bible fashion
parrot fashion.
The cock of the walk – a man who acts as if he is more fashionable or important
than others.
He acts like a cock of the walk round the office.
Like headless chicken – if you do smth like a headless chicken you do it very
quickly without thinking careful about it.
I have got so much work to do I have been running around like a headless
chicken all week.
To take something like a dog to water – to learn how to do smth very quickly and
enjoy doing it.
Sue just took to motherhood like a dog water.
A dog in the manger – someone who keeps smth that they do not really want in
order to prevent anyone else from having it.
Stop being such a dog in manger and let your sister ride your bike if you are not
using it.
An early bird – someone who gets up very early in the morning.
Ellen is the early bird in this house not me.
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Like a bull at a gate – if you do smth like a bull at a gate you do it very quickly.
Jim wants to finish his job today so he is going at them like a bull at a gate.
To drink like a fish – to regularly drink a lot of alcohol.
How can you rely the car on him while he drinks like a fish.
Animal idioms concerned with situation.
Dog eat dog – if a situation is a dog eat dog people will do anything to be
successful, even if they do harm other people.
In show business it is dog eat dog one day you are star, the next day replaced by
younger talent.
Smell fishy – if a situation smell fishy, it causes you to think that someone is
dishonest.
Weber’s account of what he was doing that evening smells a bit fishy to me.
Animal idioms characterizing people.
Bird of a feather – people who are similar
The survey reports that a people who are birds of a feather make better
marriages than those who are opposite.
Snake in the grass – someone who pretends to be your friend secretly doing
things to harm you.
It is upsetting to learn that somebody you once viewed as a good colleague is in
fact a snake on the grass.
Chicken hearted – not brave.
These chicken – hearted bosses always seem to give in at the first sign of a
strike.
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Animal idioms denoting the state of person.
Dog tired- extremely tired
He usually got home around 7 o’clock dog tired after a long day in the office.
Have ants in your pants – not to be able to keep still because you are very
excited or worried about smth.
She has gone ants in her pants because she is going to a party tonight.
Animal idioms concerning with a time.
Until the cow come home – for a very long time.
We could about this problem until the cows come, but it would not solve
anything.
Donkey’s years – a very long time.
I have been doing this job donkey’s years.
Animal idioms describing the weather.
The dog days – the hottest days of the summer.
At time during the dog days the steam dries completely.
Brass monkey weather – extremely cold weather.
The heating system of some districts got frozen because of the brass monkey
weather.
2.2. English idioms and their alternatives in Uzbek
Idioms are not the same concept as argon. Idioms are combinations of
simple words with special meanings that are known to almost
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everyone.Argon is usually a special word or a special meaning of a simple
word that is known only to a certain group. Here are more examples:
A little bird told me (a little bird whispered me) –this idiom is used if you
have heard or been with the information before, but do not want to say from
whom you heard it.
In Uzbek it means that: Kichkina qushcha aytib (pichirlab) ketdi,
eshitdim-da, teshik quloq eshitadi-da.
1. Did you hear that Ann is going to marry? Where did you find this information?
A little bird told me.
2. A little bird whispered me it was your wedding.
A little frog in big pond -used when you feel uncomfortable or helpless in
a strange or unfamiliar environment.
In Uzbek it means that: kichkina baqa katta ko‘lmakda.
1. When John transferred to another group, he found himself a little frog in a big
pond.
2. It is a common feeling to newcomers to find themselves a little frog in a big
pond.
A little new to all this (new to all this) if a person is new or uneducated in
a job, this phrase is used, it is all new or new.
In Uzbek it means that: yangilik.
1. I am afraid that I am a bit slow. I am a little new to all this.
2. Ann is new to all this so she needs practice to get used.
Abandon ship – 1) to leave a sinking ship. 2) to abandon, to end "a job in
bankruptcy."
In Uzbek it means that: o’zidan soqit qilmoq, tashlab ketmoq.
1. A captain ordered passengers to abandon ship.
2. A lot of entrepreneurs are abandoning ship after a first failure.
Able to breathe easily again (able to breathe freely again) - Breathe
freely or adjust your breathing after a certain intense process or situation.
In Uzbek it means that: yengil nafas olmoq.
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1. The lesson is over now you are able to breathe freely again.
2. After seeing out guest we were able to breathe easily again.
Able to do something blindfolded (can do something standing on one’s
head/able to do something with one’s eyes closed) –it translates directly: to be
able to do it with your eyes closed, to be able to do it easily.That is, to be able to
do it blindfolded.
In Uzbek it means that: ko‘z bog‘liq holatda ham qila olmoq.
1. He bragged that he was able to pass exams blindfolded.
2. He said that he could find Africa standing on his head.
3. It is very easy I can do this with my eyes closed.
Able to fog a mirror –is a humorous phrase that is still breathing or still
alive, able to endure, able to stand, still alive, able to move.
In Uzbek it means that: hali ham tirik.
1. Today I have overworked and I am barely able to fog a mirror.
2. Not everyone is able to fog a mirror after a lengthy conversation with an
interviewer. Able to take a joke (can take a joke)–to understand jokes.
In Uzbek it means that: hazil ko‘tara olmoq.
1. I do not advise you joke with her, she cannot take a joke.
2. It is easy to get along with those who are able to take a joke.
Able to take (can take)–to endure something even though it suffers him
In Uzbek it means that: bardosh bermoq.
1. Stop screaming I am not able totake it anymore.
2. You can say whatever you want I will take it all.
Above and beyond –more than necessary, more than the norm.
In Uzbek it means that: keragidan ortiq, me’yoridan oshiqcha.
1. I value your effort but it is above and beyond.
2. Sometimes it seems to me that I am spending time above and beyond for
playing computer games.
Above and beyond the call of duty –in love with or in excess of the required
duty, not in addition to the duty, service, obligation.
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In Uzbek it means that: talab qilingan vazifadanda oshiq yoki ziyoda,
vazifa, xizmat, majburiyatdan tashqari, majburiyatga kirmaydigan ishni qilish.
1. Despite the fact that it was above and beyond the call of duty he helped
strangers.
2. The shop assistant saw me out though it was above and beyond the call of
duty.
Above average–more or better than the norm or the prescribed attraction, high
rock.
In Uzbek it means that: me’yordan yoki belgilangan talabdan ko‘proq yoki
yaxshiroq, yuqoriroq.
1. Only few students could get marks above average.
2. John’s intelligence is above average.
Above reproach – Criticism is unworthy, strong, flawless, innocent.
In Uzbek it mean that: tanqidga noloyiq, bekam-u ko‘st, benuqson, «oppoq»,
beayb.
1. I know you are a model student but it does not mean that you are above
reproach.
2. She was guilty of breaking vase but she behaved as if she was above
reproach. Above suspicion –reliable, very honest, unquestioning,
unquestionable.
In Uzbek it means that: ishonchli, o‘ta halol, shubhadan yiroq, shubha ostida
bo‘lmagan.
1. When the accident took place he was not there, so he is above suspicion.
2. John has been working here for 25 years that is why everybody considers
him completely above suspicion.
Aboveboard (honest and aboveboard/ open and aboveboard)- honest, open,
non- confidential, non-secret, open.
In Uzbek it means that: halol, ochiqchasiga, maxfiy bo‘lmagan, sir bo‘lmagan,
ochiq.
1. Citizens require all political events must be honest and aboveboard.
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2. My patience is running out, will you make it open and aboveboard.
Absent without leave –is a military term meaning to leave one's place without
permission, also used in everyday situations, to leave one's place without
question or answer.
In Uzbek it means that: o‘z o‘rnini so‘roqsiz, javobsiz tashlab ketmoq.
1. One of the biggest crimes during the wartime is being absent without leave
one’s post.
2. John was dismissed from school because he was absent without leave from
school and got into crime.
According to all accounts (by all accounts) – It translates directly.
In Uzbek it means that: aytishlariga qaraganda yoki xabarlarga qaraganda,
ma’lumotlarga qaraganda.
1. According to all account, he was the best player of the match.
2. By all account, thousands of houses were damaged by storm. According to
Hoyle –as a rule, according to the book.
In Uzbek it means that: qoidaga ko‘ra, kitobda yozilganiga ko‘ra.
1. According to Hoyle, it is not the right way to get this work done.
2. Are you sure that we are doing it according to Hoyle?
According to one’s own light –depending on one's conscience or one's
actions, as long as one wishes to remain true to one's faith.
In Uzbek it means that: o‘z vijdoniga yoki xohishiga qarab, o‘z e’tiqodiga sodiq
qolgan holda, o‘zi xohlagandek.
1. Each person can choose lifestyle according to his own light.
2. No matter whether he did it right or not he did everything according to his
own light. Ace up one’s sleeve – hidden power or opportunity, preserved
power, deceit.
In Uzbek it means that: hiyla, yashirin kuch.
1. May be, he is going to lose but it does not mean that you may relax, perhaps he
has ace up his sleeve.
2. 5 dollars was last ace up his sleeve.
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Achilles heel – is a weak, delicate spot, a point of a person or thing. It is based
on a passage from the ancient Homer's Greek epic, the Iliad.
In Uzbek it means that: nozik joy.
1. John seems to be well-educated man but everyone has his Achilles heel.
2. He is a brave guy but his deep love towardSue is his Achilles heel.
Aching heart –a crushed heart, a heart crushed, a heart tormented by love.
In Uzbek it means that: yurak, muhabbatdan azoblangan yurak.
1. I tried to console my aching heart so many times but all my effort came to
nothing.
2. There is no remedy for an aching heart.
Acid test – a test of what or what a person is really worth, a test of what they are
capable of. a test of what or what a person is really worth, a test of what they are
capable of.
In Uzbek it means that: sinov
1. Acid test of real man will be when he shows courage facing with danger.
2. If he can pass his history exam it will be acid test for him.
Acknowledge someone to be right –to acknowledge, to admit that someone is
right about something.
In Uzbek it means that: tan bermoq.
1. I acknowledged my teacher to be right about equation.
2. In spite of several last-ditch attempt of escaping from guiltless
To learn a language, a person must learn the words in that language, how
and when to use them. But people also need to learn phrases separately, because
some words used together can change their meaning or have different meanings
at certain times. To understand an idiom, it is sometimes necessary to know to
which nation the idiom originated.
For instance:
1. Armed to the teeth
Description: Over-prepared or very well equipped.
Origin: 17th-century pirates wanted to make sure their ammunition and
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weapons would never run out, so every soldier had to be armed. To prepare
perfectly, they tried to keep another gun in their pockets and again held a knife
to their teeth. It seemed to make them strong. Then the above phrase came into
being.
2. Barking the wrong tree
Definition: Following false instructions or having misconceptions about a
situation or event. Origin: This expression may have originated from hunters
carrying their hunting dogs as hunting dogs walk towards the trees where they
see their prey running and destroy that tree. Even if the predator somehow
escapes to another tree, the dogs will continue to "hit the wrong tree." The
phrase is derived from hunting.
3. Basket case
Definition: Anything or person that is considered useless or incapable of
overcoming it. Origin: The term originally referred to soldiers who lost their
limbs, or perhaps in 1919, when rumors spread that the heads of soldiers who
had lost their heads came to the hospital with baskets. They are a sign that it is
useless to bring the severed head to the hospital. First, Major-General M.V.
Ireland was the first to call them "basket cases" to indicate that they had not
seen these baskets in their notices.
4. Bite the bullet
Definition: Accepting something unpleasant or difficult.
Origin: During the war, or when doctors could not anesthetize patients, they
asked the patient to bite the bullet hard, which would allow the soldiers to be
distracted from the pain. This phrase can be found in its first written form in
1891 in The Light of Failure.
5. Break the ice
Distorting the image of the ice phrase
Definition: promoting friendship and harmony within a group to develop
friendships;alternatively, it means stopping conflicts and shootings that occur
between friends.
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Origin: In an era when roads were not yet fully developed, ships were the
main means of transportation and trade. During the winter, these vessels can
become clogged with ice formed in lakes and other bodies of water. The host
country then sends smaller ships and helps merchant ships break the ice for
them. Helping to break the ice means promoting friendship between sending and
receiving countries.
6. Bury the hatchet
Definition: Forgetting and reconciling the offense.
Origin: Many years ago, when the Puritans fought Native Americans,
Native Americans had a tradition of burying their hatches, clubs, tomahawks,
and knives during peace talks. The act of burying weapons and not being able to
access them was a sign of their peace.
7. Butter someone up
Definition: flattering someone.
Origin: As usual in ancient India, the religious movement was associated with
throwing balls of butter on the statues of the gods. In this way, they asked the
gods for help and gave them scarves. This work was considered a sign of
respect.
8. Cat got your tongue?
Definition: A question asked when a person does not know what to say.
Origin: One possible source of this phrase was the cat-o-nine tail, a whip
used for whipping in the British Navy. The whipping would cause severe pain
for the victim to remain silent for a long time. The second hypothesis is ancient
Egypt: people cut off the tongues of blasphemers and liars and fed cats with
them!
9.Caught red- handed
Definition: Catching someone when they do something wrong.
Origin: Under old English law, anyone who slaughtered someone else’s
animal was to be punished. The condition is that if he is caught by the accusers
while he is the blood of an animal killed with his own hands, he will be found
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guilty without a word.
10. Fly off the handle
Definition: Sudden anger.
Origin: This phrase dates back to the 1800s, as some of the arrows were so
badly made that the ax heads would fly off the handle when shaken. It made
people very angry.
Knowing the history of an idiom is not only useful and interesting, but also
difficult, but it is not necessary to use the phrase correctly. For example, most
English speakers say “there is no place to shake a cat” which means “there was
little space” and can use the phrase correctly. However, few know this, because
200 years ago sailors were punished by being whipped with "cat o nine tails." A
large space was vacated on the ship so that the whipping man could find a place
to shake the cat. An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is incomprehensible from
the vocabulary definitions taken separately. The linguist’s term for the true
meaning of a phrase is subtext.
Conclusion
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This course paper is devoted to discuss the nature of idiomaticity versus
non idiomaticity in learner language. The complementary nature of generated
language and formulaic, conventionalized language in discourse has been
discussed and the gradational nature of idiomatic language has been delineated.
The metaphorical nature of much idiomatic language has been emphasized and
the central importance of metaphorical multiword units in language use has been
insisted upon. At the end of our research the following conclusions can be made.
The origin of idioms is closely connected with people’s mentality.
The present day English cannot be considered full of value without
idiomatic usage, as the use of idioms is the first sign of a certain language’s
developing. Idiomatic sentences enrich a language and the knowledge of idioms
signal that the speaker knows the language on the level of a native speaker.
English idioms are colorful and fascinating aspect of the English language
therefore their semantic field, their denotation and usage plays great role in
vocabulary of every learner of English. An idiom is a number of words which,
taken together, mean something different from individual words of the idiom
when they stand alone.
There are tens of thousands of idioms used in English. Perhaps, as we
understand it, phrases are difficult for people whose first language is not English.
Indeed, English-speakers in the Homeland of England also struggle with
American phrases. Americans know them because they are common pharases.
We are used to hearing them at home, at school, and on our favorite TV shows.
Sometimes American phrases make their way around the world, and sometimes
expression doesn’t take it out of a particular situation. An idiom is a phrase that
has a figurative meaning when certain words are combined, which differs from
the literal definition of individual words.
Idioms are fixed expressions that are usually not clear or obvious. The
words do not tell us what it means, but the context usually helps. There are
some simple rules how to deal with idioms. At first it's important to think of
31

idioms as being just like single words, then we must record the whole phrase in
the notebook, along with the information on grammar and collocation.
Idioms are usually rather informal and include an element of personal
comment on the situation. They are sometimes humorous or ironic. As with any
informal “commenting” word. That's why we must be careful using them. It's
not a good idea to use them just to sound “fluent” or “good at English'.
There is type of expression which is frequently included in the category of
idiom, but which, it will be argued, ought to be kept distinct, and that is what is
sometimes called “frozen” or “dead” metaphor.
You must have taken leave of your senses.
You must have left your senses behind
The first sentence in each pair contains a dead metaphor; in the second
sentence, the metaphor is revitalized by the substitution of a near-synonym or
paraphrases.
We use idioms to express something that other words do not express as
clearly or as cleverly. We often use an image or symbol to describe something as
clearly as possible and thus make our point as effectively as possible. For
example, “in a nutshell” suggest the idea of having all the information contained
within very words. Idioms tend to be informal and are best used in spoken rather
then written English.
Sometimes idioms are very easy for learners to understand because there
are similar expressions in the speaker’s mother tongue. For example:
He always goes at things like a bull in a china shop.
However, idioms can be often be very difficult to understand. You may be
able to guess the meaning from context but if not easy to know the meaning.
Many idioms, for instance, come from favorite British activities such as fighting,
sailing, hunting and playing games. As well as being quite specialist in meaning.
Some of the words in idioms were used two or three hundred years ago or
longer and can be a little obscure. Here some examples:
Now let’s see some idioms and their explanations and usage in examples:
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All right (1) expression of reluctant agreement.
A: “Come to the party with me. please”
B: “Oh, all right: I do not want to, but I will”.
All right (2). Fair, not particularly good.
A: “How is your chemistry class?”.
B: “It is all right, I guess, but it is not the best class I have ever had”.
All right (3). Unharmed, in satisfactory condition.
A: “You do not look normal. Are you all right?”.
B: “Yes but I have a headache”.
English is a language particularly rich in idioms - those modes of
expression peculiar to a language (or dialect) which frequently defy logical and
grammatical rules. Without idioms English would lose much of its variety and
humor both in speech an writing.
We conclude that even languages belonging to different families may have
similar or hemi similar idioms and those which differ dramatically can be
guessed within the context.
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References
1. Amosova NN “Essentials of English Phraseology”, St. Petersburg. 1962
2. Ammer Chr. The American heritage dictionary of idioms. Houghton
Mifflin Company, 1997
3. Common idioms and their surprising origins. www.tckpublishing.com
4. Cambridge English Dictionary
https://www.google.com/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/
5. Collins Lon Harper “Cobuild idioms Workbook” 1995
6. Daphne M. Gulland, David Hinds-Howell – “The Penguin dictionary of
idioms”- 2001
7. Fraser B “Idioms within a transformational Grammar”, 1970
8. Koonin A V “English phraseology” mos 1970
9. McMordie W, “English Idioms”, Lon 1972
10. Michael McCarthy, Felicity O'Dell. English Vocabulary in Use.
Cambridge University Press , 1994.
11. Арнольд И. В. Лексикология современного английского языка. М.:
1959.
12. Ворно Е. Ф., Кащеева М. А. и др. Лексикология английского языка.
Л.: Учпедгиз, 1955, с. 124 - 125.
13. Каменецкайте Н. Л. Синонимы в английской фразеологии. М.:
«Международные отношения», 1971, с.3.
14. Судзиловский Г. А. Сленг - что это такое? Английска я просторечная
военная лексика. М.: Военное издательство, 1973, с. 37.
15. Yusupov A.L. – “English-Uzbek idioms dictionary” Yangi asr avlodi.
T.:2014
Internet sources.
1. Internet site: http://vernadsky.dnttm.ru/h4/w01358.htm
`Phraseology of modern English`
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2. Internet site: http://durov.com/lectures/OCR/Halperin.htm
3. Idioms list https://leaftranslations.com/put-a-sock-in-it-and-10-other-
great-english- idioms/
4. http://vernadsky.dnttm.ru/h4/w01358.htm

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Analysis of the origin of idioms in English and their alternatives in Uzbek

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