Slide 1 : Content for the Class
Idioms:
Definition
Origin
Verbs and idiomatic meaning.
Idioms with Meanings
( bear, break, bring , call, carry, cast, come, cry, cut, do, fall, get, give, go, hold, keep, knock, lay, let, look, make, pass, pick, pull, put, run, see, set, speak, stand, strike, take, tell, throw, turn, work)
( Note: Metaphor and idiomatic phraseology will be covered only once we get an overview of the above content.)
IDIOMS : IDIOMS Definition:
It can be defined as expressions peculiar to a language. They play an important part in all languages.
Idiom (Latin: idioma, “special property”, f. Greek: ἰδίωμα — idiōma, “special feature, special phrasing”, f. Greek: ἴδιος — idios, “one’s own”) is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made.[1] There are estimated to be at least 25,000 idiomatic expressions in the English language.[2]
John Saeed defines an “idiom” as words collocated that became affixed to each other until metamorphosing into a fossilised term.[3] This collocation — words commonly used in a group — redefines each component word in the word-group and becomes an idiomatic expression. The words develop a specialized meaning as an entity, as an idiom. Moreover, an idiom is an expression, word, or phrase whose sense means something different from what the words literally imply. When a speaker uses an idiom, the listener might mistake its actual meaning, if he or she has not heard this figure of speech before.[4] Idioms usually do not translate well; in some cases, when an idiom is translated into another language, either its meaning is changed or it is meaningless
Slide 3 : a load of codswallop
meaning: a lot of nonsense, rubbish
origin: Codd was a Victorian businessman and wallop was nineteenth century slang for beer. In 1872 Hiram Codd went into business selling lemonade in green bottles sealed with a marble stopper. Beer drinkers thought little of this new drink and gave it the derisory nick-name Codswallop.
Example: People say the world is flat, but this is a load of codswallop, it is of course, round.
Many verbs, when followed by various prepositions, or adverbs, acquire an idiomatic sense; as : Many verbs, when followed by various prepositions, or adverbs, acquire an idiomatic sense; as He backed up(supported) his friend’s claim.
The present disturbances will soon blow over(pass off).
The matter has been cleared up(explained).
Rust has eaten away(corroded) the plate.
I must think the matter over(i.e. consider it).
I threatened to show him up(expose it).
They fixed upon(chose) him to do the work.
I readily closed with(accepted) his offer.
Please hear me out(i.e. hear me to the end).
For years I could not shake off(get rid off) my malaria.
Verbs: Idiomatic Meaning : Verbs: Idiomatic Meaning Bear:
Satish bore away(won) many prizes at the school sports.
The new leader has been able to bear down(overthrow, crush) all opposition.
His evidence bears out(confirms, corroborates) the evidence of the first witness.
In his misfortune God gave him strength to bear up (to keep up the spirit, not to despair).
A religious hope bears up(supports) a man in his trails.
His evidence did not bear upon (was not relevant to ) the inquiry.
I trust you will bear with(have patience with, show forbearance to ) me a few minutes more.
Break: : Break: He broke down(failed) in the middle of his speech.
He broke off (stopped suddenly) in the middle of his story.
I gave him no cause to break with( quarrel with) me.
The burglars broke into(entered by force) the house.
Bring: : Bring: His folly has brought about(caused) his ruins.
Idleness and luxury bring forth( produce, cause) poverty and want.
That building brings in (yields as rent) Rs. 7000 a month.
She brought up (reared) the orphan as her own child.
CALL: : CALL: His master called for (demanded) an explanation of his conduct.
Call in (summon, send for) a doctor immediately.
He called on me(paid me a brief visit) yesterday.
The old man could not call up (recollect) past events.
Carry: : Carry: He agreed to carry out (execute) my orders.
His passion carried him away (i.e. deprived him of self control).
His son carried on (managed) his business in his absence.
Many persons were carried off(killed) by plague.
Cast:
The ship was cast away(wrecked) on the coast of Africa.
He was much cast down (depressed) by his loss.
Come : Come How did these things come about (happen)?
How did you come by(get) his purse?
When does the Convocation come off ( take place)?
At last the truth has come out (transpired).
The taxes come to (amount to) a large sum.
The question came up (was mooted or raised for discussion) before the Municipal Corporation last week.
I expected he will come round (recover) within a week.
I hope he will come round (agree) to our views.
Revision : Revision Definition of Idiom
Origin
Idioms and its Meanings
Completed up to “Cry”
Cry: : Cry: Men of dissolute lives cry down(depreciate) religion, because they would not be under the restraints of it.
He cried out against (protested against) such injustice.
That young author is cried up (extolled) by his friends.
Cut:
He was cut off (died) in the prime of life.
You must cut down (reduce) your expenditure.
He is cut out for (specially fitted to be) a sailor.
His wife’s death cut him up (afflicted him, distressed him) terribly.
Do: : Do: I am done for(ruined).
Having walked twenty miles, he is quite done up(fatigued, exhausted).
Fall:
At last the rioters fell back ( retreated, yielded).
At my friend’s tea-party I fell in with(met accidentally) a strange fellow.
The measure falls in with (happens to meet) the popular demand.
The scheme has fallen through (failed) for want of support.
I am told the two brothers have fallen out (quarrelled).
It is said that the standard of efficiency in public service has recently fallen off (deteriorated).
In the second school-term the attendance fell off(diminished).
Get: : Get: His friends expected that he would get off (escaped) with a fine.
It is hard to get on with(agree or live socially with) a suspicious man.
The thief got away (escaped )with my cash box.
I can’t get out(removed) this stain.
The revolt of the tribal chiefs has been got under(subdued).
The dog tried to get at (attack) me.
He has got through (passed) his examination.
They soon got the fire under (under control) by pouring buckets of water over it.
You were lucky to get out of (escape from) his cluthes.
Give: : Give: We are credibly informed that the murderer has given himself up (surrendered himself) to the police.
The doctors have given him up (i.e. have no hope of his recovery).
Soon after it was given forth (published, noised aboard), and believed by many, that the King was dead.
The fire gave off (emitted)a dense smoke.
The strikers seem determined, and are not likely to give in (submit, yield).
It was given out (published, proclaimed) that he was a bankrupt.
The horses gave out (were exhausted) at the next milestone.
The rope gave away (broke, snapped) while the workmen were hauling up the iron pillar.
Go: : Go: You cannot always go by (Judge by) appearances.
It is a good rule to go by (to be guided by).
He promised to go into (examine, investigate) the matter.
Have you anything to go upon ( i.e. any foundation for your statements)?
We have no data to go upon (on which to base our conclusions).
The story won’t go down (be believed).
The concert went out well (was a success).
The auditor went over (examined) the balance sheet.
The poor woman has gone through (suffered) much.
I must first go through (examined) the accounts.
Hold: : Hold: The rebels held out(offered resistance) for about a month.
He holds out (gives) no promises of future prospects.
They were held up ( stopped on the highway and robbed) by bandits.
The subject is held over (deferred, postponed) till next meeting.