An 'Idiom' is an expression in the usage of a language that has a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements; for example "raining cats and dogs" is an expression that is used to convey the meaning of "raining heavily", but this meaning most of the time cannot be derived from the denotative meaning of the single words that constitute the whole expression. Moreover, an idiom can be looked at as a combination of words whose meaning can be either transparent (can be easily worked out of the literal meaning of the individual words) or opaque (there is no resemblance between the meaning of the individual words and the meaning of the idiom itself).
Consider the following examples of transparent idioms that are reasonably obvious:
1. ‘Throw someone to the lions’ means ‘intentionally to put someone in a difficult position’, as in: All the commanders were responsible for the tragedies in their last operation, but they threw that junior officer to the lions when they asked him to address the journalists on the reasons of defeat.
Idioms like ‘sell someone down the river’ and ‘kick the bucket’ are examples of the opaque:
1. Understanding the words of the expression ‘sell someone down the river’, for instance, will not help you recognize that it actually means ‘to betray, or be disloyal to’, as in: The kidnapper who was caught by the police refused to sell his associates down the river. Thus, having such idioms in one book and learning their meaning would be absolutely of a significant help.
Interestingly, some English idioms are similar to expressions in other languages, which makes it easy for the learner to figure out their meaning, as in ‘hold one’s horses’ which means ‘to stop someone or something, or to make them calm’, for example: Hold your horses, I said to my wife when she started packing her luggage.
Succinctly stressed, idioms and multi-part verbs (along with their Arabic equivalents) are considered of paramount importance for a wide range of Arab learners of English. Idioms are very useful to effectively communicate with English speakers. And this treasury would be a helpful learning tool that provides learners with a large number of English idioms and phrases along with example sentences and Arabic equivalent.
Contents
Preface
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
W
Y
Z
Objectives and Thematic Focus
The primary objective of this book is to provide a comprehensive and accessible reference for English learners, specifically Arab speakers, to master essential English idioms and multi-part verbs. The work addresses the linguistic challenge posed by figurative language, where literal translations often fail to convey the intended meaning, and seeks to bridge cultural gaps through language education.
- Analysis of transparent versus opaque English idioms with illustrative examples.
- Categorization of idioms based on cultural, historical, and field-specific origins.
- Inclusion of a multi-part verb reference section to enhance everyday communicative competence.
- Provision of a "Words of Wisdom" supplement featuring proverbs and sayings to highlight societal values.
- Implementation of clear, bilingual (English-Arabic) explanations to facilitate easier learning and practical application.
Excerpt from the Book
Preface
An 'Idiom' is an expression in the usage of a language that has a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements; for example "raining cats and dogs" is an expression that is used to convey the meaning of "raining heavily", but this meaning most of the time cannot be derived from the denotative meaning of the single words that constitute the whole expression. Moreover, an idiom can be looked at as a combination of words whose meaning can be either transparent (can be easily worked out of the literal meaning of the individual words) or opaque (there is no resemblance between the meaning of the individual words and the meaning of the idiom itself).
Consider the following examples of transparent idioms that are reasonably obvious:
1. ‘Throw someone to the lions’ means ‘intentionally to put someone in a difficult position’, as in: All the commanders were responsible for the tragedies in their last operation, but they threw that junior officer to the lions when they asked him to address the journalists on the reasons of defeat.
2. ‘Keep a straight face’ means ‘look serious’, as in: I can’t keep a straight face whenever Chaplin acts before me; he looks so funny.
Idioms like ‘sell someone down the river’ and ‘kick the bucket’ are examples of the opaque:
1. Understanding the words of the expression ‘sell someone down the river’, for instance, will not help you recognize that it actually means ‘to betray, or be disloyal to’, as in: The kidnapper who was caught by the police refused to sell his associates down the river. Thus, having such idioms in one book and learning their meaning would be absolutely of a significant help.
2. Similarly, in the expression ‘kick the bucket’ you cannot easily realize that it means ‘to die’, as in: Simon kicked the bucket last summer.
Summary of Chapters
Preface: Defines the nature of English idioms, distinguishing between transparent and opaque meanings while explaining the pedagogical value of the book.
A - Z: These chapters provide an extensive alphabetical listing of essential English idioms and multi-part verbs, each accompanied by definitions and contextual examples.
Keywords
Idioms, Multi-part verbs, English learning, Figurative language, Transparent idioms, Opaque idioms, Proverbial wisdom, Language usage, Communicative competence, Vocabulary building, Arabic-English translation, Linguistic reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The book focuses on documenting essential English idioms and multi-part verbs that are frequently used in daily communication.
Who is the target audience for this book?
The book is primarily designed as a learning tool for Arab learners of English, helping them navigate figurative language effectively.
What is the core research question?
The work seeks to solve the difficulty learners face with non-literal language by providing a comprehensive, easy-to-use treasury of phrases with Arabic equivalents.
Which linguistic methodology is applied?
The author employs a comparative and descriptive approach, providing definitions, explanations, and usage examples to clarify idiomatic meanings.
What does the main body of the work consist of?
The main body is an alphabetically organized lexicon of English idioms and phrasal verbs, paired with their English definitions and Arabic translations.
What key terms characterize the work?
Key terms include "idioms," "multi-part verbs," "figurative language," and "proverbs," reflecting the book's emphasis on idiomatic competence.
How does the "Words of Wisdom" supplement contribute to the work?
It adds a cultural dimension to the book, showcasing how social wisdom and moral values are reflected through figurative expressions in both English and Arabic.
Why are multi-part verbs included in the treasury?
They are included because their meanings are often difficult to derive from their constituent parts, yet they are essential for mastering everyday English.
- Quote paper
- Awni Etaywe (Author), 2017, Essential English idioms and multipart verbs, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/353467
