Kravchuk Viktoria

Where Idioms Come From? on Prezi

Vika Kravchuk,

Supervisor: N.A.Lyulkun

Khmel’nyts’kyi National University,

Where Idioms come from?

An idiom is a set expression, the meaning of which is different from the literal meanings  of its components. Idioms present a great variety of structures and combinations that are mostly unchangeable and often not logical and may not follow basic rules of grammar.

Idioms can be quite clear (in general; come out; at first; the root of all evil) or pretty unclear (on end (безперервно); pack it in (закінчити); high and low (всюди); hard cash (готівка)). Some idioms have proper names in them (a Jack of all trades (майстер на всі
руки)); some other idioms are comparisons (as clear as a bell (голосний як дзвіночок); as the crow flies (найкоротшим шляхом)). Proverbs and sayings may also have idiomatic character (every cloud has a silver lining (немає лиха без добра); still waters run deep (в тихому вирі чорти водяться)).

It is pointless to ask why idioms have such unusual structure or choice of words, or why they don't follow basic grammar rules. Let's just accept as fact that idioms are a difficult peculiarity of English.

Most of English phraseological units were originally British expressions, whose authors were unknown. For example, “a black sheep” (the shame of the family) – the old superstition was believed that the black sheep bear the stamp of the devil. This idiom is a part of the proverb: “There is a black ship in every flock”.

The Bible is the most important literary source of phraseological units. Over the centuries the Bible has been the most widely read book in England.

Biblical phraseological units also belong to originally English ones. For example, “the gold rule” (wise rule helping always and everyone).

A large number of English idioms are borrowed from different languages. For example, “the golden age” (the golden century) or “Heel of Achilles” (the weak place) came from Greek poets and expression “the green light” (freedom to action) is borrowed from the United States. Some English idioms came from Russian, for example, “make hay while the sun shines” (куй залізо поки гаряче) and “to get out of bed on the wrong side” (встати не з тієї ноги).

In conclusion, it is needed to mention that idioms should be viewed from a positive perspective - that the English language is only a part of English culture and histories are at variance with those of Greece. Therefore, any attempt to view things and notions from the English perspective without first mastering any other language features and components, i.e. advanced grammar constructions, more elevated vocabulary, but with the sole aid of idioms, is certainly rather painstaking and unrewarding. Idioms are meant to give the language a livelier colour, not to substitute for Standard English completely. If one is already acquainted with literary forms and expressions, there is no other way of "grasping" idioms but through contenting oneself with magazines and some short publications, the informal register of which allows of the use of innumerable idiomatic expressions. Whoever wishes to learn English should not limit themselves to reading books taught at school, but also acquire a taste for classical and modern literature, religious and philosophical books, newspapers, etc.