About idiom
I. Introduction
Idioms include metaphorical phrases, slang, proverbs, allusions and habitual collocations, etc. The fixed phrases and short sentences always belong to this type; they become daily expressions gradually and are used quite often. Whether in grammar structures or collocations, idioms have their own usage, the connotations and the structures cannot be changed arbitrarily by the language users. Idioms are concise in structures and deeply philosophical in meanings. As a special form of the language, idioms have close relationship with customs and geographical environments; connect with historical backgrounds, economic life, religious beliefs, and social values. Like a mirror, idioms reflect the cultural features of the language.
In English-speaking countries, idioms are heard and read everywhere from debates to everyday conversations .A good mastery of idioms becomes a significant symbol of a person’s command of the language. However, because of a low level of linguistic competen
ce in the target language, people who learn English as a second language are at a distinct disadvantage in understanding English idioms. We must know the origins of English idioms so that we can learn English well.
Idioms as a special form of language carried a large amount of cultural information, such as history, geography, religion, custom, nationality, psychology, thought pattern and so on, and therefore are closely related to culture. They are the heritage of history and the product of cultural evolvement. General speaking, English idioms came from society, culture and history; they included in everything and related to our society’s life and played an important role in culture. In this paper, I’m going to show the sources of English idioms, and then make a contrast between Chinese and English idioms, finding their differences and similarities in culture. In this way, we can easily study and understand English idioms for successful communication. To sum up, it is important to study English idioms, it is also necessary.
II. The sources
A. Idioms from living circumstance
Idioms as a special form of language carried a large amount of cultural information, such as history, geography, religion, custom, nationality, psychology, thought pattern and so on, and therefore are closely related to culture. They are the heritage of history and the product of cultural evolvement. General speaking, English idioms came from society, culture and history; they included in everything and related to our society’s life and played an important role in culture. In this paper, I’m going to show the sources of English idioms, and then make a contrast between Chinese and English idioms, finding their differences and similarities in culture. In this way, we can easily study and understand English idioms for successful communication. To sum up, it is important to study English idioms, it is also necessary.
II. The sources
A. Idioms from living circumstance
Language is a reflection of one country’s cultural background. The natural environment including geographical position, climate, and ecological condition is something that plays contributory role in the formation of language. Certainly, their special way of living, thinking and behaving is formed as a side-product of their relationship with the environment.
Idioms are closely related to people’s labor and life, people in particular culture need words to name and explain objects in their culture. Because Britain is an island country, people who live along seacoast and whose livelihood is dependent on the sea will have idioms about water, sailing, island and fish. For example, “ to take the wind out of somebody’s sail”(先发制人) ,“at sea”(茫然), “to trim one’s sail to the wind” (见风使舵),“never offer to teach fish to swim” (不要班门弄斧),“full fish” (乏味的人),“sail under false colors”(欺世盗名)(庄和诚，2002. P572),etc. What’s more, climate, agriculture are also another factor in the living condition. While Britain is located in western hemisphere, with North Temperate Zone and marine climate, so “west wind” is the symbol of spring. The west wind blows from the Atlantic Ocean is warm and gentle, so that Britain abounds in ra
Idioms are closely related to people’s labor and life, people in particular culture need words to name and explain objects in their culture. Because Britain is an island country, people who live along seacoast and whose livelihood is dependent on the sea will have idioms about water, sailing, island and fish. For example, “ to take the wind out of somebody’s sail”(先发制人) ,“at sea”(茫然), “to trim one’s sail to the wind” (见风使舵),“never offer to teach fish to swim” (不要班门弄斧),“full fish” (乏味的人),“sail under false colors”(欺世盗名)(庄和诚，2002. P572),etc. What’s more, climate, agriculture are also another factor in the living condition. While Britain is located in western hemisphere, with North Temperate Zone and marine climate, so “west wind” is the symbol of spring. The west wind blows from the Atlantic Ocean is warm and gentle, so that Britain abounds in ra
in can be proved in some idioms concerning rain: “to make hay while the sun shines”(趁热打铁), “to rain or shine”(无论如何), “rainy day”(穷困时期), “as right as rain”(非常正确)etc.
The British people are good at hunting and fishing; they often use horses working in the field, so they made their way of life and made of production. There are many idioms from agriculture. E.g ,“beat around/about the bush”(拐弯抹角)(高凌，2002.10. p43)this from hunting, “a hard row to hoe”(难办的事情), “have all one’s eggs in one basket”(孤注一投), “put out to grass”(年老退休), “ride on the high horse”(盛气凌人), “feel like a fish out of water”(感到不自在).
B．Idioms from religions and beliefs
As a cultural phenomenon, religion, which is the manifestation of cultures, is the vital part of human thought .Religion is an important source for idioms. Most of westerners are Christians, who believe that the world was created by God. They think that God is omnipotent and sacred. God, Christ, devil, Adam and some educational segments of the stories in Bible are passed down, because of people’s favor or even some historical and p
The British people are good at hunting and fishing; they often use horses working in the field, so they made their way of life and made of production. There are many idioms from agriculture. E.g ,“beat around/about the bush”(拐弯抹角)(高凌，2002.10. p43)this from hunting, “a hard row to hoe”(难办的事情), “have all one’s eggs in one basket”(孤注一投), “put out to grass”(年老退休), “ride on the high horse”(盛气凌人), “feel like a fish out of water”(感到不自在).
B．Idioms from religions and beliefs
As a cultural phenomenon, religion, which is the manifestation of cultures, is the vital part of human thought .Religion is an important source for idioms. Most of westerners are Christians, who believe that the world was created by God. They think that God is omnipotent and sacred. God, Christ, devil, Adam and some educational segments of the stories in Bible are passed down, because of people’s favor or even some historical and p
olitical causes, especially religious beliefs. Many British who believe in Christianity all read the Bible; therefore, numerous idioms have come into people’s colloquial speech, and have become mottoes. For example: “Judas’s kiss”(犹大之吻) from the Matthew, Judas, one of the Twelve, agrees to betray Jesus that the chief Priests counted out for him only thirty silver coins. A kiss as the betrayer had arranged a signal with the chief Priests. Jesus had crucified, and then died. So, Judas’s kiss means “with the best of intention or forsake. “Turn the other cheek”（甘受侮辱） from the New Testament, Jesus’ advice: Resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turns to him the other also. “Build up on the sand”（根基不牢）from the Matthew: “…and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand……”in it, “build upon the sand” metaphorical meaning is unstable foundation. There are quite a few English Idioms from religion. Such as: “Benjamin’s mess（最大的份额）, “raise Cain apple of Sodom（金玉其表，败絮其中）,“handwriting on the wall”（不祥之兆）, “God preserve us”（神明保佑）(骆世平，2005. 2.2)etc.
C. Idioms from historical allusion
C. Idioms from historical allusion
Britain as an ancient country passes a long history, which mainly comprises allusion, myths, poem, ancient books and records etc. Among them, allusion is the most important, it reflects the national characteristic. Idioms from history culture are the gems of human cultural heritage. It is worthwhile for us to learn them well. English idioms have their legends and anecdotes about historical figures which have provided rich and varied materials, and consequently give a national color to the idioms. It is necessary for us to learn and use the English allusion, it can enlarge our scope of knowledge, widen our field of vision, and it is useful to learn about the idioms’ origin. Maybe we can learn it by its historical events, fables, mythologies and literary works.
1. Historical events and folk stories
In most language, people embellish their speech or writing with references to characters or event from their history, that is to say, idiomatic expressions are closely related to a country’s history. English has a history more than thousand years and has some idioms from historical. For example: “to meet one’s Waterloo”(遭遇滑铁卢)is from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815,which means to be completely defeated. “Dunkirk evacuati
1. Historical events and folk stories
In most language, people embellish their speech or writing with references to characters or event from their history, that is to say, idiomatic expressions are closely related to a country’s history. English has a history more than thousand years and has some idioms from historical. For example: “to meet one’s Waterloo”(遭遇滑铁卢)is from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815,which means to be completely defeated. “Dunkirk evacuati
on”（敦刻尔克撤退）from the world War II and originally meet the retreat of the English-French troops forced by the German now, the expression means to retreat in disorder. “Columbus’s egg”（哥伦布竖鸡蛋）,in the famous story of Columbus’s egg, the explorer, irritated at being told that his exploits were easy, challenged the guests at a banquet to balance an egg on its end, when all had failed, he succeeded by flattening one end by tapping in against the table, a trick that any would than have been able to repeat, its means repetition is easier than innovation.
As we all know, Rome and Denmark once occupied Britain for a long time, so the conquest influenced on the Britain to a certain extent: “Six of one and half a dozen of the other”(半斤八两)came from Denmark, whereas “return to one’s muttons”(言归正传)and “do in Rome as the Roman’s do”(入乡随俗)are from France and Rome respectively. Of course, the history of mankind is almost the history of war, which is the source of numerous idioms, as is mirrored in the following: “What millions died that Caesar might be great”(一将功成万骨枯) ,“to put up the sword”(讲和)etc.
We can’t sure that if the folk story is true or not, but as a part source of English Idioms,
As we all know, Rome and Denmark once occupied Britain for a long time, so the conquest influenced on the Britain to a certain extent: “Six of one and half a dozen of the other”(半斤八两)came from Denmark, whereas “return to one’s muttons”(言归正传)and “do in Rome as the Roman’s do”(入乡随俗)are from France and Rome respectively. Of course, the history of mankind is almost the history of war, which is the source of numerous idioms, as is mirrored in the following: “What millions died that Caesar might be great”(一将功成万骨枯) ,“to put up the sword”(讲和)etc.
We can’t sure that if the folk story is true or not, but as a part source of English Idioms,
we would rather believe it is a true story, like “eat crow”(被迫认错) “fight like silken cats”(两败俱伤).There is an interest story told that one night, a wife hears a mouse sound in their room, so she asks her husband to drive mouse away, but the man says the door is so cold, he gets cold feel, he will not get up to do anything. In fact, the husband is not because the door cold, but also is afraid the mouse.
2. Fable and mythologies
Idioms are usually closely related to distinctive cultural fables and mythologies. As a part of English idioms, though ancient fable stories are short and refined, they teach people many philosophic and educational theories while being narrated. They are also parts of the kindergarden education of children. E.g: “Sour grapes”(酸葡萄)—disparage something that is beyond one’s reach. The allusion is to Aesop’s well-known fable of the fox, which tried in vain to get at some grapes, but when he found they were beyond his reach, he went away saying, “I see they are sour”. “Grin like the Cheshire cat”(咧嘴傻笑),in a children’s story, there is a Cheshire cat kept smiling innocently, so people to describe someone’s stupid smile as grin like the Cheshire cat. “Alice in wonderland”(幻想的)came f
Idioms are usually closely related to distinctive cultural fables and mythologies. As a part of English idioms, though ancient fable stories are short and refined, they teach people many philosophic and educational theories while being narrated. They are also parts of the kindergarden education of children. E.g: “Sour grapes”(酸葡萄)—disparage something that is beyond one’s reach. The allusion is to Aesop’s well-known fable of the fox, which tried in vain to get at some grapes, but when he found they were beyond his reach, he went away saying, “I see they are sour”. “Grin like the Cheshire cat”(咧嘴傻笑),in a children’s story, there is a Cheshire cat kept smiling innocently, so people to describe someone’s stupid smile as grin like the Cheshire cat. “Alice in wonderland”(幻想的)came f
rom Lewis Carroll’s work Alice’s Adventure in wonderland.
As we all know, Greek and Roman civilizations have a great influence on the English language, so the Greek and the Roman mythologies have greatly enriched the English Idioms. Most English allusion came from the Greek Rome mythology. Let’s take a glance at following idioms. “Achilles’ heel”(致命弱点)which is from the Greek mythology has the meaning: the one weak spot in a man’s circumstances or character”. “A Pandora’s box”（潘多拉魔盒）（骆世平，2005. 2.4.1）which means the origin of all evils, is also from Greek mythology. Another example, Hercules was one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythologies. He killed two snakes when he was a baby, and was known as a man of muscle. Because of this, he “walks” into the English idioms: “Hercules choice”(永存，不朽), “the Hercules efforts”(费九牛二虎之力), “the pillars of Hercules”(天涯海角). Aesop’s Fable have a greatly influence in English idioms, e.g: “Aladdin’s lamp”(能产生神奇效果的东西)came from Aladdin and the wonderful lamp in Thousand and one Nights. In the story, Aladdin gained a magic lamp and a ring that he was able to call all deities to do anything that he wanted. Another examples, “an open sesame”(芝麻开门)from AliBaba and Forty Thieves.
As we all know, Greek and Roman civilizations have a great influence on the English language, so the Greek and the Roman mythologies have greatly enriched the English Idioms. Most English allusion came from the Greek Rome mythology. Let’s take a glance at following idioms. “Achilles’ heel”(致命弱点)which is from the Greek mythology has the meaning: the one weak spot in a man’s circumstances or character”. “A Pandora’s box”（潘多拉魔盒）（骆世平，2005. 2.4.1）which means the origin of all evils, is also from Greek mythology. Another example, Hercules was one of the most famous heroes in Greek mythologies. He killed two snakes when he was a baby, and was known as a man of muscle. Because of this, he “walks” into the English idioms: “Hercules choice”(永存，不朽), “the Hercules efforts”(费九牛二虎之力), “the pillars of Hercules”(天涯海角). Aesop’s Fable have a greatly influence in English idioms, e.g: “Aladdin’s lamp”(能产生神奇效果的东西)came from Aladdin and the wonderful lamp in Thousand and one Nights. In the story, Aladdin gained a magic lamp and a ring that he was able to call all deities to do anything that he wanted. Another examples, “an open sesame”(芝麻开门)from AliBaba and Forty Thieves.
3. .Literary works
Many popular western literary masterpieces have the classic words, phrases and sentences that attract people greatly. They are shaped to evolve the hidden meanings; they are also one of the main sources of English idioms. In English literature, Shakespeare plays a very important role, his dramas are the major source of this kind: “Applaud one to the echo”(掌声雷动)（卢思源，2006.）,“die in harness”(因公殉职),“make assurance doubly sure”(加倍小心),“at one fell swoop”(一举,一下子),“have an old head on young shoulders”(年轻却有头脑),“to claim one’s pound of flesh”(割某人的一磅肉),“out of joint”(杂乱无章distinct和distinctive),“a horse of different color”(截然不同的事或人),etc. Besides the works of other famous writers also store a great many idioms: “a nine-day wonder”(昙花一现)appears in Troilus and Cressida written by Geoffrey Chaucer; “mind one’s eye”(当心你的眼睛)from Charles Dickens’s Barnaby Ridge; “the ugly duckling”(丑小鸭)is from Han Anderson’s tables; “Friday”(星期五)means faithful, is from Robinson Crusoe written by Daniel Defoe. Many English idioms were came from literary works with which we all familiarity.
Many popular western literary masterpieces have the classic words, phrases and sentences that attract people greatly. They are shaped to evolve the hidden meanings; they are also one of the main sources of English idioms. In English literature, Shakespeare plays a very important role, his dramas are the major source of this kind: “Applaud one to the echo”(掌声雷动)（卢思源，2006.）,“die in harness”(因公殉职),“make assurance doubly sure”(加倍小心),“at one fell swoop”(一举,一下子),“have an old head on young shoulders”(年轻却有头脑),“to claim one’s pound of flesh”(割某人的一磅肉),“out of joint”(杂乱无章distinct和distinctive),“a horse of different color”(截然不同的事或人),etc. Besides the works of other famous writers also store a great many idioms: “a nine-day wonder”(昙花一现)appears in Troilus and Cressida written by Geoffrey Chaucer; “mind one’s eye”(当心你的眼睛)from Charles Dickens’s Barnaby Ridge; “the ugly duckling”(丑小鸭)is from Han Anderson’s tables; “Friday”(星期五)means faithful, is from Robinson Crusoe written by Daniel Defoe. Many English idioms were came from literary works with which we all familiarity.
D. Idioms from traditions and customs
Culture is long acquired from customs and habits. These customs and habits are representative of the way of living of a certain speech community and they are mirrored in the habitual speaking of the language. Food is one of the aspects of cultural tradition that are reflected in English idioms. In most European countries, bread, butter, jam, cheese, etc, are usual kind of food in daily meals. On the other hand, animals, sporting and daily life are also made so many idioms. So in English ,there are some idioms like: “bread and butter”(日常所需)（骆世平，2005. 2.6.3）,“hard cheese”(倒霉), “to butter both sides of one’s bread”(过舒适的生活), “clever dog” means a clever boy or guy. “To help a lame dog over a stile”(雪中送炭) ,“love me, love my dog”(爱屋及乌),“dog days”(伏天),“as strong as an ox”(很健壮) ,“birds of a feather”(性格不同的人)，“in the money”(获奖),“off and running”(进展顺利),“chuck in one’s cards”(认输),“throw in the towel”(投降), “jump the gun”(抢先),“toe the line”(服从命令),etc. Others ,we can learn some new idioms from Walt Disney, for example, “Mickey Mouse”(米老鼠): Small, insignificant.
Culture is long acquired from customs and habits. These customs and habits are representative of the way of living of a certain speech community and they are mirrored in the habitual speaking of the language. Food is one of the aspects of cultural tradition that are reflected in English idioms. In most European countries, bread, butter, jam, cheese, etc, are usual kind of food in daily meals. On the other hand, animals, sporting and daily life are also made so many idioms. So in English ,there are some idioms like: “bread and butter”(日常所需)（骆世平，2005. 2.6.3）,“hard cheese”(倒霉), “to butter both sides of one’s bread”(过舒适的生活), “clever dog” means a clever boy or guy. “To help a lame dog over a stile”(雪中送炭) ,“love me, love my dog”(爱屋及乌),“dog days”(伏天),“as strong as an ox”(很健壮) ,“birds of a feather”(性格不同的人)，“in the money”(获奖),“off and running”(进展顺利),“chuck in one’s cards”(认输),“throw in the towel”(投降), “jump the gun”(抢先),“toe the line”(服从命令),etc. Others ,we can learn some new idioms from Walt Disney, for example, “Mickey Mouse”(米老鼠): Small, insignificant.
III. Comparison
Using language in such communication, we often come across some idioms with distinctive cultural characteristics. So it is a very importance and complicated thing for us to understand these idioms correctly. So, we should have a comparison between English and Chinese idioms through their differences and similarity.
A. Differences between English and Chinese idioms
1. Geographical difference.
Geographical environment plays an important role in shaping one country’s culture and human beings have no choices and opacities to change the geography. As a result, idioms based on geographical features appear differences between different countries.
Britain is an island country, which does not share land border with any other country except the Republic of Ireland. So, Britain people have a special passion for water. However, the most part of China belongs to inland place where people cannot live without earth. This made difference idioms in the two languages. For example, there is a Chinese idiom showing somebody being extravagant, “挥金如土”,but in English idiom is “spend money like water”； “Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it”(车到山前必有路), “between
A. Differences between English and Chinese idioms
1. Geographical difference.
Geographical environment plays an important role in shaping one country’s culture and human beings have no choices and opacities to change the geography. As a result, idioms based on geographical features appear differences between different countries.
Britain is an island country, which does not share land border with any other country except the Republic of Ireland. So, Britain people have a special passion for water. However, the most part of China belongs to inland place where people cannot live without earth. This made difference idioms in the two languages. For example, there is a Chinese idiom showing somebody being extravagant, “挥金如土”,but in English idiom is “spend money like water”； “Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it”(车到山前必有路), “between
the devil and the deep sea”(进退维谷), “all is fish that comes to one’s net”(抓到篮里便是菜).
2 . Conventional differences
One nation’s custom is formed through a long history and firmly rooted in people’s mind. It is closely related to national psychology and acts as an important source of idioms. In different countries and nations customs drastically differ in various aspects. Due to that, a lot of idioms turn out with varied dress.
Take food habit for example, cake has been a common food in English for a long history. On the other hand, dishes are common in China, so ,in English idiom “a piece of cake” is tell the same meaning like(小菜一碟)in Chinese. Other examples are related to the habitual way of working in the field. E.g.: Chinese say “力大如牛”while English say “as strong as a horse”.
3.. Religious differences
Numerous idioms were generated from the function of religion. Religion which exists in every country and nation affects much in people’s belief and life, especially before the mo
2 . Conventional differences
One nation’s custom is formed through a long history and firmly rooted in people’s mind. It is closely related to national psychology and acts as an important source of idioms. In different countries and nations customs drastically differ in various aspects. Due to that, a lot of idioms turn out with varied dress.
Take food habit for example, cake has been a common food in English for a long history. On the other hand, dishes are common in China, so ,in English idiom “a piece of cake” is tell the same meaning like(小菜一碟)in Chinese. Other examples are related to the habitual way of working in the field. E.g.: Chinese say “力大如牛”while English say “as strong as a horse”.
3.. Religious differences
Numerous idioms were generated from the function of religion. Religion which exists in every country and nation affects much in people’s belief and life, especially before the mo
dern civilization. The people in different countries mostly believe in different schools of religion. Therefore some differences of idioms between Chinese and English can be traced back to the origin of religion. Religion played a key role in English society, especially before capitalization, innumerable idioms are originated from the Bible, such as “to put new wine in old bottles”(旧瓶装新酒)(庄和诚，2002， p447),“my God”(上帝), “to make one’s hair stand on end”(使人毛骨悚然), besides, the idiom “as poor as a church mouse”（一贫如洗） is also somewhat influenced by religion. Be different from Britain culture, Chinese culture evolved from Confucian School, Taoist School. There are traces of Taoist principles and Confucian principles in Buddhist doctrines. A large number of Chinese idioms can be traced back to Buddhist School. Such as “道高一尺，魔高一丈”(where God has his church, the devil will have his chapel), “临时抱佛脚”(seek help at the last moment), ”佛法无边”(the powers of Buddha are unlimited) （顾曰国，1997.9 p.285），”一尘不染”（as clean as Whistle）（徐栋良，高红，2004 p.6）.
B.Similarities between English and Chinese idioms
Although there are many differences between English and Chinese idioms origin, they als
Although there are many differences between English and Chinese idioms origin, they als
o have some similarities. Sometimes, we can borrow them each other so that our communication would be changed frequently and easily. For example, as we all know, LiangShanBo and ZhuYinTai were lovers, but as foreigners, they don’t understand its meanings, maybe they don’t know about the story. How would we explain for them? In such condition, if we have borrowed their culture to introduce it, we can tell them like this: they are Romeo and Juliet in China. I believe that they can understand the love story without any difficulty. Others, “the emperor of Qin- Dynasty” just like “Caesar” in westerner. “Damon of Pythias”, which some men urge to translate it directly, while other men believe that translating it into men believe friendship unto death（莫逆之交）or friends who are willing to die for one another is better（刎颈之交）. Because the majority of Chinese do not know Damon and Pythias, we can explain them into GuanZhong and BaoShuYa in Chinese may enable the Chinese easily to understand. “There are the Greek gifts for you”(希腊人的礼物) just like the similar Chinese idiom “the yellow weasel goes to his respects to the hen—with the best of intention (黄鼠狼给鸡拜年—不安好心),“Burn one’s boat” just like(破釜沉舟)in Chinese.
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