State the type of transference on which the meaning of the given phraseological units is based.

Model: in the flower of one's age — 'the period of a person's greatest success, popularity, activity or vigour, usually in his youth'

ü Phraseological transference is based on metaphor, i. e. on the likening of one of the periods of a person's life to one of the periods of plants' life in which their flowers develop and open. Transference is also based on synecdoche: the period in which a person is young and vigorous is regarded as an integral part of his whole life.

1) to go through fire and water — 'to experience many difficulties or dangers in order to achieve something'; 2) to fit like a glove — 'to fit perfectly'; 3) to bury the hatchet — 'to come to friendly or peaceful terms with somebody else, usually in arguments, disagreements'; 4) to lick one's wounds — 'brood, console oneself, or to try to restore oneself, after any form of defeat, injury or loss'; 5) a big wig — 'an influential and important person'; 6) to put smb. out to pasture — 'to force someone to retire'; 7) to lie on smb's shoulders — 'to be responsible for, to have to answer for'; 8) (as) gentle as a lamb — 'very calm and kind'; 9) to talk Billingsgate — 'to use harsh, rude language, to swear (Billingsgate is a London fish market)'; 10) a dog in the manger — 'a person who selfishly prevents others from using or enjoying something which he keeps for himself, though he cannot use or enjoy it'.

11. Classify the italicized phraseological units into: 1) phraseological fusions; 2) phraseological unities; 3) phraseological collocations. Contexts will help you to understand the meaning of phraseological units. In case of difficulty consult a dictionary.

Model: to spill the beans

ü The phraseological unit to spill the beans means 'to give away information,
deliberately or unintentionally'. It is a phraseological fusion (group 1).

1. You can't keep a secret — you see no reason why you shouldn't spill the beans. 2. 'It's hard on Robert, of course,' Ned went on; he was trying to ignore the red herring and get on with the story. 3. Well, let's admit there were mistakes on both sides; we'll bury the past and try to make a fresh start. 4. He produced a huge silver case containing what looked at first sight like small cheap cigars. 5. But other than dining out, which I like, I'm a home bird. I'm not one for a big social whirl. 6. The boy is quite impossible. From now on I wash my hands o/him. 7. 'Can I go with you to this party.' 'We shall only be talking business. You wouldn't be interested.' 8. Billy's been such a good boy, Mrs. Smith — never once got out of bed and took his medicine like a lamb. 9. I ran to my father, waving the magazine and shouting. 'This is my home, look.' Dad fairly blew his top. He told me not to be silly; that it was a building called a temple, in a country called Egypt and that I had never been there. 10. To say you lead a busy life is not an answer to whether you take enough exercise. 11. In the face of stiff competition
from rival firms we had to fight fire with fire and slash our prices. 12. The grey colour is in fashion in this season. 13. I've been working my fingers to the bone to get the dress ready in time for the wedding. 14. I don't believe he is a man to commit murder. 15. I'll be hanging up my boots next year. I think I deserve a rest after running the business for thirty years.

12. Analyze the meaning of the given phraseological units. Group them into: 1) native; 2) borrowed phraseological units. State the sources of their origin. If in doubt consult dictionaries.

Model: the be-all and end-all of — 'the main purpose of, all that matters in the life'

ü The phraseological unit the be-all and end-all of is of native English origin, as it is from W.Shakespeare's Macbeth.

1) to hang up one's boot — 'retire';

2) to bury the hatchet — 'to come to friendly or peaceful terms with somebody else, usually in arguments, disagreements';

3) a sacred cow — 'somebody/something that is greatly respected and revered, esp. by a particular nation or group, so that attack or criticism is not tolerated';

4) a whipping boy — 'a person who is blamed or punished for the faults or incompetence of others';

5) an ugly duckling — 'a plain, unprepossessing child born less attractive than his brothers and sisters who later surpasses them, grows into a beautiful person';

6) of the same leaven/batch — 'about persons who have very much in common, who are very similar in their way of life, behaviour, views, etc.';

7) the law of the jungle — 'self-preservation, the survival of the strongest, or more unscrupulous'; 8) an apple of discord — '(somebody or something that is) a cause of dispute, argument or rivalry';

9) to hide one's head in the sand — 'willfully to close one's eyes to danger, to refuse to face reality';

10) a blue stocking — 'an intellectual or literary woman';

11) the hot seat — 'the position of a person who carries full responsibility for something, including facing criticism or being answerable for decisions or actions';

12) a drop in the bucket/ocean — 'something of inconsiderable value, importance, esp. as compared with something larger in total or in kind';

13) pig in the middle — 'a person, or a group in a helpless position between, or made use of by, others';

14) blue blood — 'a person of noble birth';

15) a blue coat — 'a student at a charity school';

16) to die with one's boots on — 'to die while still at work';

17) to fiddle while Rome burns — 'behave frivolously in a situation that calls for concern or corrective action';

18) penny wise and pound foolish — 'careful and economical in small matters while being wasteful or extravagant in large ones';

19) the iron curtain — 'the notional barrier between people, nations, countries, etc. leading to the political, economical, etc. isolation';

20) the Russian soul — 'a vague, unfulfilled yearning for a better, spiritual life which would bring consolation and relief to the suffering masses';

21) 21) to run the gauntlet — 'to submit to a punishing ordeal'.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14