English idioms

Classification of
idioms
 The idioms ,in a broad sense ,include
slang, proverbs, common sayings and
idioms. They have various forms, for
example, phrasesclauses and sentences.
 Different ways to classify the idioms

1.By origin

Idioms from the bible :

lead by nose control someone completely

wheels within wheels complicated situation or

relationship

eat ones own flesh lazy and idle persons

 Different ways to classify the
idioms
2.according to semantic relationship
the meaning of the idioms can be clearly
figured out from each words meaning.

show ones teeth (angry)

What done is done. ()

green as grass ( young or inexperienced )

 Different ways to classify the
idioms
3.according to the morphological structure

Strike while the iron is hot.

Barking dogs do not bite.

More haste ,less speed.

Different ways to classify the idioms
4.according to the grammatical functions
Reason:
help us to correct the wrong use of the
idioms in our daily life ,and make us have
a clear mind of the idioms which have
their own liberal meanings
 Classification according to the
grammatical functions
1.idioms nominal in nature

They have a noun as the key word in each and

work as a noun in the sentence.
 Classification according to the
grammatical functions
Examples
a white elephant :something useless and
unwanted but big and costly (a +n)
flesh and blood :relatives and family
(n + conj + n)
clean hand: innocence
green hand: inexperienced person (a+ n )
land of promised :paradise (n + prep + n)
 Classification according to the
grammatical functions
2.Idioms adjective in nature
Their constituents are probably not
adjective , but they function as adjectives.
Examples:
as poor as a church mouse: having or
earning barely enough money for ones own
needs (as + a + as + n)
 Classification according to the
grammatical functions

all things to all men :take great pain to

today to all person (n +prep +n)
eg.
Being a man of the world ,he is all things
to all men.
bone of the bone and the flesh of the flesh:
closely linked( n +conj +n)
 Classification according to the
grammatical functions
3.Idioms verbal in nature
(1)Phrasal verbs ( v + prep/particle )

go off with sth: leave someplace with that does not belong
to one (v + particle + prep)
eg.
He went off with 10,000,000 dollars of the companys
money

look into :investigate

take after sb: resemble (ones father or mother )in

appearance or character
 Classification according to the
grammatical functions
(2).other verb phrases

burn ones boats:v +s +n)

wash the feet of sb: serve sb

(v + n +prep + n)
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
4. idioms adverbial in nature
The idioms here contain numerous
prepositional phrases, which can be
considered both as adjective and
adverb, so the idioms which have the
same structure may function
differently in a sentence.
Classification according to the
grammatical functions
Examples

tooth and nail: with great violence

and determination ( n+ conj +n)

heart and soul (n +

conj +n)
Classification according to
the grammatical functions
5. sentence idioms
As we mentioned before, idioms are
stable. The constituents can not be
changed or replaced, so the sentence
idioms are sayings and proverbs, which
can be subdivided into simple, compound
and complex sentences.
Classification according to
the grammatical functions
Examples:
Am I your brothers keeper? (simple)
Pig might fly if they had wings (complex).
One boys a boy; two boys are half a boy; three
boys are no boy at all. (compound)
He who has ears, let him hear. (complex)
Whatsoever a man sowed, that should he also
reap. (compound)
 Thank you for your listening !

God bless you!