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Luận án khảo sát thành ngữ trong tiếng Anh và tiếng Việt trên bình diện thành tố cấu trúc và thành tố ngữ nghĩa để tìm ra những tương đồng và khác biệt giữa hai ngôn ngữ. Khối liệu của luận án (4134 thành ngữ trong tiếng Anh và 4053 thành ngữ trong tiếng Việt) được thiết lập dựa trên dữ liệu thu thập từ các cuốn từ điển hiện hành. Phương pháp nghiên cứu chính được sử dụng trong luận án là phân tích thành tố, miêu tả, so sánh và đối chiếu. Kết quả nghiên cứu của luận án đề cập tới sự tương đồng và khác biệt giữa thành ngữ tiếng Anh và thành ngữ tiếng Việt từ hai bình diện: (1) thành tố cấu trúc, và (2) thành tố ngữ nghĩa cũng như cơ trình tạo nghĩa của chúng. Để đạt được mục tiêu nghiên cứu, tác giả đã áp dụng một khung lý thuyết chung về thành ngữ cho cả hai ngôn ngữ. Thành tố cấu trúc và ngữ nghĩa chuẩn bao gồm ba loại thành ngữ có trong khối liệu: thành ngữ đối xứng, thành ngữ ví von hóa, và thành ngữ phi đối xứng. Thành tố cấu trúc và ngữ nghĩa phi chuẩn bao gồm biến thể thành ngữ và thành ngữ đồng nghĩa. Thành tố ngữ nghĩa của mỗi loại thành ngữ được miêu tả và phân tích theo mức độ tường minh của các thành tố (tường minh, bán tường minh, bán mờ và mờ), mối quan hệ giữa nghĩa thực và nghĩa thành ngữ, và kết cấu ngữ nghĩa của các thành tố. Cơ trình của các thành tố ngữ nghĩa được thúc đẩy bởi quá trình nhận thức từ bên ngoài bao gồm ẩn dụ, hoán dụ và kiến thức quy ước. Đây là một quá trình tự nhiên bị ảnh hưởng bởi nhiều yếu tố khác nhau như hoàn cảnh sống, bối cảnh lịch sử, tôn giáo, tín ngưỡng, phong tục tập quán… Kết quả nghiên cứu của luận án cũng cho thấy hầu hết các thành ngữ trong tiếng Anh và tiếng Việt đều có thể phân tích và nghĩa của chúng, ở một mức độ nào đó, có thể làm tường minh. Ngoài ra, luận án còn đưa ra những gợi ý cho việc giảng dạy thành ngữ cũng như dịch thuật dựa trên các kết quả nghiên cứu.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration by Author…………………………………………… …………… i Published Works by the Author Relevant to the Thesis…………… ….…… ii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………… ……… iii Abstract…………………………………………………………….…… …… viii List of Figures……………………………………………………… ………… x List of Tables…………………………………………………………… ……… xiv List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in the Thesis……………… …… xv List of Vietnamese – English Terms………………………………… ….…… PART A: INTRODUCTION………………………………………… ……… xvi 1 Rationale………………………………………………………… …… …… Aims and Objectives of the Study……………………………… … ……… 3 Research Questions……………………………………………… ………… Scope of the Study……………………………………… ………….……… Contributions of the Study……………………………… ……….………… Methodology……………………………………………… …… … ……… 6.1 Theoretical Framework………………………………… ….…………… 6.2 Analytical Framework……………………………… …….…………… 6.3 Data Collection………………………………………… ….…………… 6.4 Data Analysis…………………………………………… ….………… 10 6.5 Procedure……………………………………………… …….………… 12 Structure of the Study……………………………………… …….………… 13 PART B: DEVELOPMENT………………………………………… ……… 14 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………… ….………… 14 1.1 Theoretical Background……………………………………… …….…… 14 1.1.1 Idioms Defined………………………………………… …….……… 14 1.1.2 Idioms from Traditional View………………………… …….……… 16 1.1.3 Idioms from Cognitive View…………………………… …….……… 18 1.1.4 Idioms from Taxonomic View………………………… …….……… 19 1.1.5 Idioms from Cultural View…………………………… …….……… 28 1.1.6 Idioms in the Relationship to Other Linguistic Units……… …… … 29 1.2 Previous Research……………………………………………… …….… 33 1.2.1 Previous Research Works on Idioms in English………… ….…….… 33 1.2.2 Previous Research Works on Idioms in Vietnamese……… ……….… 35 i 1.2.3 Previous Research Works on Idioms in English and Vietnamese under Comparison and Contrastive Analysis……………………………… ….… 38 1.3 Summary……………………………………………………….…….….… 39 CHAPTER 2: STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE IDIOMS………………………………………… …………… 41 2.1 Canonical Structural Components…………………………… ………… 41 2.1.1 Symmetrical Idioms…………………………………… …………… 41 2.1.1.1 Realization…………………………………… … …………… 41 2.1.1.2 Structural Patterns……………………………… ….………… 42 2.1.1.3 Structural Components………………………… …………… 43 2.1.2 Similized Idioms…………………………………… …… ………… 51 2.1.2.1 Realization…………………………………… … …………… 51 2.1.2.2 Structural Patterns…………………………… … …………… 52 2.1.2.3 Structural Components……………………… ….…….……… 53 2.1.3 Non-symmetrical idioms………………………………… ………… 59 2.1.3.1 Realization…………………………………… … …………… 59 2.1.3.2 Structural Patterns…………………………… …….………… 60 2.1.3.3 Structural Components………………………… …………… 62 2.2 Non-canonical Structural Components……………… … ……………… 69 2.2.1 Idiom Variants………………………………………… …………… 70 2.2.1.1 Realization…………………………………… … …………… 70 2.2.1.2 Structural Components……………………… … …………… 72 2.2.2 Synonymous Idioms……………………………… … ……………… 78 2.2.2.1 Realization…………………………………… … …………… 78 2.2.2.2 Structural Components………………………… …………… 2.3 Structural Components of English and Vietnamese Idioms Compared 80 85 2.3.1 Similarities…………………………………………… … …………… 85 2.3.1.1 Canonical Structural Components Found in both Languages… 85 2.3.1.2 Non-canonical Structural Components Found in both Languages 85 2.3.2 Differences…………………………………….………… …………… 86 2.3.2.1 Canonical Structural Components Unique to English……… … 88 2.3.2.2 Non-canonical Structural Components Unique to English… 89 2.3.2.3 Canonical Structural Components Unique to Vietnamese …… 90 2.3.2.4 Non-canonical Structural Components Unique to Vietnamese… 91 2.4 Summary……………………………………………………… ……… … ii 92 PART C: CONCLUSION…………………………………………….………… 142 Recapitulation…………………………………………………… ….……… 142 Conclusions……………………………………………………… … ……… 146 Implications for Idiom Teaching and Translation…………… ……….… 149 Suggestions for Further Studies…………………………………… ……… REFERENCES………………………………………………………… …… 151 153 APPENDIX 1………………………………………………………… ….…… I APPENDIX 2………………………………………………………… ….…… VII APPENDIX 3…………………………………………………….… ………… XII APPENDIX 4……………………………………………………… ………… XVI ABSTRACT An investigation of idioms in English and Vietnamese in terms of structural and semantic components is carried out in the present study Componential analysis, describing, comparing and contrasting are regarded as the main methods used in the present thesis The findings of the study are concerned with the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms in terms of (1) structural components, and (2) semantic components and their formation In order to collect the iii data, a hand search approach of the dictionaries in both languages has been conducted, which helps to establish a corpus of 4,134 idioms in English and 4,053 idioms in Vietnamese In the present study, a common theoretical framework on idioms is applied to both English and Vietnamese The canonical structural and semantic components involve three types of idioms existing in our data: symmetrical, similized, and non-symmetrical (Đức 1995; Hành 2008) The canonical structural components of each idiom type are realized, described and analyzed according to grammatical rules suggested by Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, & Svartvik (1985) The non-canonical structural components involve two types of idioms: idiom variants and synonymous idioms The semantic components of each idiom type involve the motivation degrees (transparent, semi-transparent, semi-opaque, and opaque) (Fernando & Flavell 1981; Fernando 1996), the association between the literal readings and the idiomatic meanings (Langlotz 2006), and the semantic composition of component parts (Hành 2008) The findings of the current study also reveal that most of the idioms in both English and Vietnamese are analyzable and have meanings that are at least partly motivated (Geeraets 1995; Gibbs 1990, 1995; Kövecses & Szabo 1996; Nunberg et al 1994; Fernando 1996; Langlotz 2006; etc) The formation mechanism of the semantic components of idioms is motivated by external semantic cognition including metaphors, metonymies and conventional knowledge (Gibbs 1990, 1995) It is a natural process implicitly affected by several different factors such as living circumstance (geographical environment, climate), historical allusion (historical events, fables and mythologies, literary works), religions and beliefs, and traditions and customs (food and cooking, animals) This leads to a fact that the component parts forming idioms in the two languages are different although they denote similar concepts The thesis also presents the implications for idiom teaching and translation Keywords: idioms, idiomaticity, symmetrical idioms, similized idioms, non-symmetrical idioms, idiom variants, synonymous idioms, underlying factors, motivation degree, literal reading, idiomatic meaning iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.1: Classification of symmetrical figurative idioms in Vietnamese (Hành 2008: 76)………………………………………………….… 26 Figure 1.2: Classification of non-symmetrical figurative idioms in Vietnamese (Hành 2008: 100)……………………………………………….…… 27 Figure 1.3: Classification of similized idioms in Vietnamese (Hành 2008: 115) 27 Figure 2.1 Distribution of symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese….… 42 Figure 2.2: Structural patterns of symmetrical idioms in English……….…….… 42 v Figure 2.3: Structural patterns of symmetrical idioms in Vietnamese…… …… 43 Figure 2.4: Structural components of A and B symmetrical idioms in English.… 44 Figure 2.5: Structural components of A or B symmetrical idioms in English… 45 Figure 2.6: Structural components of A but B symmetrical idioms in English … 46 Figure 2.7: Structural components of A to B symmetrical idioms in English 46 Figure 2.8: Structural components of A, B symmetrical idioms in English….… 47 Figure 2.9: Symmetrical relationship between A and B of mẹ tròn vuông in Vietnamese……………………………………………………… 48 Figure 2.10: Symmetrical relationship between A and B of chạy ngược chạy xuôi in Vietnamese………………………………………………… 49 Figure 2.11: Canonical structural components of symmetrical idioms in Vietnamese……………… ………………………………… …… 50 Figure 2.12: Distribution of similized idioms in English and Vietnamese….… 52 Figure 2.13: Structural patterns of similized idioms in English…………….…… 52 Figure 2.14: Structural patterns of similized idioms in Vietnamese………….… 53 Figure 2.15: Structural components of as A as B similized idioms in English.… 54 Figure 2.16: Structural components of A like B similized idioms in English….… 54 Figure 2.17: Structural components of […] like B similized idioms in English… 55 Figure 2.18: Structural components of […] as B similized idioms in English.… 56 Figure 2.19: Structural components of A B similized idioms in Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 57 Figure 2.20: Structural components of (A) B similized idioms in Vietnamese…………………………………………………… …… 58 Figure 2.21: Structural components of B similized idioms in Vietnamese……………………………………………… ……… 59 Figure 2.22: Structural components of AB similized idioms in Vietnamese….… 59 Figure 2.23: Distribution of non-symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese…………………………………………………………… 60 Figure 2.24: Structural patterns of non-symmetrical idioms in English…… … 61 Figure 2.25: Structural patterns of non-symmetrical idioms in Vietnamese …… 61 Figure 2.26: Structural components of A HN (B) non-symmetrical idioms as noun phrases in English…………………………………………… 62 Figure 2.27: Structural components of AB non-symmetrical idioms as adjective phrases in English…………………………………………………… 63 Figure 2.28: Structural components of Prep B non-symmetrical idioms as vi prepositional phrases in English…………………………….….…… Figure 2.29: 64 Structural components of A Adv non-symmetrical idioms as adverbial phrases in English………………………………… …… 64 Figure 2.30: Structural components of (A) V/PV B non-symmetrical idioms as verb phrases in English……………………………………………… 65 Figure 2.31: Structural components of non-symmetrical idioms as sentences in English………………………………………………………… 66 Figure 2.32: Structural components of AB non-symmetrical idioms as noun phrases in Vietnamese…………………………… ……………… 67 Figure 2.33: Structural components of AB non-symmetrical idioms as adjective phrases in Vietnamese………………… ………………………… 68 Figure 2.34: Structural components of AB non-symmetrical idioms as verb phrases in Vietnamese………………………… ………………… 68 Figure 2.35: Structural components of non-symmetrical idioms as sentences in Vietnamese……………………………………… …… ……… 69 Figure 2.36: Distribution of idiom variants in English and Vietnamese…….… 71 Figure 2.37: Realization criteria of idiom variants in English and Vietnamese.… 72 Figure 2.38: Distribution of synonymous idioms in English and Vietnamese … 79 Figure 2.39: Realization criteria of synonymous idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………… ……………… …… 80 Figure 2.40: Distribution of idiom types in English and Vietnamese……….… 87 Figure 2.41: Distribution of idiom variants and synonymous idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………….……… … 87 Figure 3.1 Distribution of transparent symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………… … …… 94 Figure 3.2: Semantic components of transparent symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese…………………………………………………… 94 Figure 3.3: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of slowly but surely in English and bày mưu tính kế in Vietnamese 95 Figure 3.4: Transformation of quốc sắc thiên hương (from Sino-Vietnamese into Vietnamese)…………………………………… …………… 95 Figure 3.5: Distribution of semi-opaque symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………… …… … 96 Figure 3.6: Semantic components of semi-opaque symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………… …………… vii 97 Figure 3.7: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of day and night in English and mồm năm miệng mười in Vietnamese………………………………………… ……………… 97 Figure 3.8: Distribution of opaque symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………… ………… … 98 Figure 3.9: Semantic components of opaque symmetrical idioms in Vietnamese………………………………………… …………… 98 Figure 3.10: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of già kén kẹn hom in Vietnamese…………………………… …… 99 Figure 3.11: Distribution of semi-transparent similized idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………… ………… … 102 Figure 3.12: Semantic components of semi-transparent similized idioms in English and Vietnamese…………………………………………… 103 Figure 3.13: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of as busy as a bee in English and chậm rùa in Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 103 Figure 3.14: Distribution of semi-opaque similized idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………… …………… 104 Figure 3.15: Semantic components of semi-opaque similized idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………….…… 104 Figure 3.16: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of as black as coal in English and đen chó in Vietnamese………………………………… …………………… 105 Figure 3.17: Distribution of transparent non-symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………………… … … 108 Figure 3.18: Semantic components of in any case in English……………….… 108 Figure 3.19: Distribution of semi-opaque non-symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………… ………… 109 Figure 3.20: Semantic components of semi-opaque non-symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese…………………………………………… 109 Figure 3.21: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of throw a spanner into the works in English and áo gấm đêm in Vietnamese……………………………….………………… …… 110 Figure 3.22: Distribution of opaque non-symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese……………………………………………… ………… viii 110 Figure 3.23: Semantic components of kick the bucket in English and đẽo cày đường in Vietnamese……………………………… ……… 111 Figure 3.24: The relationship between the literal reading and idiomatic meaning of kick the bucket in English and đẽo cày đường in Vietnamese………………………………… …………………… 111 Figure 3.25: The semantic composition of kick the bucket in English and đẽo cày đường in Vietnamese (drawn from Fernando & Flavell 1981)………………………………………………………………… 113 Figure 3.26: The formation of an idiom in English and Vietnamese (drawn from Fernando & Flavell 1981: 26)…………………………….………… 120 Figure 3.27: The formation mechanism of semantic components of idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………… ……………… 123 Figure 3.28: Main factors that affect the formation of semantic components of idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………… 133 Figure 3.29: Motivation degrees of symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 134 Figure 3.30: Motivation degrees of similized idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 134 Figure 3.31: Motivation degrees of non-symmetrical idioms in English and Vietnamese………………………………………………………… 135 LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1: Traditional view of kick the bucket in English ………………….….… 17 Table 1.2: Traditional view of mì cánh in Vietnamese…….…… …… 17 Table 1.3: Types of Idioms (Fernando 1996: 32)………………….…… ….… 21 Table 1.4: Distinguishing criteria of idioms…………………….…… ………… 32 Table 2.1: Possible variabilities of idiom variants in English…………………… 75 Table 2.2: Possible variabilities of idiom variants in Vietnamese………… …… 78 Table 2.3: Possible variabilities of synonymous idioms in English…… … …… 82 Table 2.4: Possible variabilities of synonymous idioms in Vietnamese…… … 84 Table 2.5: Possible variabilities of idiom variants found in both English and Vietnamese…………………………………………….…….………… 86 ix Table 2.6: Possible variabilities of synonymous idioms found in both English and Vietnamese…………………………………………….………… 86 Table 2.7: Structural components of non-symmetrical idioms unique to English 89 Table 2.8: Possible variabilities of idiom variants and synonymous idioms unique to English……………………………………………………… 89 Table 2.9: Structural components of non-symmetrical idioms unique to Vietnamese………………………………………………….……… 90 Table 2.10: Possible variabilities of idiom variants and synonymous idioms unique to Vietnamese…………………………………….….………… 91 Table 3.1: Nuances of different idiom variant types in English and Vietnamese 11 Table 3.2: The coordination of semantic components of symmetrical idioms found in both English and Vietnamese………………… …………… Table 3.3: The existential relationship between A and B of similized idioms 13 found in both English and Vietnamese………………… …………… Table 3.4: Differences between English and Vietnamese in terms of main factors that affect the formation of semantic components of idioms…….…… 13 14 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS USED IN THE DISSERTATION […] absence of constituents Adj adjective AdjP adjective phrase Adv adverb AdvP adverbial phrase Cl clause x 38 39 nặng ngơ ngác 51 52 53 54 55 56 nhanh nghe sấm sổ gạo zastignutaja thấp, lùn trắng uyển chuyển xanh rớt xanh rớt xấu nenastiem belka molnja strela lan’ panther grass ghost/ ashes death duckling xinh đẹp đáng thương đa nghi điên 64 65 66 67 68 69 bướng bỉnh bực tức chăm 71 72 73 74 vorota ptritrka squirrel lightening arrow deer/ gazelle grasshopper snow 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 70 chì (mặt) ngỗng nghe đài, vịt duck 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 svinets baran na novye thunderstorm half-stunned 40 lead (chân, tay) dying duck in a sneg pantera (trăn) sóc, cắt điện, chớp tên nấm tuyết trứng gà bóc (da) cơng tàu polotno picture lily rose bandicoot kartinka lilia ma mút, ma Thị Nở tranh/ Tố nữ trăng rằm tiên giáng trần mokraja kuritsa Phoma March hare hatter, beetle cut snake frieled, lizard bed-bug gum tree full of galahs mule cat bee beehive oslitsa, ocel Tào Tháo trâu điên ptrela/ ptrelka belka vkolese lừa, đầu bị chó ong kiến hot store cockerel tigr hổ/ chúa sơn lâm brass Ned Kelly dove lamb ovetrka jagnjenok beaver cockroach on a dũng cảm/ mãnh dũng cảm dịu dàng II 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 lion, tiger bull a sore head iron boil snake in grass serpent’s tooth ukus zmee hiền angel skarpi ona angel khô mummy mumia bụt đất củ khoai mắm que củi ngói khéo léo kiêu, vênh munkey peacock indjuk bố vợ phải đấm/khố rợ lươn lẹo láu cá lạnh lùng lạnh lùng nói dối nói nhiều zmeja chjert syts baba, jaga phải lấm cóc (mọc lơng nách) turkey-cock licifer eel monkey ice iron steel gas-meter shot ngây thơ thô tham lam bags cat wolf fortune water thay đổi băng đồng, đá sivyi merin chicken kitten hare wax fox needle king thieves chạch ljed zhelezo sugar honey nghe lời nghịch nhát nhu nhược khôn ranh sắc sảo sung sướng thân thiết djavol ugor’ dove babe/ child hùm bà chằng rắn độc cuội súng liên máy khâu thỏ/ cừu/ nai non chim non tờ giấy trắng đường mật mía lùi ditja jagnjenok ovetrka mjed kotjenok zajats vosk litsa ten’ quỷ sứ thỏ/ đế chi chi chấy/ rận/ cáo dao cạo (mắt) vua hình với bóng mơi với chân với tay vợ chồng sam chó, gấu fortun III thời tiết 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 trung thành vơ cảm vui vững lời dở hay quên steel nail, sticks grip lark cricket punch sand boy rock fencing fish mouse grave lamb oyster bandicoot bed-bug a sieve stal’ sukhap’ chó băng, ngói tết mở hội mở cờ bụng skala bàn thạch kiềng ba chân hến thóc ngậm hột thị nấm mồ bưng ryba/ rybka mush’ mogila resheto ngu donkey owl probka thông thái giàu có nghèo owl Crousus church sova Krez tserkovnaja mouse rat job/ job’s turkey bandicoot fowl wood krysa mysh’ lov IV bã đậu nước đổ khoai củ chuối bò tót lợn chó nhà hiền triết (cây) vờ nhộng rớt mồng tơi tổ đỉa APPENDIX CLASSIFICATION OF ENGLISH IDIOMS (Cowie, Mackin & McCaig 1993) (1) Clause patterns [V + Comp] verb + complement pattern subject (aux +) verb Your measurements must be complement adjective phrase/ noun phrase dead right A friend would be good for her You would get high on this stuff The oil market has gone berserk The suspects should come clean about themselves Bill would get even with the gang was a dab hand at carpentry gone native Peter Their greatest had explorer V [V + O] verb + direct object patterns subject The police (aux +) have verb cleared direct object all our characters caught his attention An article The state should foot the bill The minister can’t blink the fact any longer You led a cat and dog life They play a tiresome cat-and-mouse game Fred must have dished the dirt George had spilled the beans [V + O + Comp] verb + direct object + complement pattern subject The children (aux +) verb drive direct object their mother complement mad I took Martin unawares David counts himself fortunate The Chancellor made his strategy plain The boss caught Steve napping His demands have bled the family white The crew had painted the town red John has made his colleagues a laughing-stock The matron made their lives a misery [V + IO + O] verb + indirect object + direct object pattern subject This exhibition (aux +) doesn't verb indirect object the artist direct object credit bore Bolshow little ill-will I You had better blow daddy a kiss The film has sold you a real pup You must show these guys who’s boss The old chap paid you a great compliment Mary sets us all a good example The salesman spun me a terrific yarn VI [V + O + A] verb + direct object + adjunct pattern subject (aux +) verb direct object The neighbours had taken our suggestion adjunct adjective/ adverb amiss Janet took everything too hard A doctor has to put his patients first You have cast your net wide The explanation blows the myth sky-high The writer sells his characters short The newspapers play it straight won’t (2) Possessive clause patterns [possess] possessive clause pattern (1) subject (aux +) direct object The leaders verb get got Everybody gets a fair share of the cake a taste of their own medicine That club is gettin a bad name The customer was g cold feet gettin a quick shot in the arm The economy g got [possess] possessive clause pattern (2) subject (aux +) verb indirect direct object object The voters give gave The film gives everybody medicine Drug pushers are givin that club a fair share of the cake The excess tariff was g the customer a bad name The Chancellor givin the economy cold feet the leaders a VII taste of their own g a quick shot in the arm gave (3) Phrase patterns [NP] noun phrase determiner a adjective blue noun fit his blue-eyed boy the common touch easy terms either way false alarm a a the prepositional phrase/ clause feather good in one’s cap things in life [AdjP] adjective phrase adverb determiner all adjective right prepositional phrase/ infinitive/ clause by me all too brief for me as big as saucers as happy as the day is long absolutely mad about football fast asleep far too full not of his own importance fit to wash his feet [PrepP] prepositional phrase preposition above object of preposition determiner adjective noun one’s station at one’s in somebody’ in s ordinary way in the same way of the good standing under under own discretion opinion nose his own your VIII steam [AdvP] adverbial phrase adv modifier all too adverb briefly prepositional phrase/ clause as fast as his legs could carry him far afield full none too in the face soon (4) Noun phrase patterns with repeated element [n + n] noun + noun pattern body and soul (the) deaf and dump day and night head to tail death or glory airs and graces [adj + adj] adjective + adjective pattern bright and early free and easy fair and square (all) hot and bothered slow but sure IX APPENDIX 100 PAIRS OF ENGLISH IDIOMS HAVING THE SAME CONTENTS I: Idiom variants S: Synonymous idioms Pairs of English idioms to wrap someone around one’s little finger/to have someone at one’s beck 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 and call to face the music/to wake up and smell the coffee take it into one’s mind/take it into one’s head dead and buried/dead and gone with a high hand/in a high handed fashion to fall short of one’s hopes/to fall short of one’s expectations to lay it on thick/to pile it on thick to disappear into thin air/to vanish into thin air to get out of line/to step out of line to follow the line of least resistance/to choose the line of least resistance to come the point/to reach the point to teach someone a thing or two/to show someone a thing or two to give it to someone/to hand it to someone a leap in the dark/a shot in the dark money for jam/money for old rope not to turn a hair/without turning a hair a clean slate/a clean sheet a tight spot/a tight corner now and again/now and then on and off/off and on scrimp and save/scrimp and scrape against all/against the odds at a pinch/at a push by fits and starts/in fits and starts X I/S S S I S S I I I I S I I I S S S S S S I S S S S 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 by leaps and bounds/in leaps and bounds in a fine pickle/in a pretty pickle in a fix/in a scrape to ask for trouble/to look for trouble to bend over backwards/to lean over backwards to break fresh ground/to break new ground to cost a bomb/to cost the earth to wonders with something/to miracles with something not to entertain the idea/not to entertain the suggestion to fall short of something/to come short of something to get cracking/to get weaving to get a grip one oneself/to get a hold on oneself to give the game away/to give the show away to hit the roof/to hit the ceiling to have designs on someone/ something/to have designs upon someone/ S I S S I I S I I S S I S I S 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 something to have everything going for me/to have a lot going for me to know something inside out/to know something backwards to know one’s onions/to know one’s stuff to know the ropes/to learn the ropes to make a mess of something/to make a hash of something to pick a quarrel/to pick a fight to get one’s blood up/to have one’s blood up to sugar the pill/to sweeten the pill to sweep something under the carpet/to brush something under the carpet to watch one’s step/to mind one’s step an old bird/an old fish to rain cats and dogs/to pour cats and dogs not to harm a fly/not to hurt a fly to horse about/to horse around a blue film/a blue movie to disappear into thin air/to disappear into the blue to scream blue murder/to cry blue murder as white as a sheet/as white as a ghost one in a thousand/one in a million two bites of the cherry/two bites at the cherry two a penny/ten a penny a hundred and one/a thousand and one to stand out a mile/to stick out a mile to keep someone at arm’s length/to hold someone at arm’s length to have one’s back to the wall/to have one’s back against the wall like getting blood from a stone/like getting blood out of a stone to hold one’s cards close to one’s chest/to keep one’s cards close to one’s I S S I I S I I I S S I S S I S I S I S I I I I S S I 68 69 70 71 chest under someone’s eye/before someone’s eye to put a bold face on it/to put a brave face on it to lay one’s finger on something/to put one’s finger on something to put a foot wrong/to set a foot wrong S S I I XI 72 73 to fall one one’s feet/ to land one one’s feet to pull the carpet from under someone’s feet/to pull the rug from under I I 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 10 someone’s feet to make someone’s hair curl/to make someone’s hair stand on end to give someone a hand/to lend someone a hand to have a hand in something/to take a hand in something to show one’s hand/to reveal one’s hand above someone’s head/over someone’s head to tread someone’s toes/to step on someone’s toe to win the day /to carry the day to time/to serve time to keep up with the times/to move with the times as black as coal/as black as soot as drunk as a lord/as drunk as a newt as easy as ABC/ as easy as pie as happy as a king/as happy as a lark as mad as hatter/as mad as a March hare as sharp as a needle/as sharp as a razor as tough as leather/as tough as odd boots as weak as a baby/as weak as a kitten as white as a sheet/as white as a chalk to run like a hare/to run like a deer to shake like a leaf/to tremble like a leaf to sing like a bird/to sing like a lark as true as I’m standing here/as true as I’m sitting here as quick as lightning/as quick as a flash to die a dog’s death/to die like a dog to have a great mind to/to have a good mind to to escape by the skin of one’s teeth/to escape with the skin of one’s teeth to welcome with open arms/to greet with open arms S I I I I I S S S S S S S S S S S S S I I I S S I S I XII APPENDIX 100 PAIRS OF VIETNAMESE IDIOMS HAVING THE SAME CONTENTS I: Idiom variants S: Synonymous idioms 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Pairs of Vietnamese idioms chôn cắt rốn/chôn rau cắt rốn bày binh bố trận/bài binh bố trận buồn trấu cắn/buồn chấu cắn ân sâu nghĩa nặng/ơn sâu nghĩa nặng bắt mũi chưa sạch/vắt mũi chưa năm châu bốn biển/năm châu bốn bể chậm rùa/chậm sên nhanh ăn cướp/nhanh cắt đen cột nhà cháy/đen củ súng vắt cổ chày nước/rán sành mỡ nước đổ đầu vịt/nước đổ khoai chuột gặm chân mèo/vuốt râu hùm đắp tai gài chốc/mũ ni che tai dưỡng hổ di hoạ/nuôi ong tay áo nếm mật nằm gai/nằm gai nếm mật da mồi tóc bạc/tóc bạc da mồi góc bể chân trời/chân trời góc bể dãi nắng dầm mưa/dầm mưa dãi nắng cày sâu cuốc bẫm/cuốc bẫm cày sâu cá chậu chim lồng/chim lồng cá chậu hùm/dữ cọp cắn hạt cơm không vỡ/cắn hạt cơm không bể hội thuyền/đồng hội đồng thuyền binh hùng tướng mạnh/quân hùng tướng mạnh XIII I/S I I I I I I S S S S S S S S I I I I I I I I I I 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 giả mù giả điếc/giả đui giả điếc vẽ đường cho hươu chạy/vạch đường cho hươu chay cơm dẻo canh ngọt/cơm ngon canh chúi mũi chúi tai/chúi đầu chúi tai dãi gió dầm mưa/dãi gió dầm sương dạn dày sương gió/dạn dày gió sương ngồi bụt mọc/ngồi tượng rối canh hẹ/rối gà mắc tóc gầy mắm/gầy que củi dở trăng dở đèn/dở dở đèn dở trăng dở đèn/nửa nạc nửa mỡ dốt có chi/dốt bị kẻ tám lạng người nửa cân/một chin mười khóc mưa/nước mắt mưa nhát cáy/dát cáy biến hố thần thơng/thần thơng biến hố bia đá bảng vàng/bảng vàng bia đá bén tiếng quen hơi/quen bén tiếng chén thù chén tạc/chén tạc chén thù chia phượng rẽ loan/chia loan rẽ phượng chức trọng quyền cao/quyền cao chức trọng chạy ngược chạy xuôi/chạy xuôi chạy ngực chung gối chung chăn/chung chăn chung gối trời cuối đất/cuối đất trời chim trời cá bể/cá bể chim trời chuyển đất long trời/long trời chuyển đất cơm no áo ấm/áo ấm cơm no cửa Khổng sân Trình/sân Trình cửa Khổng bể bạc rừng vàng/rừng vàng bể bạc ăn thừa nói thiếu/ăn gian nói dối ăn đơm nói đặt/ăn khơng nói có đầu đũa/có đầu có gần đất xa trời/gần kề miệng lỗ nhắm mắt bước bước qua/nhắm mắt làm ngơ nói hành nói tỏi/nói tỏi nói hành nở mặt nở mày/nở mày nở mặt chịu khó chịu thương/chịu thương chịu khó góp gió thành bão/tích tiểu thành đại tay hịm chìa khố/quyền thu quyền bổ sống mái/một quê cha đất tổ/quê hương quán quân hội vô phèng/quân hồi vô lệnh binh địa ba đào/đất sóng thệ hải minh sơn/chỉ non thề biển quốc sắc thiên hương/sắc nước hương trời uý tử tham sinh/tham sống sợ chết kinh thiên động địa/long trời lở đất bất công đại thiên/không đội trời chung XIV I I I S S I S S S I S S S S I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I S S S S S I I I S S S S S S S S S S S 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 10 mát lòng mát dạ/mắt lòng mát ruột miệng hùm gan thỏ/miệng cọp gan thỏ thèm nhỏ dãi/thèm chảy nước miếng trẻ không tha già không thương/trẻ chẳng tha già chẳng thương ăn nói thật/ăn nói thẳng mặt ủ mày chau/mặt ủ mày ê hét lửa/thét lửa đường đứt gánh/nửa đường đứt gánh dây máu ăn phần/vây máu ăn phần rắn đầu/như rắn không đầu lạy tế sao/van tế đất lành chim đậu/đất lành cị đậu mặt cắt khơng cịn hột máu/mặt tái ga cắt tiết bạn nối khố/bạn chấy cắn đơi ruột nóng lửa/ruột nóng cào lúng túng cú vào xiếc/lúng túng cú vào rọ áo rách quần manh/khố rách áo ôm lật đật ma vật ông vải/lật đật quai xa vật vải xuôi chèo mát mái/thuận buồm xi gió hình với bong/như cá với nước lọt sàng xuống nia/xảy vai xuống cánh tay ghi xương khắc cốt/sống để bụng chết mang ruột để da/bụng để da trời đánh thánh vật/trời đánh thánh đâm cứu nhân độ thế/cứu dân độ chiêm khê mùa thối/chiêm khê mùa úng giật đầu cá vá đầu tôm/giật gấu vá vai XV I I S I I I I I I I I S S S S S S S S S S S I S I S S ... Fernando (1996), Bình diện cấu trúc hình thái -ngữ nghĩa thành ngữ tiếng Việt [Vietnamese Idioms from Formal-semantic Perspectives] by Đức (1995), Thành ngữ học tiếng Việt [Vietnamese Idiom Studies]... Đi tìm điển tích thành ngữ [Seeking idioms’ classic references] Hà Nội: Nxb Thông Tấn Ý, N N., Hành, H V, Khang, N V., Thại, L X., & Thành, P X (1998) Từ điển giải thích thành ngữ tiếng Việt [A... Vietnamese Lân, N (2003) Từ điển thành ngữ tục ngữ Việt Nam [A dictionary of Vietnamese idioms and proverbs] Hà Nội: Nxb Văn học Lực, N., & Đang, L V (2009) (3rd ed.) Thành ngữ tiếng Việt [A dictionary