and differences between Vietnamese and English idioms of food and drink.
Secondly, idioms of food and drink as well as other idioms are taught and practiced in classroom but students rarely apply them to their daily speech. That’s why teachers should encourage students to use idioms of food and drink in their daily life as frequently as possible.
Another important thing should be considered is that it is often difficult to guess the meaning of its parts. Hence, teachers, when introducing an English idiom, should not only use it in given contexts but also explain clearly its figurative meaning. For English idioms of food and drink, learners will remember the idioms longer and use them more effectively if teachers try to find Vietnamese idioms, which are similar in meaning and explain cultural differences in the use of the image food and drink between the two languages.
PART III: CONCLUSION 1. Conclusion
There are both similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese idioms of food and drink in terms of syntactic and semantic features. Syntactically, they share the same form of verb phrase, noun phrase, adjective phrase and sentence. There is no form of prepositional phrase in Vietnamese idioms collected.
Semantically, idioms containing food and drink can be organized into two categories idioms having human implications and idioms having non-human implications. The same or different image can bear resemblance in the meaning of English and Vietnamese idioms of food and drink. Besides, there are some idioms of food and drink which have the same components but the meaning are quite different. This study also focuses on the equivalence of the English and Vietnamese idioms of food and drink including idiomatic equivalence, conceptual equivalence, lexical equivalence, semantic and pragmatic equivalence. The analysis of the equivalence can help the learners as well as translators have a good understanding of the surface and the deep meaning of those idioms. In addition, the similarities and differences in the cultures of the two countries which are reflected through their idioms containing food and drink are synthesized and analyzed as well.
2. Limitations of the thesis
Due to the limited time, the research could only be conducted with the data collection of around 190 idioms in each language. This obviously does not guarantee that a full collection of idioms containing food and drink is achieved.
Therefore, the result of the research may not be completely accurate, even though the researcher has tried hard to avoid any biases which may result from an insufficient data. Additionally, under the constraint of ability, the researcher could only compare idioms under some criteria, which may not be totally adequate for a thorough understanding of cross-cultural similarities and differences.
In brief, there are many things that need considering and investigating more thoroughly. Therefore, any comments or extra contribution are warmly welcome for the completion of the research.
3. Suggestions for further study
Discovering cultural values and beliefs through an investigation on idioms of food and drink still remains a wide room for study. Further research may focus on smaller categories of idioms containing food and drink and provide more detailed analysis. Other researchers can also conduct a study on proverbs denoting food and drink which also occupy a large portion in the proverbs treasure of the both languages. Also, there are many other types of idioms and proverbs that can appeal to researchers for carrying out in-depth study. For example idioms and proverbs containing clothes, household items and tools, medicine … are among the new and very interesting to explore.
The researcher hopes that the research will be a useful material for learners and teachers to learn or teach most effectively.
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http://digitaljournal.com/blog/829
APPENDIX 1: ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE IDIOMS OF FOOD AND DRINK
English idioms Meaning Vietnamese
equivalence 1. A bad egg
a person or plan that has been found to be bad in some way
người xấu, không đáng tin
2. A big cheese
an important and powerful person, especially in an organization
nhân vâ ̣t tai to mă ̣t lớn, chóp bu, nhân vâ ̣t quan trọng
3. A bite at/of a cherry an opportunity to do
something một cơ hội tốt, thuận tiện để làm điều gì 4. A bone of contention a subject which causes
disagreement and arguments between people
vấn đề không đƣợc tán đồng, nhất là trong một thời gian dài – điểm bất đồng
5. A chicken-and-egg situation
a situation in which it is difficult to tell which one of two things was the cause of the other
tình huống có hai sự
việc đồng thời xảy ra, rất khó phân tích đƣợc sự việc nào là nguyên nhân và sự việc nào là
kết quả
6. A dead duck
a plan, an event, etc. that has failed or is certain to fail and that is therefore not worth discussing
kế hoạch hoặc ý tưởng không dùng đƣợc hoặc có nhiều khả năng thất bại
7. A fine kettle of fish a difficult situation tình huống gây ra rắc rối 8. A good egg a person who you can rely
on to behave well con nhà nòi 9. A piece of cake a thing that is very easy to
do viê ̣c dễ xơi, viê ̣c dễ làm
10. A rotten apple one bad person who has a bad effect on all the others in a group
kẻ dối trá, xấu bụng và
làm xấu cho cả tập thể
tốt hoặc điều gây ra ảnh hưởng xấu – con sâu làm rầu nồi canh 11. A slice/share of the
cake
a share of the available money or benefits that you
believe you have a right to mếng bánh chia phần 12. A tough/hard nut
(to crack)
person or thing that is very difficult to deal with; a difficult problem
mô ̣t vấn đề khó giải quyết, mô ̣t người khó
chơi
13. An old chestnut
an old joke or story that has been told so many times that it is no longer amusing or interesting
một câu chuyện vui không còn làm cho ai cười được nữa vì nó đã đƣợc nhắc đi nhắc lại quá nhiều lần
14. Another / A different kettle of fish
to be completely different from something or someone else that has been talked about
dùng khi muốn so sánh hai tình huống là hoàn toàn khác nhau
15. Apple of Sodom
a fruit described by ancient writers as externally of fair appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes when plucked;
quả táo trông mã ngoài thì đẹp nhƣng trong đã thối - (nghĩa bóng) thành tích bề ngoài, thành tích giả tạo 16. Apple of someone’s
eye
a person or thing that is
loved more than any other người hoă ̣c vâ ̣t rất được yêu thích
17. Apples and oranges
used to describe a situation in which two people or things are completely different from each other
so sánh không đúng cách / so sánh khập khiễng
18. As brown as a berry
having skin that is naturally brown or has been made brown by the sun
có nước da nâu tự nhiên hoă ̣c do rám nắng 19. As cool as a
cucumber
very calm and controlled, especially in a difficult situation
bình tĩnh, không hề nao núng
20. As dead as mutton completely dead điếc đă ̣c 21. As different as chalk
and cheese
completely different from each other
khác nhau hoàn toàn, khác nhau một trời một vƣ̣c
22. As easy as pie very easy or very easily dễ nhƣ ăn cháo 23. As flat as a pancake completely flat phẳng nhƣ mă ̣t trống 24. As keen as mustard wanting very much to do
well at sth; enthusiastic hăng say, hớn hở
25. As like/alike as two
peas in a pod very or exactly alike giống nhau nhƣ đúc/
như hai gio ̣t nước 26. As nice as pie
very kind and friendly, especially when you are not
expecting it ngọt nhƣ mía lùi 27. As red as beetroot red in the face from feeling
awkward or ashamed đỏ nhƣ gấc
28. As sour as vinegar Very sour. chua nhƣ giấm/mẻ
29. As sure as eggs in
eggs definitely true chắc nhƣ đinh đóng cô ̣t
30. As warm as toast very warm, esp. as
compared to the cold outside ấm áp dễ chịu 31. Banana peel/skin
an embarrassing mistake made by someone in a public position
lỗi lầm gây ra sƣ̣ bối rối trước mă ̣t mo ̣i người 32. Be toast be likely to die or be
destroyed dễ chết hay dễ bi ̣ phá
hủy 33. Be/go nuts If someone goes nuts, they
get excited over something hào hứng, phấn khởi về
viê ̣c gì
34. Bear fruit to have a successful result mang lại kết quả tốt đẹp nhƣ mong đợi
35. Beer and skittles amusement or enjoyment vui chơi giải trí
36. Bread and butter a person’s or company’s main source of income
miếng ăn, kế sinh nhai / thu nhập chính
37. Bread and circuses
mass entertainment produced to amuse the population of a country, esp.
to prevent them from causing trouble
phương pháp cai trị
bằng cách cung cấp đồ
ăn thƣ́c uống và các trò
giải trí cho dân chúng để giữ quyền lực 38. Break bread (with) to take food or have a meal
(with someone)
dùng chung một bữa ăn với ai để bày tỏ sự thân mật
39. Bring home the bacon
to be successful at sth; to earn money for your family to live on
làm ra đủ tiền nuôi sống gia đình
40. Butter wouldn’t melt in their mouth
Used to say that sb seems to be innocent, kind, etc. when they are not really
làm ra bộ đoan trang 41. Cakes and ale lively enjoyment ăn uống tiê ̣c tùng 42. Can’t boil an egg If someone can’t boil an
egg, they aren’t able to cook chẳng biết nấu nướng gì
43. Can’t do sth for
toffee to be very bad at doing sth không có kỹ năng làm viê ̣c gì đó
44. Cast one's bread upon the waters
do good without expecting
gratitude or reward hoài thóc nuôi cò rừng 45. Caviar to the
general
something considered to be good or valuable for
ordinary people to like or understand
đàn gảy tai trâu
46. Cheap as chips very inexpensive rẻ nhƣ bèo
47. Cherry on the cake
a desirable feature perceived as the finishing touch to something that is already very good
điều có đƣợc nhiều hơn những gì mong đợi 48. Chew the fat to have a long friendly talk
with sb about sth
nói chuyện phiếm, tán dóc
49. Cook one’s goose to ruin sb’s chances of success
đẩy ai vào chỗ khó khăn hoặc ngăn trở sự thành công của họ
50. Couch potato
a person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching
television người nghiê ̣n xem tivi 51. Crammed/packed
like sardines
pressed tightly together in a way that is uncomfortable or unpleasant
châ ̣t nhƣ nêm cối, lèn nhƣ cá hộp
52. Cream of the crop the best of a group of similar
things or people tinh hoa, tinh tuý
53. Cry over spilt milk
to waste time worrying about sth that has happened that you cannot do anything about
lãng phí thời gian vào viê ̣c đã rồi
54. Curate’s egg a thing that is partly good and partly bad
cái có cả hai mặt tốt và
xấu 55. Cut the mustard to be as good as expected or
required
có đủ phẩm chất tốt đẹp cần thiết cho một hoạt động cụ thể nào đó, nhất là khi phải cạnh tranh, so sánh với người khác 56. Dead meat in serious trouble
rơi vào tình huống rắc rối nghiêm trọng, thường là vì đã chọc giận ai / chết chắc 57. Do one’s nut to become very angry trở nên rất tƣ́c giâ ̣n 58. Do porridge to spend time in prison ngồi tù
59. Drink like a fish To drink a lot of alcohol regularly
uống rƣợu, bia... rất nhiều và thường xuyên / uống nhƣ hũ chìm 60. Drop something like
a hot potato to get rid of sth as quickly as
possible nhanh chóng vƣ́t bỏ
61. Earn/make one’s
bread Earn one’s living kiếm sống
62. Easy meat someone or sth that may
easily be taken advantage of người hay vâ ̣t dễ bi ̣ lợi dụng
63. Eat humble pie
to admit that one is wrong or say that one is sorry for something that one has done or said
phải xin lỗi, phải nhận lỗi, phải chịu nhục 64. Eat like a horse to eat a lot ăn như rồng cuốn, ăn rất
khỏe 65. Eat someone’s salt to be someone’s guest, esp.
at a meal làm khách đến dùng bữa 66. Fine words butter
no parsnips
It is easy to talk, but talk is not action
lời nói không ăn thua gì, có thực mới vực đƣợc đa ̣o
67. First fruit the first result of sb’s work
or effort thành quả đầu tiên
68. Fish and
fowl/neither fish nor fowl
neither one thing nor
another môn chẳng ra môn,
khoai chẳng ra khoai 69. Food for thought an idea that makes you thing
seriously and carefully điều đáng suy nghĩ
70. Forbidden fruit
a thing that is not allowed and that therefore seems very attractive
thứ được ước ao vì nó bi ̣ cấm hoă ̣c không cho phép; trái cấm/ quả cấm 71. From soup to nuts from beginning to end đủ mo ̣i thƣ́
72. Full of beans having a lot of energy đầy năng lƣ̣c, hăng hái, sôi nổi/ tràn đầy năng lƣợng
73. Go bananas to become angry, crazy or
silly rất tƣ́c giâ ̣n
74. Go fry an egg Used to tell somebody to go
away and leave you alone đi chỗ khác, đƣ̀ng có
quấy rầy nƣ̃a 75. Go pear-shaped if things go pear-shaped,
they go wrong hỏng hóc, không chính xác, gă ̣p rắc rối
76. Go/sell like hot cakes
to be bought or taken quickly, e.g. because of being very popular or cheap
bán đắt như tôm tươi
77. Go/turn beetroot
You go, or turn, beetroot when your face gets
extremely red because you
are embarrassed or hot đỏ mă ̣t tía tai
78. Golden goose
something which gives you an advantage, especially a financial advantage
điều mang la ̣i lợi ích, đă ̣c biê ̣t là lợi ích kinh tế
79. Grain of salt
If you should take
something with a grain of salt, you shouldn’t
necessarily believe it all
Nƣ̉a tin nƣ̉a ngờ, bán tín bán nghi
80. Gravy train
A situation where people seem to be making a lot of money without much effort
cách kiếm tiền bất chính, món lợi bất chính
81. Hard/tough cheese
used when the speaker does not really care about another person’s misfortune
sƣ̣ không may, sƣ̣ thất bại; hoàn toàn đáng buồn
82. Have a bone to pick (with someone)
to have a reason to start an argument or quarrel (with someone)
có vấn đề hết sức bực tức cần giải tỏa với ai đó
bằng cách đối thoại 83. Have a bun in the
oven to be pregnant có thai
84. Have a finger in every pie
to be involved in a lot of different activities and have influence over them,
especially when other people think that this is annoying
nhúng tay vào nhiều chuyện khác nhau; tuần chay nào cũng có nước mắt
85. Have egg on/all over one’s face
to be made to look foolish lúng túng, hết sức bối rối hoặc có vẻ nhƣ ngớ ngẩn vì đã nói hoặc làm điều gì đó không hay
86. Have one’s cake and eat it
to try to enjoy or get advantage from two things when using or doing one of them makes the other impossible
đươ ̣c cái no ̣ mất cái kia
87. Have other/bigger fish to fry
to have more important or more interesting things to do
có một công việc khác quan trọng hơn hay thú
vị hơn để làm
88. Have/put all one’s eggs into one basket
to rely on one particular course of action for success rather than giving yourself several different possibilities
đươ ̣c ăn cả, ngã về không
89. Hold water to be able to be proved true
or brought to reality điều gì đươ ̣c chứng minh là đúng