Dictionary of Idioms [antikvár]

Introduction The CoBuiLD Dictionary of Idioms, like other Cobuild dictionaries, is based on an extensive study of a large corpus of modem English texts, and so « is m a unique position to describe idioms in current English. Idioms are one ot the most interesting and difficult parts ofthe English vocabulary. They are interesting because they are colourful and lively, and because they are linguistic curiosities. At the same time, they are difficult because they have unpredictable meanings or collocations and grammar, and often have special connotations. Idioms are frequently neglected in general dictionaries and m classroom teaching, because they are considered marginal items which are quaint but not significant. Yet research into idioms shows that they have important roles in spoken language and in writing, in particular in conveying evaluations and in developing or maintaining interactions. The Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms sets out to give detailed coverage of these points. About this dictionary The Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms is primarily intended for teachers of English and intermediate-advanced learners, although we hope that many other people will find it interesting and useful. It deals with approximately 4400 English idioms, and illustrates them with a rich collection of examples which are drawn from The Bank of English and which show how idioms are used in real English. There is a workbook - the Cobuild Idioms Workbook - to accompany the dictionary, written by Malcolm Goodale. It is designed for both class work and self-study, and concentrates on 250 of the idioms explained in the dictionary. What is an idiom? An idiom is a special kind of phrase. It is a group of words which have a different meaning when used together from the one it would have if the meaning of each word were taken individually. If you do not know that the words have a special meaning together, you may weU misinterpret what someone is saying, or be puzzled by why they are saying something that is untrue or irrelevant. For example, learners might not recognize the idioms bite someone's head o#and out in the cold. They would then have problems understanding remarks such as 'Don't bite my head off just because you're bad tempered' and 'They were going to play together and that left me out in the cold, you know'. (These examples are taken from transcribed conversations in The Bank of English.) Idioms are typically metaphorical: they are effectively metaphors which have become 'fixed' or 'fossilized'. In some cases, it is fairly easy to see how the idiomatic meaning relates to the literal meaning. For example, kill two birds with one stone means 'achieve two things at the same time', and the image in the metaphor supports this meaning. In other cases, the literal meanings may make no sense at all. For example, move heaven and earth literally describes p action which is physically impossible. In a few fiirther cases, the metaphors in the idioms are peculiar, and their true origins are unknown, so it is very difiicult to see how or why the idioms have come to have their current meanings. For example, there are several explanations oîkick the ôucfcei and rammg cats and dogs, but none is very satisfactory. While we do not explain Idiom histories in this dictionary, we occasionally make comments to explain words which might puzzle learners, or to explain common allusions which are often made m the context of an idiom. The scope ofthe dictionary The Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms covers a large number ofthe idioms which people are likely to fmd in everyday English. It includes traSTEnS iv