{"id":25745,"date":"2024-04-25T12:39:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T17:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=25745"},"modified":"2024-06-04T15:28:07","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T20:28:07","slug":"idioms-ducks-and-the-impossibility-of-the-english-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wlbott.com\/?p=25745","title":{"rendered":"Idioms, Ducks, Chickens, and the Impossibility of the English Language"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Idioms <\/strong>are a colorful way of getting a point across. Often they reflect the culture, geography, folk lore, values, and sense of humor of the people who speak the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little background….<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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An idiom is a phrase or expression that usually presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Some phrases which become figurative idioms, however, do retain the phrase’s literal meaning. Categorized as formulaic language, an idiom’s figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning. Idioms occur frequently in all languages; in English alone there are an estimated twenty-five million idiomatic expressions.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the German linguist Elizabeth Piirainen, the idiom “to get on one’s nerves<\/strong>” has the same figurative meaning in 57 European languages. She also says that the phrase “to shed crocodile tears”, meaning to express insincere sorrow, is similarly widespread in European languages but is also used in Arabic, Swahili, Persian, Chinese, Mongolian, and several others.<\/p>\nWikipedia<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

25 Million?<\/em><\/strong> Does that mean that each American can be assigned their own unique 13 idioms?
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Ukrainian Idioms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before diving into the 25MI (mega-idioms) claim, let’s take a look at some Ukrainian idioms. As our viewer(s) know, we support ENGin<\/a> <\/strong>in their mission to improve the English skills of Ukrainians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We borrowed from these great sites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.ukrainianlessons.com\/20-ukrainian-idioms-proverbs-and-expressions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.speakua.com\/25-ukrainian-famous-sayings-proverbs-and-idioms-to-get-your-head-around<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Original \/ Literal<\/strong><\/td>Meaning<\/strong><\/td>English Equivalent<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
\u041f\u0440\u043e \u0432\u043e\u0432\u043a\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u043c\u043e\u0432\u043a\u0430<\/strong>

\u201cTalking about the wolf\u201d<\/td>		Something that you say when someone you have been talking or thinking about suddenly appears.<\/td>Speak of the devil<\/td><\/tr>
\u0411\u0456\u043b\u0430 \u0432\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0430<\/strong>

\u201cA white crow\u201d<\/td>		This idiom is used to describe a person who is unusual or extraordinary<\/td>Black Sheep<\/td><\/tr>
\u041d\u0456\u043c\u0438\u0439 \u044f\u043a \u0440\u0438\u0431\u0430<\/strong>

\u201cMute as a fish\u201d<\/td>		Someone that says very little or nothing<\/td>Quiet as a mouse<\/td><\/tr>
\u0412\u0438\u0447\u0430\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u043b\u0438\u043c\u043e\u043d<\/strong>

\u201cA squeezed lemon\u201d<\/td>		Very tired<\/td>Dog Tired
Running On Empty
Hit The Hay (going to bed)<\/td><\/tr>
\u041a\u043e\u043f\u0456\u0439\u043a\u0430 \u0433\u0440\u0438\u0432\u043d\u044e \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0436\u0435<\/strong>

\u201cKopiyka saves hryvnia\u201d<\/td>		Be frugal<\/td>Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves

A penny saved is a penny earned.<\/td><\/tr>
\u041b\u00f3\u0436\u043a\u0430 \u0434\u00f3\u0433\u0442\u044e \u0432 \u0431\u00f3\u0447\u0446\u0456 \u043c\u00e9\u0434\u0443.<\/strong>

A spoonful of tar in a barrel of honey.<\/td>		Something small can spoil something really good.<\/td>A fly in the ointment.

<\/td><\/tr>
\u041f\u0456\u0434 \u043b\u0435\u0436\u00e1\u0447\u0438\u0439 \u043a\u00e1\u043c\u0456\u043d\u044c \u0432\u043e\u0434\u00e1 \u043d\u0435 \u0442\u0435\u0447\u00e9.<\/strong>

Under the lying stone, water does not flow.<\/td>		No effort makes no progress.<\/td>No pain, no gain.<\/td><\/tr>
\u041f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0437\u00e1\u0442\u0438, \u0434\u0435 \u0440\u00e1\u043a\u0438 \u0437\u0438\u043c\u00fd\u044e\u0442\u044c.<\/strong>

To show where the crayfish is wintering.<\/td>		To punish or show someone the consequences of their behaviour<\/td>To teach someone a lesson.<\/td><\/tr>
\u0410\u0431\u00f3 \u043f\u0430\u043d, \u0430\u0431\u00f3 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u043f\u00e1\u0432.<\/strong>

Either lord or lost.<\/td>		To risk everything.<\/td>All or nothing.

Go big or go home.

Sink or swim.<\/td><\/tr>
\u0412\u043e\u0432\u043a\u00ed\u0432 \u0431\u043e\u044f\u0442\u0438\u0441\u044f \u2013 \u0443 \u043b\u0456\u0441 \u043d\u0435 \u0445\u043e\u0434\u045d\u0442\u0438.<\/strong>

If you are afraid of wolves, don\u2019t go to the forest.<\/td>		Sometimes you must take risks to achieve a goal<\/td>Nothing ventured, nothing gained.<\/td><\/tr>
\u041a\u0440\u00e1\u043f\u043b\u044f \u0432 \u043c\u00f3\u0440\u0456.<\/strong>

A drop in the sea\/ocean.<\/td>		An insignificant amount. A minimal compared to the amount needed.<\/td>A drop in the ocean.

A drop in the bucket.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And from Quora<\/a>…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hello to our ENGin Buddies!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Elders all pitched in to give you greetings from their home towns….<\/p>\n\n\n\n