Let's continue the topic of idioms and talk about the features of their translation. Then I will be offered, along with a translation into Russian, popular idioms of English language, to know which is useful in our modern life. I hope they will undoubtedly add “colors” to your English speech.

The style of idioms and features of their translation

Idioms are a feature of every language, they represent a very interesting category of stable word combinations that often have semantic meanings completely different from the meanings of the words of which they are composed.

The same idea in different languages expressed through a verbal formulation chosen according to the "ideas" that have developed among the people who speak this language. And although each nation has its own approach to understanding those life situations that any person encounters, regardless of where he lives; nevertheless, some semantic commonality of reasoning is found among all peoples.

The search for semantic commonality in translation

I lead to the fact that translations of idioms, in essence, as well as translations of proverbs, sayings from one language to another, often represent only finding expressions that are close in meaning.

For example, English: what an idiom:

• as good as gold - Russian translation: "like silk."

There is only one meaning, the behavior of someone is implied, that is: obedient, complaisant. But the comparisons are completely different.

I don’t think if we say the following words to a Russian speaker, he will correctly interpret the meaning:

“Your grandson has been as good as gold all week.

Say, guess? So here's another example for you:

• go against the grain ( literal translation: go against the grain) - Russian equivalent: to contradict someone's principles.

I don’t think it’s so easy to guess what the true meaning of this idiom is by literally translating it.

• You have to refuse, if this idea goes against the grain. “You must refuse if this idea is contrary to your principles.

There are some idioms in English that have no analogues in Russian, and when translating them, we simply indicate their semantic meanings:

At sixes and sevens - “sixes”, “sevens”, can you imagine what that could mean? And that means being confused; when we talk about things, we mean it: to be in a mess.
Example:

• I was at sixes and sevens after his words. — I was confused after his words.

Of course, there are some English idioms, which we translate literally and get Russian idioms. That is, there are identical idiomatic expressions in both languages. If they were all like this, it would undoubtedly simplify the task of translating them, but it is not.

Here are examples of completely similar idioms in English and Russian:

• At the ends of the earth- on the edge of the earth
• Heel of Achilles - Achilles' heel
• Read somebody's mind - read other people's thoughts
• Follow in somebody's footsteps - follow in the footsteps of someone
• Fortune smiles on / upon somebody - fate smiles at someone

Maybe we can do without them?

You can say: why do I need to know some proverbs, if the minimum vocabulary and the rules that I know are enough for me to communicate. But believe me, to speak today without such words and phrases is to deaden the language, to make it uninteresting. It's like watching a black and white movie instead of a color one. It's not for nothing that all these local stylistic features colloquial speech is called the coloring of the language.

Imagine another case. You went to visit somewhere in America: maybe school curriculum maybe wanting to earn money, in general, the reasons may be different. At the same time, you seem to be not a “teapot” in English, and even a dictionary with colloquial slang is with you. But after a while, you are surprised to see that you do not understand half of what they say to you, you cannot participate in the dialogues. People around you are laughing at jokes, and you can only smile forcedly. Do you think that someone would like to communicate with you?

And the reason is not that you don’t know the language, but that your ear “stumbles” over a few unfamiliar words every time. I repeat, just a few, but this sometimes makes the whole conversation incomprehensible. Idiom in English speech not so much is used in everyday life, although there are many idioms themselves. Therefore, I think it is not so difficult to remember them in order to make full participants in your speech.

To better remember an idiom, you need to understand its meaning, which often seems ridiculous. To understand the meaning, it is good to know the history of certain idioms. Remember the story of the cat rain? By the way, there is another version (village) of its origin, in addition to scary stories about the cesspool. In the old days, houses in the villages were covered with straw, and this attracted local cats and kitties: they preferred to sleep on soft, fragrant beds. And frequent in

In England, heavy rains washed away unfortunate cats right on the heads of citizens.

But the idiom "To face the music" about retribution for their actions, we also talked about it last time. Oddly enough, she has a "military" origin. British soldiers were judged for misdeeds on the parade ground, and they, listening to the verdict, faced not only the formation, but also the orchestra, which beat out the drum roll. Sad, in short, was this music.

By the way, this English idiom is very consonant with our relatively recent turn of phrase “face about the table”, and it is similar in meaning.

English idioms (50 words)

It's time to start learning new idioms. The following 50 idioms, once learned, will surely make your English more expressive!

• As easy as pie- lighter than lung
• The acid test- serious challenge
• All sixes- it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter
• around the clock– around the clock
• All of a sudden- like a bolt from the blue
• Another cup of tea- a completely different matter
• have been around- to see a lot, not to be born yesterday
• Buy some time- to delay the decisive moment, to gain time
• The battle of books- scholarly controversy
• Behind closed doors behind closed doors, secretly
• To call somebody/something in/into question- question
• To carry the can- to be extreme, to be guilty without guilt
• Call the shots- be your own master, dispose of (everything)
• Clean as a whistle- clear as glass
• Have a close call- be on the verge of death, tragedy
• Crunch time- very stressful time
• cry wolf- false alarm
• deep six- get rid of something
• A dirty look- angry, displeased look
• Done with mirrors- swindle
• Down at heel- shabby; sloppily dressed
• Draw the line- put a dot
• driving force — driving force; motive
• eye candy- pleasing to the eye
• Have / get egg on one's face - disgrace
• Eat one's words- take back the words
• Eat crow- repent, blame
• A eager beaver hard worker, overzealous worker, zealous worker
• A fair field and no favor- game / fight on equal terms
• For old times sake- in memory of past years, in the name of the past, out of old friendship
• From cradle to grave- from birth to death; all life
• Friends in high places- connections, profitable acquaintances
• Full as a trick- eat to the bone
• Foul play- unfair play
• Have the gift of the gab- have a good tongue, be able to speak eloquently
• green old age- vigorous old age, blooming old age
• half-and-half- so-so; neither this nor that
• Hobson's choice- choice without choice; unopposed choice
• An Indian summer- Indian summer, golden autumn
• in hot water- in trouble, in a difficult situation
• Ill at ease- not at ease
• In no time- in the blink of an eye
• jump for joy- jump for joy
• To keep to oneself- avoid people, be unsociable
• lame duck- unfortunate, unlucky
• Live it up- good fun
• Newblood- fresh forces, help
• Pie in the sky - empty dreams
• strong language- strong words
• take heart- do not lose heart, take courage, gather courage, be bolder

Good luck! And see you again and share the article with your friends.

1) be able to do smth.

I "m not up to such hard work in this hot weather. - I am not able to perform such difficult tasks in such heat.

Mother hasn "t been up to much recently, while her leg was bad. - Mom could do little recent times because her leg hurt.

I "m not up to going out tonight, I have a headache. - I'm not going anywhere tonight, my head hurts.

2) to do (usually something bad)

I "d better go into the children" s room and see what they "re up to. - I'd better go to the nursery and see what they are doing there.

That boy "s been up to no good, I can tell from the look on his face. - This young man does not at all suffer from good behavior, I can tell about it at first sight.

3) meet (standard)

Your latest effort isn't up to much. - Your last attempt was unsuccessful.

Your recent work has not been up to your usual standard. You did your last task worse than usual.

The new film is not up to his last one. — His new film is not as good as the previous one.

4) depend on smb.

It "s up to you to keep the boy out of trouble. - It is in your power to protect the boy from trouble.

5) know about smth. (secret)

Don "t worry, I" m up to all his little tricks. Don't worry, I know about all his tricks.

English-Russian dictionary of general lexicon. English-Russian dictionary in general vocabulary. 2005