Semantic Aspect of Phraseological Units
Absolute synonyms (identical in meaning and stylistic connotations):
break one’s word = depart from one’s word; bring (drive) to the bay = drive (force) to the wall; like lightning = with lightning speed = like a streak of lightning;
Ideographic synonyms denote different shades of common meaning, e.g. to come to / arrive at / jump at / leap at a conclusion. In other cases, they differ in intensity of a given meaning:
to have two minds – to be in twenty minds; to be in one’s cups ‘tipsy’ – to be drunk as a skunk ‘drunk and incapable’;
Stylistic synonyms (appropriate only to definite contexts):
What on earth is this? – What the hell is this?
on the Greek calends – When pigs fly.
Polysemy of phraseological units:
to be on the go – 1) be energetic; 2) keep doing smth; 3) be in a hurry; 4) be drunk.
Phraseological units may contain different figures of speech.
metaphor, i.e. the transference of the name based on the association of similarity between two referents, e.g. a lame duck, in a nutshell, to swallow the pill;
simile, e.g. as old as the hills, as good as gold, as cross as two sticks;
metonymy, i.e. the transference of name based on the association f contiguity (an attribute or adjunct is substituted for the thing meant), e.g. all ears, all eyes for, cat’s paw;
hyperbole, i.e. deliberate exaggerated statement not meant to understood literally, but expressing an intensely emotional attitude, e.g. a whale of time; a drop in the ocean.
Stylistic Aspect of Phraseology
Not all phraseological units bear imagery:
clichés / stock phrases (see you later, take it easy, joking apart etc.);
some proverbs (better late than never);
some euphonic units:
- rhyme (out and about);
- alliteration (forgive and forget, now or never, safe and sound);
- repetition (little by little, inch by inch);
- with archaic words (to buy a pig in a poke).
38. Origins and sources of phraseological units.
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