Chapter 10. Borrowed phraseological units the Bible is the most important literary source of phraseological units

CHAPTER 10. BORROWED PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS

The Bible is the most important literary source of phraseological units.

“The tremendous influence that translations of the Bible had on the English language was also mentioned much was written; for centuries the Bible was the most widely read and quoted in England a book; not only individual words, but also whole idiomatic expressions (often literal translations of Hebrew and Greek idioms) entered the English language from the pages of the Bible. Number biblical phrases and expressions that have entered the English language are so great that to collect and listing them would be a very difficult task" [Smith, 1959, p. 110 - 111]

Biblical phraseological units are completely assimilated borrowings.

Here are a few examples of widespread biblical expressions. Bible Equivalents some of these turns are used in Russian: at the eleventh hour - at the last minute, at the very last moment; beat swords into plow-shares - reforge swords into plowshares, go to peaceful labor; can the leopard change his spots? - "can it leopard to change his spotted skin?" (cf. humpbacked grave will fix it); cast pearls before swine - cast pearls before swine; filthy lucre - despicable metal, money; in the twinkling of an eye the blink of an eye; new wine in old bottles - new wine in old bottles, new content in the old form; the olive branch - an olive branch (a symbol of peace and tranquility); the root of all evil - the root of evil; to sow the wind and reap the whirlwind - sow the wind and reap the whirlwind; a wolf in sheep's clothing - wolf in sheep's clothing skin, etc.

Phraseological units of biblical origin and their biblical prototypes

Phraseologisms of biblical origin often diverge in many respects from their biblical prototypes. This complex and unexplored issue requires special consideration and goes beyond books. The textbook outlines only the main types of such discrepancies.

1. The Biblical prototype is used literally. The corresponding phraseology

created as a result of rethinking it.Turnover kill the fatted calf in the parable of the prodigal son is used in the literal sense of "slaughter well-fed calf." Later, this turnover took on a new meaning to treat the best that is at home.
A millstone about smb.'s neck - a heavy responsibility, a stone around the neck. Turnover goes back to biblical text that has a literal meaning. Phraseologism is often used with verbs hang and have. The word about can be replaced by the word (a)round.

2. A variant of the biblical prototype becomes a phraseological unit. . So, for example, the turnover live on the fat of the land - to live in luxury, to live in clover (cf. to ride like cheese in butter) supplanted the biblical prototype eat the fat of the land, which did not enter into general use.

3. Changing the form of figurative biblical turnover.

Phraseologism a drop in the bucket - a drop in the ocean is a modified biblical expression: Behold the nations as a drop of a bucket...
In PU gall and wormwood - something hateful, hateful (cf. a sharp knife) the word order is changed compared with the biblical prototype and the articles (the wormwood and the gall) are dropped.
Some biblical idioms are modernized and archaic forms are discarded, for example: not to let one's left hand know what one's right hand does - the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. When thou doest alms let not your left hand know what your right hand doeseth you do charity, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
In the Bible, turnover is used in a positive sense. In modern language, it is reinterpreted and is a phraseological unit with a negative evaluation.

4. The components of a phraseological unit are used in the Bible in their literal meanings, but not form variable combinations.

Phraseologism loaves and fishes means earthly goods. Loaves - loaves and fishes - fish are consumed in the gospel tradition about how Christ fed hundreds of people with five loaves and two fish, gathered to listen to him. The Bible uses the word loaves and the word fishes, but not the phrase
loaves and fishes. The closest approximation to this phrase is found in the text of the Bible: There is a lad here, which has five barley loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many?

5. Some phraseological units go back to the biblical story, in which only one component is mentioned phraseologism. For example, the expression a doubting Thomas - Thomas is unfaithful (or unbelieving) arose from the gospel legend about how one of the apostles, Thomas, when he was told about the resurrection crucified Christ, did not believe it. The turnover of forbidden fruit goes back to the biblical story - forbidden fruit and the proverb forbidden fruit is sweet (or sweetest) - the forbidden fruit is sweet. FE a fly in the ointment = 'A fly in the ointment is based on the following biblical allegory: Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

The expression the massacre (or slaughter) of the innocents - the beating of babies comes from the gospel story about the killing of all babies in Bethlehem by order of the Jewish king Herod, when he learned from the Magi about the birth of Jesus, whom they called the king of the Jews. The gospel story is contains no FE components.

6. Creation of a phraseological unit as a result of a play on words.

PU the land of Nod - the kingdom of sleep arose as a result of a pun based on the same the sound of the English words nod - slumber and Nod - the name of the biblical land of Nod, where he was exiled Cain after killing Abel. Expression created by Swift: go into the land of Nod - go to sleep ("Polite Conversation").
The source of several phraseological units is the prayer book ("The Book of Common Prayer"): for better or for worse - for joy and sorrow, for happiness and misfortune (the expression is taken from the church service at
marriage ceremony); from the bottom of one's heart - from the bottom of my heart, from the bottom of my heart; world, the flesh and the devil (book) - desire for pleasure, sensual pleasures, vicious inclinations.

Variation of phraseological units of biblical origin

Phraseologisms of biblical origin are not frozen quotations that do not allow no changes. In modern English, many of them are overgrown with variants, undergo various types of renewal, derivatives can be formed from them.
Below are a few examples of similar phraseological units of biblical origin. In brackets options are listed: cast in (or throw in) one's lot with smb. - connect your fate with someone; proclaim (cry or shout) from (or upon) the housetops - announce publicly, divulge at all intersections; a drop in thebucket (or ocean) - a drop in the ocean, etc.

Change of emotional coloring and updating of biblicalisms.

Previously, an example was given of the change in the emotional coloring of biblical not to let one's left hand know what one's right hand does. But in this Biblicalism archaic forms are modernized. It is possible to change the emotional coloring of biblicalism without changing its form. Turnover filthy lucre - despicable metal is used in modern English, as well as in Russian, ironically or playfully, and in the Bible this turnover has a negative connotation.
Phraseological uses secondary from various languages
1. A large number of English phraseological units are associated with ancient mythology, lovers and
literature. Many of these phraseological units are international in nature, as there are
in the environment of languages.
They go back to ancient mythology, for example, with the possibility of turns: Achilles' heel (or heel
Achilles - Achilles' heel; apple of discord - apple of discord; Augean stables - Augean stables;
golden age-golden age (the expression is first found in the Greek poet Hesiod in the poem "Works
and days "in the description of the age of Saturn, when people lived, they happen to the gods, without worries, strife, wars and heavy
forced labor); a labor of Hercules (the labors of Hercules) (also a Herculean labor or Herculean
labors) - Herculean labor; a labor of Sisyphus (also A Sisyphean labor) - Sisyphean labor; Lares and Penates
(book) - lares and penates, something that creates comfort, home (lares and penates in ancient Roman
mythology - patron gods of the hearth); the thread of Ariadne (book) - Ariadne's thread,
a guiding thread, a way to help get out of a predicament (daughter of the Cretan king
Ariadne, having given the Greek hero Theseus a ball of thread, helped him get out of the labyrinth).
The expressions associated with the Homeric poems "Iliad" and "Odyssey": between Scylla and Charybdis
- between Scylla and Charybdis, in a hopeless situation; Homeric laughter - Homeric laughter
(the turn is connected with the description by Homer of the laughter of the gods); on the knees of the Gods - only God knows;
Penelope's web - "Penelope's plans", delay tactics; winged words - winged words.
In the Iliad by Homer and later in the Aeneid by Virgil, the courage of the defenders of Troy is sung
From here
expression like a Trojan - courageously, valiantly, heroically. Another expression related to
The Trojan War is the Trojan Horse - a Trojan horse, a hidden danger.
In his book, L.P. Smith gives a number of expressions related to ancient Greek and ancient Roman
literature, and in many cases indicates the authors of these expressions. Below are a few
the most common revolutions with some additions
Taken from Greek history and legends appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober - to ask someone. about
reconsidering a rash decision he made; the Gordian knot - Gordian knot, tangled plexus of various circumstances (often cut the Gordian knot or cut the knot) - cut (Gordian) knot, resolve difficulties in a violent, straightforward way. The expression the unwritten law - the unwritten law belongs to the Athenian legislator Solon. From the philosophical works of Plato come the expressions hand on the torch (book) – transmit beacon of knowledge, wisdom; Platonic love - platonic love. Expression beg the question (book) - start with the conclusion you want, and not with evidence belongs to Aristotle.
The answer of the great mathematician of antiquity Euclid to the Egyptian king Ptolemy Philadelphus,
who wished to quickly learn geometry, came to the present in the form of an expression there is no royal
road to geometry * - "there is no easy way to geometry".
A number of expressions go back to Aesop's fables and other Greek ones. fairy tales and fables: blow hot and cold -
hesitate, do mutually exclusive things, take an ambivalent position (in one of the fables
Aesop, the traveler simultaneously blew on his fingers to warm them and on the soup to cool them.
his); kill the goose that laid (or lays) the golden eggs - kill the goose that lays the golden eggs; cry wolf too
often (also cry wolf) - to raise a false alarm (from the fable of a shepherd who amused himself by
deceived people by shouting “Wolf! Wolf!"); the lion's share - the lion's share; sour grapes - green grapes (oh
smth. unattainable and therefore condemned); cherish (nourish or warm) a viper in one's bosom -
warm the snake on the chest; an ass in a lion's skin - a donkey in a lion's skin; a fly on the wheel - man,
exaggerating his participation in some business (the expression is taken from Aesop's fable, popularized
Lafontaine in the fable "Le Coche et la Mouche" - "The stagecoach and the fly." Hence fr. la mouche du coche =
English a fly on the wheel); the mountain has brought forth a mouse - the mountain gave birth to a mouse (from Aesop's fable)
With the custom of the ancient Greeks and Romans, handing the winner of the competition a palm branch or
to crown it with a laurel wreath, turnovers are connected: bear (carry off or take) the palm - get a palm tree
championship, win and yield the palm to smb. - yield the palm to smb.,
"admit defeat"; reap (or win) one's laurels - gain laurels, achieve glory; rest on
one's laurels - rest on one's laurels
Many English phraseological units are associated with Ancient Rome. For example, a bed of roses - "a bed of
roses", a happy, serene life. (The expression is usually used in negative
sentences, for example, life is not a bed of roses - the life path is not strewn with roses **. Expression
arose in connection with the custom of the rich in ancient Rome to strew their beds with rose petals.)
The expression Caesar's wife must (or should) be above suspicion - "Caesar's wife should be above
suspicion" (Julius Caesar's words explaining why he divorced his wife Pompeia)
gave rise to the idiom Caesar's wife - a person who should be beyond suspicion (lit. "wife
Caesar").
Turnovers cross (or pass) the Rubicon - cross the Rubicon and the die is cast - "the die is cast" are associated with
campaigns of Caesar; a Lucullian banquet (or feast) - Lucull's feast, sumptuous feast (named
the ancient Roman rich man Lucullus, famous for his luxurious feasts); fiddle while Rome is burning -
to have fun during a national disaster (the Roman emperor Nero, known for his cruelty,
played the kefar and composed poetry, watching Rome burn, set on fire by his order); be (or turn)
thumbs down (on) - be against, prohibit, boycott and be (or turn) thumbs up (on) - be for
(someone or something), encourage (the fate of the defeated gladiator was decided by the movement of the emperor’s hand:
thumb down - death, thumb up - life)

Some phraseological units go back to the works of ancient Roman writers: a snake in the grass -

snake, treacherous, hidden enemy (lat. latet anguis in herba - a snake lurks in the grass -
Virgil); the golden mean - the golden mean (Latin aurea mediocritas - Horace); the sinews of war
(bookish) - money, material resources (necessary for waging war) (lat. nervi belli pecunia -
Cicero).
Many English phraseological units, as the following presentation will show, are borrowed from
Latin through French. But there are also phraseological units borrowed directly from
from Latin, bypassing French This is proved by the fact that these expressions are not used
in French: anger is a short madness- "anger is short-lived madness" (lat. ira furor brevis est
Horace); forewarned, forearmed - "warned in advance - armed in advance, who
warned - armed "(lat. praemonitus, praemunitus); Homer sometimes nods-everyone can
make a mistake; ← For every wise man, simplicity is enough (lat. indignor, quandoque bonus dormitat
Homerus - "I feel annoyed every time dear Homer dozes off (i.e. makes a mistake in something)" -
Horace); like cures like ← they knock out a wedge with a wedge; the more you hurt yourself, the more you heal (lat. similia similibus
curantur)
one fool makes many - stupidity is contagious (lat. unius, dementia dementes efficit multos); at (or on)
the Greek calends (or kalends) (iron.) - "before the Greek calends", never (lat. ad calendas (or kalendas)
Graecas. Kalends - the first day of the month for the Romans. The Greeks did not count time by calends.).
In some cases, the form of a borrowed English phraseological unit is closer to Latin
prototype than to the corresponding French phraseological unit of Latin origin. It can also serve as evidence of direct borrowing from the Latin language. So,
English turnover no simile runs on all fours - comparisons are always relative, not a single comparison
is completely accurate much closer to the Latin prototype nullum simile quatuor pedibus
currit than to the French turnover toute comparaison cloche - "any comparison is lame". This
also true for the proverb do in Rome as the Romans do or when at Rome do as the Romans
do ← they don’t go to a foreign monastery with their own charter (cf. Latin si fueris Romae Romano vivito more - if
If you are in Rome, then live like the Romans and French. il faut vivre a Rome comme a Rome).
2. Phraseological borrowings from the French language: after us the deluge- after us, even a flood
(Fr. apres nous Ie deluge; words attributed, according to various versions, to Louis XV or his
mistress of the Marquise de Pompadour); appetite comes with eating - appetite comes with eating (fr.
rappetit vient en mangeant; the expression is first found in the essay "On the Causes" (1515) by Jerome
d'Angers, bishop of the city of Le Mans; popularized by François Rabelais in "Gargantua"); Buridan's ass-
buridan donkey (about a person who decides to make a choice between two equivalent objects,
equivalent decisions, etc.) (fr. I'ane de Buridan. To the 14th-century French philosopher Buridan
a story is attributed to a donkey who died of hunger, as he did not dare to make a choice between two
identical bales of hay. This story was allegedly given by Buridan as an example in
arguments about free will. The phrase an ass (or a donkey) between two goes back to the same story