2.4 Handling of Idioms /

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2.4 Handling of Idioms / hard nut to crack

• The interpreting of idioms is always difficult.
  Our mother tongue, the Chinese language, is
  particularly rich in idioms. So is English.
  Idioms are usually forcible, terse and vivid. The
  same meaning could of course be set forth in some
  other ways, but not with equal force and
  terseness. This feature of idioms makes it
  difficult to translateand all the more
  difficult to interpretinto a different language
  off-hand. ( ?pressing, limited time ?lack of
  cultural and cross-cultural knowledge.)
  Metaphorical meaning and certain kinds of
  invariableness are related to

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• each other. This can be seen in two well-known
  phrases, (1) give up the ghost and (2) spill the
  beans. The meanings are (1) to die and (2) to
  reveal something make something known. These
  meanings are quite different from the literal
  meanings of the words in the phrases. The man
  gave up the ghostthe man died. He spilt the
  beans (revealed the secret) over my plans to
  find a new job. But practice has led us to
  believe that we can present an adequate rendition
  of an idiom (either C-E or E-C) provided we
  manage to get an accurate comprehension of the
  meaning or implication and, on this basis, put
  across the idea or meaning properly in the light
  of the context.

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2.4.1. Definition of Idioms and Their Scope/Range

• An idiom can be defined as a group of words
  with a meaning different from the combined
  meanings of its component words. It is a
  combination of two or more words which are
  usually structurally fixed and semantically hard
  to understand, and function as a single unit of
  meaning. And idioms can be understood both in a
  broad sense and in a narrow sense. In the narrow
  sense, they refer to the set phrases or clauses
  used in a language. Broadly speaking, they
  comprise all the idiomatic and special
  expressions in that language, namely, all the set

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• phrases, colloquialisms, proverbs, slang and
  clichés in English, and all the four-character
  set phrases(??), common sayings(??), proverbs,
  and two-part allegorical sayings(???)(of which
  the first part is descriptive and the second part
  carries the meaning) in Chinese. For example,
  red tape is an English idiom which means
  official rules and procedures that seem
  unnecessary and cause delay. Thus one can hardly
  guess its meaning from the individual words that
  form it, for these words have already lost their
  original meaning.

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2.4.2. Ways to Handle Idioms

• 1. Borrowing or Idiom for idiom

As we mentioned previously, both Chinese and
English abound in idioms. Some idioms in one
language contain images, descriptions and
meanings almost identical to idioms in the
language. This is because certain natural and
human experiences are shared by the whole mankind
wherever they live. There are also idioms that
express the same meaning though they dont have
identical metaphors or images.
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• In both cases, we might as well borrow them
  directly from the target language so as to retain
  their vividness and achieve equivalence in
• effect. For example
• Where theres a will, theres a way.???????
• Strike while the iron is hot. Make hay while the
  sun is out.?????
• All good things must come to an end.??????????
• A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.???,????
• To kill the goose that lays golden eggs.?????

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• ?????To kill two birds with one stone.
• ??????Look before you leap.
• ??????There is no smoke without fire.
• ????,?????Man proposes, God disposes.
• ?????Constant dripping wears the stone.
• ?????Practice makes perfect.
• ?????/ ??????? /??????God helps those who help
  themselves.

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• 2. Literal Translation

Literal translation means word-for-word
rendition, bringing the whole image into the
target language. This approach is used when the
image contained in an idiom can be easily
understood by the speakers of the target
language. This is also an effective way to
introduce some images in the Chinese language to
the English readers.
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• ?????,??????Therell never be a shortage of
  firewood as long as green hills remain as long
  as green mountains are there, one need not worry
  about firewoodWhile there is life, there is
  hope.
• ?????As easy as turning over ones hand/palm
  childs play, a piece of cake.
• ?????,??????A bosom friend afar brings a distant
  land near a bosom friend afar makes the world
  smaller long distance separates no bosom
  friends.
• ????????A gentleman uses his tongue, but his
  fists.
• ????,?????A thousand-li journey is started by
  taking the first step.

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• ???????,????????Good medicine is bitter in the
  mouth, but good for the disease.
• ????,?????Listen to both sides and you will be
  enlightened heed only one side and you will be
  benighted.
• ?????Blood is thicker than water.
• ????????Like a whirlwind scattering wisps of
  cloud.
• ?????????Youre like a toad trying to swallow a
  swan!
• ???????,????????Stealthily as stray dogs, swiftly
  as fish escaping from the net.
• ?????????Even the cleverest housewife cannot make
  a meal without rice.

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• 3. Free Translation or Paraphrasing

Some idioms which exhibit strong national
characteristics can neither be handled by
borrowing idioms from the target language nor
translated literally because it would cause
misunderstanding or could not be easily accepted
by native speakers of the other language. In this
case, it is necessary to resort to free
translation, or paraphrasing. For example
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• ?????,???????to be going from bad to worse to be
  deteriorating.
• ????? to be snubbed to meet with a rebuff to be
  rejected.
• ????????? to know practically nothing about
• ?????,??????A stepmother is always cruel.
• ???? talk comfortably at the same table
• ???? homely
• ????,??????Whats done is done, and cannot be
  undone.
• ????????Frankly speaking Lets not mince
  matters. Lets speak frankly.

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• Youd better do the interpreting according
  to the psychology of the English people, adopt
  some similar ways to express its meaning and
  change the image and the metaphoric meaning in
  the original language. For example
• ???? like a donkey in lions skin cf. a wolf in
  sheeps skin
• ???? he looked every inch a king
• ?????,?(??)?????Three cobblers with their wits
  combined equal/surpass Zhuge Liang the master
  mind Two heads are better than one.
• ???????,???????,????????One boy is a boy, two
  boys half a boy, three boys no boy Everyones
  business is nobodys business.

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2.4.3 Practical Advice for Handling Idioms

• 1. Render the meaning, not mere words in the
  light of the context.

???????70????,?????,?????????The seventy years
history of the PLA is a history of its growth in
size and strength. (But not from weak to strong
and from small to large.) ?????,???????????? Do
nt argue with him. He has already got one foot
in the grave. ?????????????????? It was a long
time before someone broke the ice at the meeting.
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• 2. Distinguish the commendatory term from the
  derogatory term.

This is also an important rule. Abiding by
this rule we cannot be far wrong in interpreting,
nor would we commit the mistake of reversal of
sense. A commendatory term is one that
essentially carries the quality of being good and
commendable and express praise and approval.
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• ???? not to be subdued by forceUnyielding and
  united as one, the Egyptian people have
  safeguarded their independence and sovereignty.
• ???? to work ones heart out to shed ones
  hearts blood
• A derogatory term is one that tends to take
  away the good and commendable quality and serves
  to belittle someone or something that the term is
  applied to.
• ???? to forget oneself to get swollen-headed
• ???? as cowardly as a mouse as timid as a hare.

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• 3. Do not misuse foreign idioms in interpreting

• We should avoid using seemingly identical
  but actually erroneous idioms in interpreting.
  (false
• friend)
• ???????!You cant break your promise.
• ? You cant eat your words.(????????)
• ???????!You shouldnt pull his leg! You should
  not stand in his way. You should not
• prevent him from going.
• You are pulling my leg. ??????

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??????????????,????????,?????????????????????
??????????,?????(false friend) Pull sbs leg
?????
??????,????? to
play tricks on sb./make fun of sb. Move heaven
and earth ?????
?????,????
try ones best to/try every oceans
leave no stone
unturned Childs play ???
??????,?????
a piece of cake
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• Eat ones words ???
  ?????????
• Dog-eat-dog ????
  ?????,??????
• Laugh ones head off ?????
  ?????,????
• Make ones hair stand on end
• 
  ?????/????
  ?????

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• ????????(????)
• The girls were all smiles on hearing the good
  news.
• ????????????????(????,?????)
  ????(??)
• ???????????,??????????
• ??????,??????????(??)

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• 4. ????????
• ????????,??????????
• ?????????,?????? Like a ten-foot
  lampstand that shed light on
• others but none on itself.
• ????????,?????? Like two grasshoppers
  tied to one cord
• neither can get away.
• ?????,?????? Like the dumb man eating the
  bitter herb, he
• had to suffer the bitterness of it in silence.

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• ????????,???????????????????,?????????????,???????
  ?????
• ????????? Were all birds of a feather
  all slaves.
• ?????,??????! A dog given a bone who
  doesnt come back
• for more.
• ???????,????? It was as if the sword of
  Damocles hung over (sb.s head).

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• ??????????????,,??????????????,???????????????,
  ?????
• ????,????? Each of us shows his true
  worth.
• ??????????,??????????,???????????????????
• ????????? Hes still after my blood.
• ??????????? Lets wait and see what.
• ?????????? I dont know the first
  thing.

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• ??????????
• ?????,???(?)Only I feel bad when we lose every
  fight.
• ??????????
• The weasel goes to pay his respects to the hen
  not with the best of intentions.
• (When the fox preaches, take care of your geese.)
• Three cobblers wits combined surpass Zhuge Liang
  the mastermind.

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• ????????
• ???????????,????????????????,?????????????,?
  ????????,???????????????????????????????????(???
  ?)??????,?????????(??????????????????????????)????
  ??????????????????,????????????????,????????

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• Some collected examples
• ?????
• ??? The iron rice bowl system, under which
  employees can stay until they retire, has been
  smashed and the contractual employment system
  established. Under this system, employees can be
  fired if they cannot perform well. (permanent job
  once assigned)
• ??? The iron chair system,, under which a
  managers position was secure after promotion,
  has been also abolished. Officials will be
  dismissed if their business record is bad.

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• ????/?????(from the source language or vice
  versa)
• ??????(?)? back in the old rut
• ???? kill two birds with one stone
• ???,??? talk of the devil and he will
  appear
• ????????? Rome is not built in one day.
• ???,??? Easy come, easy go
• ???? Strike while the iron is hot.
  Make hay while the sun shines.
• ???? Practice makes perfect.
• ?????? Actions speak louder than words.

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• ?????? Example is better precept.
• ???? spend money like water
• ???? burn ones boats/bridges (????)
• ???? When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
• ???? The early bird gets/ catches the worm.
• ????/?? First come, first served (Cf First come,
  last served)
• ???? a black sheep
• ????????? a dark horse
• ????,???? Birds of a feature flock together.

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• ?????? Its an ill-bird that fouls its own nest.
• ???? Its a long lane that has no turning.
• ????,???? Its never too late to mend
• ???? He cannot see beyond his nose.
• ??????/???? Big thunder, little rain.
• ????/????to paint/gild the lily
  carry coals to Newcastle
• ????????????(??????) ???????
• ???? job-waiting youth
• ???? laid-off workers

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• ???? fairly comfortable standard of living
• ???? construct clean politics/government
• ???? seek self interests by misusing/abusing
  power abuse ones power for private gains to
  seek personal gains
• ???????? Even the cleverest housewife cant cook
  a meal without rice. ?????????Even the
  cleverest housewife cant make bread without
  flour. D. Hawks
• ?????? share each others weal and woe
• ?????? Something unexpected may happen any time.

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• ????/???? to expect ones son/daughter to become
  an outstanding personage
• ?????? a cat on hot bricks
• ?????????,??????? The dog that will fetch a bone
  will carry a bone.
• ???? we still love each other very much, but we
  fight like cat and dog.
• ???? to rain cats and dogs
• ???? swan song
• ???? leave no stone unturned

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• ????,???? Better make myself scarce.
• ???? Teach ones grandmother to suck eggs.
• ????,?????,???? You ungrateful thing! Like a dog
  that bit Lü Tung-PinYou bite the hand that
  feeds you. A Dream of Red Mansion??????
• ???????,???????,????????One boy is a boy, two
  boys half a boy, three boys no boy.Too many
  cooks spoil the broth.More hands, less work.

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• ?????????/???,???????????Being new here, Im
  very much in the dark myself.
• ????????The monks may run away but the temple
  cant run with it.
• ???????????
• ???? Tong Shih imitates Hsi Shih (Hsi Shih was a
  famous beauty in ancient Kingdom of Yueh. Tung
  Shih was an ugly girl who tried to imitate her
  way) ????

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• ??????????? Three cobblers with their wits
  combined equal ChuKeh Liang, the master mind.
• ??????? Chinas Romeo and Juliet (The Butterfly
  Lover)
• ?? Jigong, Robin Hood in China, robbed the rich
  and helped the poor
• ?????????tag phrase humorous moral points
• ????????? blow your trumpet

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• ???????????When the fox preaches, take care of
  your geese.The weasel goes to pay his respects
  to the hen not with the best of intentions.
• ????,???? Even the dog swaggers when its master
  win favor.
• ???? A blind man on a blind horse rushing
  headlong to disaster
• ??????????? You cant make your horse work
  without feeding her.
• ??????? shed crocodile tears

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• ??????????(??????????????????)
• ???????? sword of Damocles
• ???????????????? Pandoras box
• ???? meet ones waterloo
• ??????be in Burke (double-barreled names) born
  with a silver spoon in his mouth

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• ???? Life is but an empty dream Longfellow
• ????Gordian knot/thorny problem
• ????Achilles heel
• ?????gain new insights through restudying old
  materials/a look at the past will give one the
  clue to the present.