Лекции по "Английскому языку"

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 1

What is the source of the following idioms? If in doubt consult your reference books.

The Trojan horse, Achilles heel, a labour of Hercules, an apple of discord, forbidden fruit, the serpent in the tree, an ugly duckling, the fifth column, to hide one's head in the sand.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 2

Substitute phraseological units with the noun "heart" for the italicized words. What is the difference between the two sentences?

1. He is not a man who shows his feelings openly. 2. She may seem cold but she has true, kind feelings. 3.1 learned that piece of poetry by memory. 4. When I think about my examination tomorrow I feel in despair. 5. When I heard that strange cry in the darkness I was terribly afraid. 6. It was the job I liked very much. 7. I didn't win the prize but I'm not discouraged.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 3

Show that you understand the meaning of the following phraseological units by using each of them in a sentence.

1. Between the devil and the deep sea; 2. to have one's heart in one's boots; 3. to have one's heart in the right place; 4. to wear one's heart on one's sleeve; 5. in the blues; 6. once in a blue moon; 7. to swear black is white; 8. out of the blue; 9. to talk till all is blue; 10. to talk oneself blue in the face.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 4

Substitute phraseological units incorporating the names of colours for the italicized words.

1. I'm feeling rather miserable today. 2. He spends all his time on bureaucratic routine. 3. A thing like that happens very rarely. 4. You can talk till you are tired of it but I shan't believe you. 5. The news was a great shock to me. It came quite unexpectedly. 6. I won't believe it unless I see it in writing. 7. You can never believe what he says, he will swear anything if it suits his purpose.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 5

Read the following jokes. Why do little children often misunderstand phraseological units? Explain how the misunderstanding arises in each case.

1."Now, my little boys and girls," said the teacher. "I want you to be very still — so still that you can hear a pin drop." For a minute all was still, and then a little boy shrieked out: "Let her drop." 2. "You must be pretty strong," said Willie, aged six to the young widow who had come to call on his mother. "Strong? What makes you think so?" "Daddy said you can wrap any man in town around your little finger." 3.Tоm: What would you do if you were in my shoes? Tim: Polish them! 4. Little Girl: Oh, Mr. Sprawler, do put on your skates and show me the funny figures you can make. Mr. Sprawler: My dear child, I'm only a beginner. I can't make any figures. Little Girl: But Mother said you were skating yesterday and cut a ridiculous figure.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 6

Read the following jokes. Explain why the italicized groups of words are not phraseological units.

Warning

The little boy whose father was absorbed in reading a newspaper on the bench in the city park, exclaimed: "Daddy, look, a plane!" His father, still reading the paper, said: "All right, but don't touch it."

Great Discovery

A scientist rushed into the ops room of the space mission control centre: "You know that new gigantic computer which was to be the brain of the project? We have just made a great discovery!" "What discovery?" "It doesn't work!"

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 7

Explain whether the semantic changes in the following phraseological units are complete or partial. Paraphrase them.

To wear one's heart on one's sleeve; a wolf in a sheep's clothing; to fly into a temper; to stick to one's word; bosom friend; small talk; to cast pearls before swine; to beat about the bush; to add fuel to the fire; to fall ill; to fall in love; to sail under false colours; to be at sea.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 8

Say what structural variations are possible in the following phraseological units. If in doubt, consult the dictionaries.

To catch at a straw; a big bug; the last drop; to build a castle in the air; to weather the storm; to get the upper hand; to run for one's life; to do wonders; to run a risk; just the other way about.

 

 

 

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 9

Read the following jokes. Identify the phraseological units using the two major criteria: structural and semantic. What are the jokes based on?

1. He: Don't you hate people who talk behind your back? She: Yes, especially at the movies. 2. "I'd hate to be in your shoes," said a woman yesterday, as she was quarrelling with a neighbour. "You couldn't get in them," sarcastically remarked the neighbour. 3. Herbert: Arthur hasn't been out one night for three weeks. Flora: Has he turned over a new leaf? Herbert: No, he's turned over a new car. 4. Motorist: How far is it to the next town? Native: Nigh to five miles as the crow flies. Motorist: Well, how far is it if a damned crow has to walk and carry an empty gasoline can? 5. "So, she turned you down, eh?" "Yes, I made the mistake of confessing that my heart was in my mouth when I proposed." "What has it to do with it?" "Oh, she said she couldn't think of marrying a man whose heart wasn't in the right place."

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 10

Read the following proverbs. Give their Russian equivalents or explain their meanings.

A bargain is a bargain. A cat in gloves catches no mice. Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. A good beginning is half the battle. A new broom sweeps clean. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. It never rains but it pours. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Make hay while the sun shines.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 11

Give the English equivalents for the following Russian proverbs.

Нет худа без добра. В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше. С глаз долой, из сердца вон. Дуракам закон не писан. Он пороху не выдумает. Слезами горю не поможешь. Поспешишь — людей насмешишь. Взялся за гуж, не говори, что не дюж.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 12

Give the proverbs from which the following phraseological units have developed.

Birds of a feather; to catch at a straw; to put all one's eggs in one basket; to cast pearls before swine; the first blow; a bird in the bush; to cry over spilt milk; the last straw.

 

PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT 13

Read the following joke. What proverb is paraphrased in it?

Dull and morose people, says a medical writer, seldom resist disease as easily as those with cheerful disposition. The surly bird catches the germ.