Khóa luận tốt nghiệp a study of enghish idioms denoting fear with reference to the vietnamese equivalents

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BA THESIS
A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR
WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE
EQUIVALENTS
NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ THÀNH NGỮ TIẾNG ANH BIỂU
THỊ NỖI SỢ CÓ THAM CHIẾU ĐẾN NGHĨA TƯƠNG
ĐƯƠNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT

Student

: NGUYỄN THỊ ANH

Student code : 621203
Major

: ENGLISH

Supervisor

: NGUYỄN THỊ MINH TÂM M.A

Hanoi – 2021


VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BA THESIS
A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR
WITH REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE
EQUIVALENTS
NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ THÀNH NGỮ TIẾNG ANH BIỂU
THỊ NỖI SỢ CÓ THAM CHIẾU ĐẾN NGHĨA TƯƠNG
ĐƯƠNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT

Student

: NGUYỄN THỊ ANH

Student code : 621203
Major

: ENGLISH

Supervisor

: NGUYỄN THỊ MINH TÂM M.A

Hanoi – 2021


CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY
I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report
entitled A STUDY OF ENGLISH IDIOMS DENOTING FEAR WITH
REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor in English Language.

Except where the reference is indicated, no other person’s work has been used
without due acknowledgement in the text of the thesis.
Hanoi, 2021

Nguyễn Thị Anh

Approved by
SUPERVISOR

(Signature and full name)
Date:……………………

i


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who gave me the
possibility to complete this thesis.
First of all, I am deeply indebted to my beloved supervisor, MA. Nguyen
Thi Minh Tam for sharing expertise, and sincere and valuable guidance and
encouragement extended to me throughout my research. I am extremely thankful
to her for advice and suggestions right from the beginning when the thesis was
adopted.
Secondly, I take this opportunity to express gratitude to all of the Faculty of
Education and Foreign languages members at Vietnam National University of
Agriculture for their valuable teaching, help, support and enlighten my learning
path.
Thirdly, my sense of gratitude to my classmates who have taken time and
trouble to alert me to errors in my thesis and provided me with useful
suggestions which this thesis is used.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my family who have
supported and encouraged me to complete this thesis.
Due to the limited knowledge and reasoning ability of myself, there are still
many limitations and shortcomings, I hope the guidance and contribution of
lecturers and others to make my thesis more complete.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part 1: INTRODUCTION

Page

1. Rationale for the study

…1…

2. Aims and objectives of the study

…2…

3. Research questions (in form of questions)

…2…

4. Scope of the study

…3....

5. Significance of the study

…3....

6. Design of the study

…3....

Part 2: DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 1: LITERATURE REVIEW
1.1.

Review of previous studies (at home/abroad)
1.1.1. Related research 1

…5...

1.1.2. Related research 2

…6....

1.2. Review of theoretical background (depend on what the study is about)
1.2.1. Theoretical framework

…7....

1.2.2. Idioms

…7....

1.2.2.1 Definition

…7....

1.2.2.2. Classification of English idioms

…8….

1.2.2.3. Features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms

…18...

1.2.3. Human Emotions

…22...

1.2.3.1 Definition

…22...

1.2.3.2. Classification of human emotions

…23...

1.2.3.3. FEAR

…25...

1.3. Summary

…27...

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Chapter 2: METHODOLOGY
2.1. Research governing orientation

…28..

2.1.1. Research question(s)

…28..

2.1.2. Research hypothesis

…28..

2.1.3. Research types

…28..

2.1.4. Research approaches

…29..

2.1.5. Principles/ criteria for data collection and data analysis

…29..

2.2. Research methods

…30..

2.2.1. Major method(s)

…30..

2.2.2. Supporting method(s)

…30..

2.3. Summary

…30..

Chapter 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
3.1. The frequence of English idioms denoting FEAR in Dictionary of …32..
Current English – Vietnamese Idioms and their Vietnamese equivalents
3.2. The Vietnamese equivalence of English idioms denoting FEAR in …33..
Dictionary of Current English – Vietnamese Idioms
3.3. Summary

…37..

Part 3: CONCLUSION
1. Recapitulation

…38..

2. Concluding remarks

…38..

3. Limitation of the study

…39..

4. Recommendations/Suggestions for further study

…39..

REFERENCES

…40..

APPENDIX

…43..

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ABSTRACT
English idioms are an important part of everyday English. They appears all
the time in both written and spoken English. Because idioms don't always mean
literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with each idiom. The thesis focuses
on investigating features of idioms, including idioms denoting FEAR in
Dictionary of Current English – Vietnamese Idioms and their Vietnamese

translation versions. Using comparison and contrast method, the thesis attempts
to point out the equivalent and non-equivalent of meaning of idioms denoting
FEAR found in the selected dictionary and their Vietnamese translation. The
research results will be useful for improving English teaching and learning,
especially English idioms, as well as understand more about culture and people
of the two countries.
Therefore, the author hopes that a study on idioms in Vietnamese and
English will help an important part in teaching and learning English in general.

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LIST OF ABBREVIATION
N: noun
A: Adjective
Adv: adverb
Conj: Conjunction
PrP: Preposition
i.e.: That is
i.g.: For example
SL: Source Language
TL: Target Language

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LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
Table 1.1. List of “basic” emotions
Table 3.1. English idioms denoting Fear in Dictionary of Current EnglishVietnamese idioms and their Vienamese equivalents.

vii


PART I: INTRODUCTION
1.1. RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY
Language is an important part of everyday life, thanks to language people
can communicate with each other. Today, English is considered a global
language - Crystal (2003) found out in English as a Global Language that “A
quarter of the world’s population is already fluent or competent in English, and
this figure is steadily growing – in the early 2000s that means around 1.5 billion
people” and many learning materials, websites on the internet such as
newspapers, stories ... are also written in English. In particular, Vietnam has
been considering English as an important language in using English for teaching
in schools and universities.
Not only short-term English learners, but also long-term learners or those
who have lived in a country that English is their mother tongue for many years,
will also have difficulty understanding the meaning that native speakers want to
convey. Because native speakers not only use simple words, they also use
compound sentences, proverbs, slang , local words and idioms ... a lot into
everyday life.
Idioms are one of the basic units featured in English. They are the cultural
crystallization of a country that has been handed down in the past. If we analyze
and study them, we will not only have a deeper understanding of the cultural
uniqueness of that nation, but also have a better understanding of the vocabulary
and grammar. Therefore, many linguists have studied idioms.
While we communicate, we convey our feelings, emotions about
something. Therefore, idioms for feelings, emotions have a large amount in
English and Vietnamese idioms. One of the idioms for emotions still few people
have studied is the expression that denotes fear. So I decided to do a study called
"A

STUDY

OF

ENGLISH

IDIOMS

DENOTING

FEAR

WITH

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REFERENCE TO THE VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS" This study
characterizes the idioms in English and Vietnamese that denote fear, and then
collates them to indicate similarities and the difference in meaning when
translating between Vietnamese and English idioms in Dictionary of Current
English – Vietnamese Idioms (Thành ngữ từ điển Anh- Việt thông dụng) of Nhà
xuất bản Khoa học và Kỹ thuật in 1995) - A dictionary can be considered as a
reference for many Vietnamese to use when learning idioms.
1.2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
* Aims of the study
The aim of this thesis is to investigate similarities and differences in the
meaning of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear from
Dictionary of Current English – Vietnamese Idioms of Nhà xuất bản Khoa học

và Kỹ thuật in 1995).
* Objectives of the study
To achieve the mentioned aims above, the following objectives can be
put forward:
- Find out the features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms.
- Find out equivalents and non-equivalents in the meaning of English
idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting fear from Dictionary of Current
English – Vietnamese Idioms.
1.3. RESEACH QUESTIONS (IN FORM OF QUESTIONS)
As presented, the thesis was conducted to learn more deeply about the
equivalent and non-equivalent meanings of English idioms and Vietnamese
idioms denoting Fear. It is designed to seek answers to the following questions:
- What are the features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms?
- What are the equivalents and non-equivalents in the meaning of English
idioms and Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear from Dictionary of Current
English – Vietnamese Idioms?
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1.4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The thesis will focus on English idioms denoting fear in Dictionary of
Current English – Vietnamese Idioms (Thành ngữ từ điển Anh- Việt thông
dụng) of Nhà xuất bản Khoa học và Kỹ thuật in 1995 and compare them with
the translation of “Từ điển thành ngữ và tục ngữ Việt Nam” by Professor
Nguyễn Lân.
1.5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Through this thesis, readers will have a better understanding of the
similarities and differences in the features of the expressions of fear in English
and Vietnamese.
They will understand more about culture and people of the two countries:

England and Vietnam.
This study contributes one important part in teaching and learning English
in general.
1.6. DESIGN OF THE STUDY
Apart from abstracts, references & appendices, the study consists of three
main parts:
PART 1 - INTRODUCTION presents rationale of the study, aims and
objectives of the study, research questions, the scope as well as the significance
of the study.
PART 2 - DEVELOPMENT is divided into 3 chapters:
Chapter 1 - LITERATURE REVIEW – provides theoretical background for
the study including definition of English idioms, classification of English
idioms, features of English idioms and Vietnamese idioms, human emotions and
fear.
Chapter 2 – METHODOLOGY -describes the methodology used in the
research including research governing orientation, research methods.

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Chapter 3 - FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS - reports and discusses the
findings of the study.
PART 3 - CONCLUSION
Summarizes the main issues that have been addressed in the study.

4


PART II: DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 1: LITERATURE REVIEW

1.1. REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS STUDIES (AT HOME & ABROAD)
1.1.1. Related research 1
Nguyễn Thị Thùy studies "A contrastive analysis of idioms denoting FEAR
in English and Vietnamese". This is the study which was performed by the
Faculty of post-graduate student at Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi in
2010.
In this study, the researcher studied 103 English idioms, 103 Vietnamese
idioms from main materials are Oxford Idioms (2010), Từ Điển Thành Ngữ AnhAnh-Việt (2004), Thành Ngữ Tiếng Việt (2009), Từ Điển Thành Ngữ và Tục Ngữ
Việt Nam (2008), Từ Điển Thành Ngữ và Tục Ngữ Việt Nam (2006) and
presented the problems: Theoretical background of idioms (definition,
distinctive feature of English idioms and distinction between idioms, proverbs
and some other terms: saying, phrasal verbs, colloquialisms) and human feelings
(concepts, classifications and emotion FEAR). According to research about
structural features, English idioms denoting Fear exist in almost all the clause
patterns. In addition, Research also compares about syntactic features of
English- Vietnamese idioms denoting Fear to point out the similarities and
differences. The researcher also talk about some opinions related metaphor and
metonymy in cognitive linguistics, moreover, the researcher quoted metonymic
model of Kovecses (1990) to conceptualize Fear in English: Physical agitation,
increase in heart.....and a list of metaphor used to describe Fear in English of the
same author: Fear is a fluid a container, Fear is a vicious enemy (human or
animal)...Finally, The researcher find out the similarities and differences of
semantic features of idioms denoting FEAR between English idioms and
Vietnamese idioms. To sum up, the researcher confirmed that “Fear is an

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emotion that every human being experiences and is unavoidable the whole life.
It is common therefore the languages that express it also share the common way

of denoting its meaning. If there are any differences, it must be due to the
languages created by different cultures.”
1.1.2. Related research 2
Trần Thế Phi at the University of Viet Nam National University Ho Chi
Minh City-Social Sciences and Humanities has studied "Emotional conceptual
metaphors in Vietnamese idioms (compared with English idioms)” in 2016.
First, the researcher said the history of idioms studies and the research
situation of words expressing emotions in English and the main survey object of
the researcher were the 5 emotions: happy, sad, angry, FEAR, love. The
researcher talks about some problems of cognitive linguistics: composition,
basic foundation ... and problems related to emotions. Emotional conceptual
metaphor from the researchers Kövecses (1986, 1988, 1991, 2002, 2003, 2004,
2010); Kövecses, Palmer, ... have come to the conclusion "emotional language is
used in different cultures are largely metaphorical. "Researchers also talk about
the basics of idioms in English and Vietnamese.
In chapter 2 of the study, the researcher talks about the characteristics of
conceptual metaphors in English and Vietnamese of the five types of emotions,
happy, sad, angry, FEAR, love in conceptual metaphors such as container,
direction...
In chapter 3, the researcher investigates the use of emotional conceptual
metaphors in translating idioms from Vietnamese to English: the researcher talks
about the problems of idiom translation theory, metaphors and making proposed
translation.
1.2. REVIEW OF THEORETICAL BACKGROUND (DEPEND ON WHAT
THE STUDY IS ABOUT)

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1.2.1. Theoretical framework

Among the important approaches that look into the study of diverse idioms
definition, distinctive features of English idioms, classification of idioms,
concept of human emotions and so on. These approaches give insights into
understanding how certain English idiomatic expressions denoting FEAR with
reference to the Vietnamese equivalents could be put under an investigation.
1.2.2. Idioms
1.2.2.1 Definition
Idioms are an interesting phenomenon and are commonly used in everyday
life. Therefore, there are many scientists who have studied them and gave
definitions like:
According to Richards & Schmidt (2010), the term Idiom is defined simply
as “an expression which functions as a single unit and whose meaning cannot be
worked out from its separate parts.”
For example:

She washed her hands of the matter

means She refused to have anything more to do with the matter.
Idioms are treated as figures of speech, which are defined in the Collins
English Dictionary. Trrefry (2006) point is that “an expression such as a simile,
in which words do not have their literal meaning, but are categorized as multiword expressions that act in the text as units”.
Jonathan Crowth (1995) argument is that “an idiom is a phrase whose
meaning is difficult or sometimes impossible to guess by looking at the
individual word it contains”.
Benner (2003) claims that “two or more words together that, as a unit, have
a special meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words
separately”. These words are sometimes different in the particular meaning of
the word but they are considered to be more effective and relevant in a certain
context.
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There is also a similar definition given by Seidl and McMordie, who say
that “an idiom can be defined as a number of words which, when taken together,
have a different meaning from the individual meanings of each word” (Seidl &
McMordie,1988).
To sum up, although there are some differences in viewpoint between many
researchers and many linguists, in general idioms are often a phrase and their
meaning is not always understandable in the literal meaning of individual words.
1.2.2.2 Classification of English idioms
What characteristics should be chosen as the main criteria for an idiom
classification system?

The structural? The semantic? Those of degree of

stability? Of origin? What characteristics should be chosen as the main criteria
for an idiom classification system? The structural? The semantic? Those of
degree of stability? Of origin?
It should be clear from the previous description that idioms are a complex
phenomenon with a number of important features, which can therefore be
approached from various points of view. Therefore, there are a large number of
different classification systems designed by different scholars and based on
different principles.
A, Based on Academician Victor Vladimirovich Vinogradov
The idiom classification system designed by this prominent scholar is
considered by several language experts today for obsolete, but the value is
undoubtedly because it is the first classification system based on semantic
principles.
Vinogradov’s classification is based upon the motivation of the unit, i.e. the
meaning of the whole and the meaning of its component parts” (Arnold, 1986,

170). “The more distant the meaning of (...) [an idiom] from the current meaning
of its constituent parts, the greater is its degree of semantic cohesion [and the
lesser its degree of motivation]” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 189).
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Vinogradov (1977, 124) pointing out three types of idioms, namely
phraseological fusions, phraseological unities and phraseological combinations.
1/ Phraseological fusions: “are word-groups with a completely changed
meaning but, in contrast to the unities, they are demotivated, that is, their
meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of the constituent parts (...)”
(Antrushina et al, 1985, 247). The metaphor, on which the change of meaning is
based,, has lost its clarity and is unclear.
For instances:+ At sixes and sevens (in confusion or in disagreement)
+ Once in a blue moon (very seldom)
+ Cried for the moon (to demand unreal)
+ To come a cropper (to come to disaster)
+ To leave smb. in the lurch (to abandon a friend when he is in
trouble)
+ To show the white feather (to betrayone's cowardice)
+ Under the rose (quietly)
+ To dance attendance on smb. (to try and please or attract smb.;
to show exaggerated attention to smb.)
+ Kick the bucket (die)
+ Heavy father (serious or solemn part in a theatrical play)
+ Spill the beans (reveal a secreat)
+ Chew the rag (talk about events, affairs,...,in a complaining
way)
2/ Phraseological unities: “are word-groups with a completely changed
meaning , that is, the meaning of the unit does not correspond to the meanings of

its constituent parts. ” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 189). But different from fusion,
Vinogradov recognizes this is a partially motivated type, whose meaning can be
seen as a metaphorical extension of some original neutral meanings. In other
words, it means that it can usually be recognized through the metaphorically and
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the metonymy denotation. In addition,the metaphor, on which the change of
meaning is based, is clear and transparent.
For example:
+ To stick to one's guns ( to be true to one's views or convictions. The
image is that of a gunner or guncrew who do not desert their guns even if a
battle seems lost)
+ To play the first fiddle (to be a leader in something)
+ Old salt (experienced sailor)
+ To get on one’s nerves (to irritate)
+ Be at daggers drawn (if two people are at daggers drawn,
they are extremely angry with each other)
+ To wash one’s dirty linen in public (make one’s quarrels public)
+ A snake in the grass (a person with harmful intensions)
+ To catch/clutch at a straw/straws (when in extreme danger,avail
oneself of even the slightest chance of rescue)
+ To lose one's head (to be at a loss what to do; to be out of one's
mind)
+ To lose one's heart to smb. (to fall in love)
+ Blow off/ let off steam (give free expression to one’s feelings)
+ Show one’s teeth (take a threatening tone)
* Note: It is important to mention that the boundary between phraseological
fusions and phraseological unities is unclear-cut and often depends on linguistic
experience and speaker culture, namely for some speakers, the expression given

has a figurative that has not been fully fossil, but for others it is completely
opaque and lacks any motivation.
3/ Phraseological combinations: “are word-groups with partially changed
meaning” (Antrushina et al, 1985, 189). They are motivated, i.e. in
phraseological combinations, the overall meaning can be understood from the
10


meaning of the components. Moreover, phraseological combinations have one
component used in a direct meaning, while the other (here the verb) is used
figuratively.
E.g. + To draw a conclusion (to make judgment or judgments)
+ To have a bite (to eat, often a snack or a small meal that can be
consumed quickly)
+ To make inquiries (to inquire)
+ To make haste (to hurry)
+ To offer an appology (to beg pardon)
+ Gospel truth (the absolute truth)
+ Bosom friends (very close, intimate friend)
+ To take something for granted (To nerver think about something
because you believe that it will always be available or stay exactly the same)
+ In a big way (in great degree)
B, Based on I.V.Arnold (1986)
Arnold (1986) classifies idioms according to parts of speech. This is also
called syntactical classification. Thus, idioms are categorized into seven types as
follows:
- Nominal idioms:
+ the wot of the trouble
+ the last straw
- Verbal idioms:

+ to cut corners
+ put one’s best foot forward
- Adjectival idioms:
+ hale and hearty
+ as good as gold
+ red as a cherry
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- Adverbial idioms:
+ from head to foot
+ on balence
- Prepositional idioms:
+ in the course of
+ with regard to
- Conjunctional idioms:
+ as long as
+ on the other hand
- Interjectional idioms:
+ God bless you
+ Well, I never!
The above classification takes into consideration not only the type of
component parts but also the functioning of the whole, thus, tooth and nail is not
a nominal but an adverbial unit, because it serves to modify a verb (e. g.fight
tooth and nail) (Arnold,1986:172). In addition, not every nominal phrase is
used in all possible syntactic functions for nouns. Therefore, a bed of roses or a
bed of nails is used only predicatively.
Within each of these classes a further subdivision is necessary. The
following list is not meant to be exhaustive, but to give only the main
characteristics of the types.

* Idioms functioning like nouns:
 N+N:+ Maiden name (the surname of a woman before she
was married)
+ Brains

trust (a

committee of

experts’

or ‘a

number of reputedly well in-formed persons chosen to answer questions of
general interest without preparation)
+ Amateur hour (a display of incompetence)
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+ Clock watcher (one who often checks the time during
an activiy or event, as due to boredom and/or a desire to leave)
 N’s+N:+ Anybody’s/Anyone’s guess (uncertain or unknown)
+ Cat’s paw (one who is used for the convenience of
a cleverer and stronger person)
+ Hob-son’s choice (a idiom used when there is no
choice at all, when a person has to take what is offered or nothing)
+ A baker’s dozen ( thirteen)
 Ns'+N:+ Ladies’ man (one who makes special effort to
charm or please women)
+ Ladies’s room (A woman’s toilet in a public

building such as a hotel or restaurant)
 N+prp+N: + The arm of the law ( the board, far reaching
power or influence of the police or legal system)
+ Skeleton in the cupboard ( to have an embarrassing or
unpleasant secret about something that happened in the past)
+ Eye of a needle ( A tiny aperture through which it would
seem impossible to pass)
+ Bird of omen (A person who brings bad news)
 N+A: + Knight errant (the phrase is today applied to any
chivalrous man ready to help and protect oppressed and helpless people)
 N+and+N:
+ Lord and master (husband)
+ All the world and his wife ( a great many people, especially
in a particular place at a particular time)
+ Bread and butter (necessities, the main thing)

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+ Rank and file (the ordinary working members of an
organisation)
+ Ways and means (methods of overcoming difficulties)
+ Body and soul (every part of you, including your mind and
your emotions)
+ All fingers and thumbs (clumsy, always dropping things)
 A+N:
+ Green room (the general reception room of a theatre)
+ Blind people (a person with a severe visual impairment)
+ A clean slate (starting off with a clean record)
+ A close call (a narrow escape; a close shave; a brush with

danger, nearly mising death)
+ A clean break (a clear and final breaking-off relations;
finally finishing and leaving for good)
+ A cushy job (an easy job that is not demanding or difficult;
a comfortable, enjoyable job that does not take too much
effort)
+ High tea (an evening meal which combines meat or some
similar extra dish with the usual tea)
+ Forty winks (a short nap)
 N+subordinate clause:+ Ships that pass in the night (chance
acquaintances)
+ Fit as a fiddle (being in good heath)
* Idioms functioning like verbs:
 V+N:
+ Take advantage (to use an opportunity to achieve results,
sometimes in an unfair way)

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+ Cut the crap ( a very crude way of telling someone to stop
doing something that you do not like)
+ Keep promise (be faithful to your word)
+ To catch a straw (to make a desperate attempt to salvage a
bad situation)
+ To take to the cleaners ( to cheat orr swindle one for a lot
or all of their money)
+ Bear a grudge (continue to feel a bitter sense of resentment
against someone because of some harm he did to you in the
past)

+ To grow roses (to cultivate)
 V+and+V: + Pick and choose (to take only the things you want from a
group)
+ Live and learn (learn from experience and from your
mistake)
+ Bound and determined (Dedicated to making a strong effort
in order to succeed or achieve a goal)
+ Cease and desist (stop what you are doing and don’t do it
again)
 V+(one’s)+N+(prp):
+ Snap ones fingers at (to dismiss with

contempt)

+ To scream one's head off (to scream very loud)
+ To shake one's shoes (very scared and nervous)
+ To lose one's colour (to become pale)
 V+one+N: + Give one the bird (to fire somebody)
 V+subordinate clause: + See how the land lies (to discover
the state of affairs)

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+ Look before you leap (take only calculated risks)
+ Know which way the win is blowing (understand the situation)
* Idioms functioning like adjectives:
 A+and+A: + High and mighty
+ Save and sound (out of danger and unharmed)
 (as)+A+as+N: + As old as the hills (very old)

+ As mad as a hatter (extremely silly and stupid)
+ Cool as a curcumber (very calm)
+ (As) nervous as a cat (very nervous or jumpy)
+ (As) weak as a kitten (especially weak, feeble
and vulnerable; completely unable to defend
oneself)
+ As easy as pie (nothing could be more easy)
+ As good as gold (perfectly behaved)
* Idioms functioning like adverbs:
 N+N: + Tooth and nail (with all one’s resources or energy)
+ High and low (everywhere)
 Prp+N: + by heart
+ of course
+ on the spot (at the moment or place)
+ in cold blood
+ for good
 Prp + N+or +N: + by hook or by crook (by any method
possible)
 Conj+ clause :+ before one can say Jack Robinson
(something happens very quickly)
+ before one’s time (prematurely; unexpectedly)

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