Idioms IntroductionDefinitionAccording to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, an idiom is:“a phrase or sentence whose meaning is not clear from the meaning of its indivi -dual words and which must be learnt as a whole unit,"(p. 616)

Idiomaticy There are three types of combinations:1. Non-idiomatic free combinationsIn these combinations, both the lexical verb and the adverbial particlekeep their proper meaning. The meaning of the whole combination indicatesmovement and direction.go/get up down in into out off away1. Go into the house quickly and bring me the rain coat!2. Get away from here or you’ll be caught

2. Semi-idiomatic verbal and adverbial combinations:In these combinations, the lexical verb keep its meaning, whereas the particle becomes an intensifier or a marker of completion:1. Eat it up! (Till nothing is left on the plate.)2. Don’t use up all the flour! (Leave some more for me, too!)3. Have you found out the truth about your parents?3. Fully idiomatic combinationsThe meaning of the whole combination cannot be deduced from the parts.The words have lost their own meanings completely: to lose one’s head, to take sth. to the heart, bird’s eyeview, the eye of day, to give the cold shoulderto smb., to drive the nail home.

There are some verbs such as tamper with which can only occur as multi-word verbs, since there are no single verbs tamper.

Register:Informal:Idioms which are used with friends and family or people you know in relaxed situationsVery informal:Idioms which are used in a very informal or not polite way, often between members of a particular social group.

Taboo: Idioms which are likely to offend people and are not used in formal situations.Formal:Idioms which are used in a serious or polite way. For exemple in business documents, in serious newspapers, books, etcLiterary: Idioms which are mainly used in literatureOld-fashioned:Idioms which are still used but sound old-fashionedHumorous:Idioms which are intended to make people lauth.

AArmsChance your arm Register: informalForm: britishMeaning:to take a riks in order to get something that you wantExemple: Aren’t you chancing your arm a bit, giving up a secure job to start a business?Translation: A-si incerca norocul (to try one's luck/fortune , to take a chance)

Keep somebody at arm’s lentghRegister: informalForm: the basic form

Meaning: do not allow someone to become too frienfly with youExemple: I always had the feeling that she was keeping me at arm s lenthTranslation: a tine la distanta

Put the arms on somebodyRegister: informalForm: americanMeaning: to try to force someone to do somethingExemple: If he doesn t pay up, we will get Rick to pull the arm on himTranslation: a forta mana cuiva

BBackAt/In the back of beyoundRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: in a place which is far away from other towns and difficult to get toExemple: He lives in a tiny, remote village in the back of beyoundTranslation: In tara de nicaieri

Be sick to the back teethRegister: informalForm: British and AustralianMeaning: to be bored because a subject has been discused too muchExemple: You are probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about my problems.Translation: Plictisit de moarte

Talk out of the back of your headRegister: informalForm: British and AustralianMeaning: to talk nonsenseExemple: He is talking out of the back of your head-you can t get a flight to Australia for less than £5000 these days.Translation: A vorbi de pomana, A bate campii

EEarBe out on your earRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to be forced to leave your job because you have done somethingwrongExemple: You will be out on your ear if you don t start doing some work around here.Translation:

Bend somebody earRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to talk to someone for a long time, usually about something boringExemple: Don t let her bend your ears about how overworked she isTranslation: Vorba lunga

Keep an ear to the groundRegister: informal

Form: the basic formMeaning: to watch and listen carefully to what is happeningExemple: I will keep an ear to the ground and tell you if i hear of any vacancies.Translation: A fi cu ochii in patru

Lend an earRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to listen carefully and in a friendly way to someoneExemple: If you have any problems go to Claire. She will always lend a sympathetic ear.Translation: A ciuli urechile

ElbowGive somebody the elbowRegister: informalForm: British Meaning: to end a rmantic relationship with someoneExemple: They went out together for a month and then she gave him the elbow.Translation: A-i da papucii.

Elbow greaseRegister: informal, humorousForm: the basic formMeaning: hard work, especially when you are cleaning somethingExemple: With determination and elbow grease we soon transformed the kitchen.

Translation: Cu sudoarea muncii.

EyeBe in the eye of the stormRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to be invoved in an argument or a problem that affects a lot of peopleExemple: International oil agencies were in the eye of the storm when the war broke out in the country.Translation: A fi in mijlocul problemei.

Get your eye inRegister: informalForm: British and AustralianMeaning: to be very good at an activityby practising itExemple: It will take me a while to get my eye in. I haven t played for years.Translation: A-si recapata avantul.

Clap eyes onRegister: informalForm: British and AustralianMeaning: to see somebody or something for the first timeExemple: I wish i d never clapped eyes on that money Translation: La prima vedere.

FFace

Fly in the face of somethingRegister: slightly informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to be the opposite of what is usual or acceptedExemple: The recommendations fly in the face of previous advices on safe limits for alcohol consumption.Translation:

Stuff your faceRegister: verry informal Form: the basic formMeaning: to eat a lot of foodExemple: We have been staffing our faces with Sussan s delicious cake.Translation: A se indopa.

Lose faceRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to do something that make other people stop respecting youExemple: He refused to admit he made a mistake beacause he didn t want o lose face.Translation: A pierde respectul.

FootThe boot is on the other footRegister: informalForm: British and AustralianMeaning: a situation is now the opposite of what it was before often because

a person who was in a week position is now in a strong positionExemple: In the past we had great influence over their economy but the boot is on the other foot now.Translation:

Put the foot downRegister: informalForm: mainly britishMeaning: a suddenly increase in speed when somebody is drivingExemple: The road was clear, si i put my foot down and tried to overtake the car in front of me.Translation: A calca acceleratia.

HHairCurl somebody hairRegister: informalForm: AmericanMeaning: to frighten or shock someoneExemple: The scene where Tom kiled Sam curled my hair.Translation: A i se zburli parul.

Get in somebody hairRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to annay someone, especialu by being near them for a long period of timeExemple: Harry usually keeps the kids occupated,so they don t get in my hair while i m cooking.

Translation: A calca pe bataturi.

HandHand in gloveRegister: informalForm: AmericanMeaning: if one person/organisation is working hand in glove with another, they are working together, often to do something dishonest.Exemple: Some of this gangs were working hand in glove with the police.Translation: A fi mana in mana.

Go hat in handRegister: informalForm: AmericanMeaning: to ask someone for money or help in a way which makes you feel ashamedExemple: I had to go hat in hand to my parent again to ask for some money.Translation: Cu coada intre picioare, A se simti cu musca pe caciula.

HeadThe head hanchoRegister: informalForm: mainly AmericanMeaning: the most important person in an organisationExemple: We will have to ask Allan, he is the head hancho in our organisation.Translation: A fi pionul principal.

Give somebody their headRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to allow someone the freedom to do what they wantExemple: He has some great ideas. Why not give hin his head and see what kind of campaign he comes up with.Translation: A-i da frau liber cuiva.

KKneeBe knee-high to a grasshooperRegister: informal, humourusForm: the basic formMeaning: to be very youngExemple: The last time i came here i was knee-high to a grasshooper.A grasshooper is an extremely small insect.Translation: A fi la piciorul broastei.

LLegGive somebody a leg upRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: to help someone to be more succesfullExemple: It must give you a leg up if you want to be an actor and your parents are both in the profession.Translation: A da o mana de ajutor.

Shake a legRegister: informal,old-fasionedForm: the basic formMeaning: something that you say in order to tell people to hurry upExemple: Come on, shake a leg!the film starts in 20 minutes.Translation: Misca-te.

MMindHave a mind like a stell trapForm: the basic formMeaning: to be able to think very quickly and clearlyExemple: She will be a briliant lowyer- she has a mind like a steel trap.Translation: A avea o minte sclipitoare.

In your mind's eyeForm: the basic formMeaning: in your imagination/memoryExemple: In my mind s eyes, she is still the little girl she was the last time i saw her.Translation: In amintiri

MouthRegister: informal Form: AmericanMeaning: to talk a lot without saying anything importantExemple: He is just another of those politicians who run off at the mouthTranslation: A palavragi, A vinde gogosi.

NNeckGet it in the neckRegister: informalForm: Britism and AmericanMeaning: to be punished or crticised for something that you have doneExemple: It always seems to be the chairmanof those footbal clubs, is the one who get it in the neck when the team does badly.Translation: A fi pus la zid / la colt.

SSkinBe in the skin of your teethRegister: informalForm: the basic formMeaning: verry close o not succed in doing somethingExemple: We escaped by the skin of our teeth.Translation: La milimetru.

ConclusionIdioms are a colourful and fascinating aspect of English.they are used in all types of language informal and formal, spoken or writen.They often have a stronger meaning than non-idiomatic phrases and they also sugest attitudes of the person using them, for exemple: disapproval,humour, exasperation or admiration, so we have to use them carefully.