Proverb, similes and idioms vocabulary II

PROVERBS SIMELESS IDIOMS

AS...AS/LIKE
THE ORIGINS From the Latin From Latin simile "a From Latin idioma "a
proverbium. like thing," neuter of peculiarity in language,"
similis "like" (see from Greek idioma
similar). "peculiarity, peculiar
phraseology".

DEFINITION A proverb is a Simile is when you An expression whose

short, compare two nouns meanings cannot be

generally (persons, places or inferred from the

known things) that are meanings of the words

sentence of unlike, with "like" or that make it up.

the folk which "as."

contains
wisdom,
truth, morals,
and traditional
views in a
metaphorical,
fixed and
memorizable
form and
which is
handed down
from
generation to
generation.

THE PURPOSE To support or Speakers and writers People use idioms to

imagine the people to use similes to make their speech more
solve their problem in emphasize a certain attractive and impressive.
life by sentence characteristic of a Idioms are a way to make
which is thing. The language more vivid and
understandable comparison made in a
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proverbs. prudence to simile is often descriptive.

the simple, unusual. The listener
knowledge and or reader can form a
discretion to the mental image of the
young, and to make comparison. This
the wise even wise increases
understanding of what
the speaker or writer
is trying to
communicate.
KINDS 1. A universal 1. Explicit similes are 1. Phraseological
truth and are those that use the idioms.
to be word as to make a 2. One-word idioms.
interpreted comparison. 3. Idioms of distress.
literally. 4. Four-character
2. A host of 2. implicit similes
idioms.
situations and make use of like for
5. Proverbial idioms.
are to be comparing two things.
6. Lexemic idioms.
interpreted in
a broad
metaphorical
sense (not just
literally).

PATTERN Most proverbs are Common patterns for A phrase or sentence that
short, compact similes, with example has a word or two that
statements that sentences, are: has been replaced by
express truths about another word to make it
something
human behavior. shorter and slangish and
[is*] AS
is just a silly way of
adjective AS
saying something but it
something
doesn't really mean it
His skin was
literally.
as cold as ice.
It felt as hard

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as rock.
She looked as
gentle as a
lamb.

something
[is*] LIKE
something
My love is
like a red, red
rose.
These cookies
taste like
garbage.
He had a
temper (that
was) like a
volcano.

something
[does**]
LIKE
something
He eats like a
pig.
He smokes
like a
chimney.
They fought
like cats and
dogs.

* stative verb: be,

feel, smell, taste etc
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** action verb

EXAMPLES 1. Such as a 1. My father 1. If some one thinks

paddy science has a mind they are the cats
increasingly like a whiskers or the
contain more computer. bees knees.
2. His face is
and duck rice. 2. If someone has a
2. Empty barrels as ugly as an
heart of a gold.
has a loud old running
3. If you stir things
sound. shoe
up.

ADDITION The study of proverbs A Strategy for Using Idioms are like
is called: Similes metaphors.
paremiology (from
You will often
Greek -
encounter similes
paroima, "proverb").
when listening to a
Paremiography, on
speaker or reading
the other hand, is the
something. Follow the
collection of
steps listed below to
proverbs.
build your
understanding of
similes.

1. Listen or look
for the words
"like" or "as"
as clues to a
possible
simile.
2. Identify the
two things
being
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compared.

3. Think about
the two things
being
compared.

4. Form a mental
image of the
comparison.

5. Identify what
the speaker or
writer is trying
to
communicate.

Recognizing similes
will help you better
understand what you
hear or read. Using
similes when you
speak or write will
improve your
communication.

PROVERBS

1. Definitions :

A short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into
memorable form. Or a short sentence based on a long experience.

A proverb is a statement we enthusiastically embrace when we are unwilling to

examine the particulars in a general situation.

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Proverbs are strategies for dealing with situations. Another name for strategies might
be attitudes.
Proverbs as Rhetorical Exercises
Proverbs are either persuasive or expository. Examples of contemporary proverbs that
persuade people to action are 'The squeaky wheel gets the grease'.
A proverb, (from the Latin proverbium), is a simple and concrete saying popularly
known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical
experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic
rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim. If a proverb is distinguished by
particularly good phrasing, it may be known as an aphorism.
Proverbs are often borrowed from similar languages and cultures, and sometimes come
down to the present through more than one language.
A proverb is a short, generally known sentence of the folk which contains wisdom,
truth, morals, and traditional views in a metaphorical, fixed and memorizable form and
which is handed down from generation to generation.
Proverbs are often borrowed across lines of language, religion, and even time. For
example, a proverb of the approximate form No flies enter a mouth that is shut is
currently found in Spain, Ethiopia, and many countries in between. It is embraced as a
true local proverb in many places and should not be excluded in any collection of
proverbs because it is shared by the neighbors. However, though it has gone through
multiple languages and millennia, the proverb can be traced back to an ancient
Babylonian proverb (Pritchard 1958:146).
Proverbs are used by speakers for a variety of purposes. Sometimes they are used as a
way of saying something gently, in a veiled way (Obeng 1996). Other times, they are
used to carry more weight in a discussion, a weak person is able to enlist the tradition of
the ancestors to support his position. Proverbs can also be used to simply make a
conversation/discussion more lively. In many parts of the world, the use of proverbs is a
mark of being a good orator.
2. The purpose of a proverb :
Proverbs was written to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the
young, and to make the wise even wiser . The frequent references to emphasize
instructing the young and guiding them in a way of life that yields rewarding ends.
3. Kinds of proverbs :
a. Proverb that contains a universal truth and are to be interpreted literally.
i. For example :

1. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

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2. One is never too old to learn.

b. Proverbs that apply to a host of situations and are to be interpreted in a broad

metaphorical sense (not just literally)
ii. For example:
1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
2. Who repairs not his gutters repairs his whole house.
Examples of proverbs and complete with their meaning :
1. Between the devil and the deep sea
To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.
2. Where there's a will there's a way
When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.
3. A burnt child dreads fire
A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking
for a lifetime.
4. First come, first served
The first in line will be attended to first.
5. A friend in need is a friend indeed
A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
6. Discretion is the better part of valor
If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a
dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.
7. A hungry man is an angry man
A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and
will be easily provoked to rage.
8. Empty vessels make the most noise
Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the
greatest fuss.
9. A man is as old as he feels
A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is
ageing that he actually becomes old.
10. Great talkers are little doers
Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do
much work.
11. An idle brain is the devil's workshop
One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.
12. An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit
It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.
13. Faint heart never won fair lady
To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.
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14. A penny saved is a penny gained

By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
15. A rolling stone gathers no moss
A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not
succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything
done.
16. As you sow, so you shall reap
One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or
inactions.
17. Barking dogs seldom bite
Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.
18. Better late than never
To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than
not doing it at all.
19. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush
Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly
more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.
20. Birds of a feather flock together
People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.
21. Call a spade a spade
If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak
frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an
informal expression.
22. Charity begins at home
A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family
before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others.
23. Dead men tell no lies
( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret
may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)
24. A great talker is a great liar
A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.
25. Every cloud has a silver lining
If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or
unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you
are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant
situation.

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26. All that glitters is not gold

Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.
27. Eat to live, but do not live to eat
Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator -
he was not born just to enjoy food.
28. Don't put all your eggs in one basket
One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.
29. Every dog has its day
Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.
30. Every one can find fault, few can do better
It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it
properly or correctly.
31. Any time means no time
When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.
32. Fair exchange is no robbery
A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the
conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say
that he was unfairly treated.
33. Fire is a good servant but a bad master
Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it
is controlled and used wisely.
Excercise about proverbs:

Proverbs Category Examples Answers

A-B As you _______, so shall you reap. sow

Barking _______ seldom bite. dogs

C-D Children should be _______ and not heard. seen

Desires are nourished by _______. delays

E-F Everybody's _______ is nobody's business. business

First _______, first served. come

G-H Good company on the road is the _______ cut. shortest

Happy is the country that has no _______. history

I-K It is easy to be _______ after the event. wise

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_______ is power. Knowledge

L-M Lend your money and lose your _______. friend

Many hands make _______ work. light

N-O Never spend your _______ before you have it. money

Only the wearer knows where the _______ pinches. shoe

P-S _______ without profit puts little in the pot. Praise

_______ has many friends. Success

T-V The _______ ever turns to the aching tooth. tongue

Uneasy lies the head that wears a _______. crown

W-Z Want is the _______ of industry. mother

You must lose a fly to catch a _______. trout

SIMELES

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1. DEFINITIONS :

Similes, pronounced 'si-mi-lees', are comparisons that show how two things that are
not alike in most ways are similar in one important way. Similes are a way to
describe something. Authors use them to make their writing more interesting or
entertaining. Similes use the words as or like to make the connection between the
two things that are being compared.
A simile is a figure of speech that indirectly compares two different things by
employing the words "like", "as", or "than".
Simile is when you compare two nouns (persons, places or things) that are unlike,
with "like" or "as."

2. THE PURPOSE OF A SIMELES :

Speakers and writers use similes to emphasize a certain characteristic of a thing.

The comparison made in a simile is often unusual. The listener or reader can form
a mental image of the comparison. This increases understanding of what the
speaker or writer is trying to communicate.
3. TYPES OF SIMELES :

a. Explicit similes:
Explicit similes are those that use the word as to make a comparison:
For examples:
As sly as a fox.
As quiet as a mouse.

As wise as an owl.

As clever as a fox.

As wily as a coyote.

As cute as a button.

As pretty as a picture.

As soft as a baby's behind.

As hard as a rock.

As dumb as rocks.

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As brave as a lion.

As noisy as a herd of elephants.

As pure as the driven snow.

As white as the driven snow.

As black as night.

As red as a tomato.

As graceful as a swan.

As poor as a church mouse.

As slow as molasses in January.

As fast/quick as lightning.

As colorful as a rainbow.

As playful as a kitten.

As dead as a door nail.

As pale as a ghost.

As skinny as a rail.

As fat as a cow.

As hungry as a hippo.

As cool as a cat.

As sick as a dog.

As plain as day.

As fake as a three-dollar bill.

As crooked as a politician.

As happy as a lark.
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As naked as a jay bird.

As blind as a bat.

As strong as a horse.

As dumb as an ox.

As tough as nails.

As harmless as a dove.

As stubborn as a mule.

b. Implicit similis :
implicit similes make use of like for comparing two things.
For examples :

Eat like a bird.

Live like a pig.

Eat like a pig.

Swim like a fish.

Eyes like a hawk.

Sleep like a baby.

Work like the devil.

Drink like a fish.

Run around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Live like a candle in the wind.

Lie like a sieve.

Take it like a man.

Sing like a bird.

Like finding a needle in a haystack.

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Multiply like rabbits.

To know like the back of ones hand.

As many as the sands of the seashore.

Like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

c. Without 'like' or 'as'

Similes are sometimes made without using the words "like" or "as." This often
occurs when making comparisons of differing values.

For examples:.

"Norman was more anxious to leave the area than Herman Milquetoast after seeing
ten abominable snowmen charging his way with hunger in their eyes."
"But this truth is more obvious than the sun--here it is; look at it; its brightness blinds
you."

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Another example about similes :

"My father has a mind like a computer."

The father's mind is being compared to a computer. The father can

think in a powerful manner that resembles the way a computer
operates, not that he is like a computer in any other way.

" His face is as ugly as an old running shoe"

His face is being compared to a shoe that's old and beat up.
His face is being described. It's compared to an old shoe.
4. EXCERCISE ABOUT SIMILES :

Read each sentence carefully.

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Then, in the boxes provided, enter the thing that's being described by
the simile, and what it's being compared to.

1. "Be careful using that can opener.

It's as temperamental as a chain saw."

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

2. "Don't eat Jessica's cooking.

It's as deadly as radioactive waste."

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

3. "Bobby didn't like it when his mother told him

that his room smelled like an old running shoe."

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

4. Barb frowned and said, I believe that taking drugs

is like flushing your brain down the toilet."

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

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5. "Sheila really hurt me. Her comments were like

a clamp tightening on my heart."

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

6. "Monica and Peter sure are close. She has a grip on

him like a monkey wrench!"

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

7. "Jennifer is so neat and tidy! Her locker always

smells like fresh lemons!"

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

8. "Trena's math binder has been dropped so many

times, it looks like a beat up old truck!"

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

9. Benny listened as his brother recalled the information.

"Your mind is like a card catalog", Benny said in awe.

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

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10. Daniel was trying to compliment Jaycee.

"Your face is like a flower", he said.

What's being described?

What's it being compared to?

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS BELOW

Answers
(1a) can opener 1b) chain saw
2a) Jessica's cooking 2b) radioactive waste
3a) Bobby's room 3b) old running shoe
4a) taking drugs 4b) flushing brain
5a) Sheila's comments 5b) a clamp
6a) Monica's grip 6b) monkey wrench
7a) Jennifer's locker 7b) fresh lemons
8a) Trena's math binder 8b) beat up truck
9a) Benny's brother's mind 9b) card catalog
10a) Jaycee's face 10b) a flower

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IDIOMS

1. DEFINITIONS:
An expression conforming or appropriate to the peculiar structural form of a
language; in extend use, an expression sanctioned by usage, having a sense
peculiar to itself and not agreeing with the logical sense of its structural form;
also, the phrase forms peculiar to a particular author.
An expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its
constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general
grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that
is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics.
A construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements
in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the
same way in the second language.
An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the
words that make it up.
A manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
An idiom is a phrase or sentence that has a word or two that has been replaced by
another word to make it shorter and slangish and is just a silly way of saying
something but it doesn't really mean it literally.
An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not compositionalthat is, whose
meaning does not follow from the meaning of the individual words of which it is
composed.
Idioms are groups of words with a special meaning that is quite different from the
meaning of the individual words.
2. THE PURPOSE:
Idioms are groups of words with a special meaning that is quite different from
the meaning of the individual words. For example, the idiom "to be on the

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ball" really has nothing to do with a ball or being on top of one. It means that
someone is very industrious, intelligent and organized. For this reason, we can
say that idioms meanings are opaque rather than transparent. People use
idioms to make their speech more attractive and impressive. Idioms are a way
to make language more vivid and descriptive.
3. KINDS OF IDIOMS:
a. Phraseological idioms - This group of idioms often consists of an entire
phrase. Some famous ones are: to fly off the handle, to blow one's stack, to
kick the bucket, to be up the creek without a paddle, to be caught between the
devil and the deep blue sea, and to seize the bull by the horns. What they have
in common is that they do not really correlate with a given grammatical part of
speech and usually require a paraphrase longer than a word.
b. One-word idioms - Interestingly, there are also one-word idioms, which occur
when a single word is used with a surprisingly different meaning from the
original one. Examples include lemon (my car is a lemon), and dog (my math
exam was a dog).

c. Idioms of distress - are ways in which different cultures express, experience,

and cope with feelings of distress. One example is somatization, or the
expression of distress through physical symptoms
d. Four-character idioms - Four-character idioms, literally "to become (part of)
the language") are widely used classical Chinese, a literary form used in the
Chinese written language from antiquity to until 1919. Classical Chinese can
be compared to the way Latin was used in the Western world in science until
recently. The literal meaning of the idiom is impossible to understand without
the background knowledge of the origin of the phrase. However, some idioms
such as( literally "an open hole draws the wind") which means to lay one's self
open to criticism, are so widely misunderstood that their literal meaning are
used despite their original meaning.
e. Proverbial idioms - Well-established sayings and proverbs comprise the next
largest class of idioms. These include the famous don't count your chickens
before they're hatched, and don't wash your dirty linen in public. Many of
these originate from some well-known literary source or come from the
earliest speakers of English on the continent.
f. Lexemic idioms - An interesting fact about idioms is that they can easily be
identified with the familiar parts of speech. Thus some idioms are clearly
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verbal in nature, such as get away with, get up, work out, turn in, etc. An
equally large number are nominal in nature. Thus hot dog (frankfurter in a
bun) serves as a noun. Many serve as adjectives, as in salt and pepper,
meaning black hair mixed with gray. Many are adverbial, as the examples like
a breeze, and hammer and tongs.

4. EXAMPLES:
a.

Head and shoulders above the rest(used for

people)
Miles better(used for people or things) they are better than the rest
Streets ahead(used for people or things)
knocks spots off(used for things)

Out of this world(used for things eg:the meal

out standing or superb
was just out of this world)

they are good at something(usually manual

If someone is a dab-hand at something
skills)

If someone is first rate/top notch they are good, very best

If someone is really on the ball they know a lot

you are good at establishing good

If you have a way with some one
relations/motivating them etc.

If someone has green fingers they are good at gardening

If someone has the gift of the gab they are good at talking

Idioms connected with Criticism

If someone thinks they are the cat's whiskers

they think that they are wonderful
or the bee's knees

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If someone is dressed up like a dog's dinner they are over dressed in a showy way

no one is worse than them in doing

If someone is the world's worst in doing
that(eg:when it comes to time keeping, he's
something
world's worst)

If something is a dog's breakfast it's a mess, done in a bad way

If someone really takes the biscut when it they are the epitomy / most striking example
comes to something of some negative quality

If someone wants to have their cake and eat they want everything without any contribution
it! from their side

they give false praise in order to get something

If someone tries to butter you up
from you!

If you want jam on it (eg:A 100K salary and you have totally unreasonable expectations/
a company car! You want jam on it, you do!) demands

run down / pick holes are synonyms of the

to criticise
verb

b. Describing people :

Idioms describing people

If someone has a heart of gold they are very kind, generous

If someone has a head like a sieve they have a Bad memory

If someone has a good head for figures they are good at maths

they do not feel nervous when they look down

If someone has a head for heights
from a high place

To have one's head screwed on be sensible

To have one's head in the clouds Unaware of reality

If someone is as hard as nails they have no sympathy for others

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If someone is a cold fish they are very unfriendly

If someone is an awkward customer they are difficult to deal with

If someone is a slow coach they work slowly

If someone is an odd-ball they are very strange and peculiar

If someone is a pain in the neck(also back

they are a nuisance, difficult to deal with
side)

If someone is a lazy bones or a bone-idle they are very lazy

they do not fit in naturally, they are out of

If someone is a square peg in a round hole
place in the situation they find themselves in.

c. Problematic situation :

Problems and difficulties

If you are in a fix you are in a difficulty

If you are in a tight corner you are in a situation that is hard to get out of

If you are in a muddle you are confused, mixed up

Reacting in situations

you don't do anything and let others act

If you take a back seat
instead

you act positively to face and attack the

If you take the bull by the horns
problems

If you act like a bull in a china shop you are very clumpsy,awkward and inept

If you talk a load of bull you are talking nonsence

If you stir things up you do or say things that make matters worse

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If you pour oil on troubled waters you do or say that calm the situation down

If you keep your cards close to your chest you hold back/hide information from others

If you lay your cards on the table you reveal information, be very open

Idioms related to situations based on Get

Get one's act together organise oneself to respond

find the true explanation for the state of

To get to the bottom of things
affairs/ to figure out

To get a grasp of to understand/find out

Idioms related to changes and stages in situations

The tide has turned better days are ahead

see the end of a problem/manage to solve a

See the light at the end of the tunnel
problem

to bury the differences, stop fighting each

To bury the hatchet
other, make peace

To sweep under the carpet to deliberately forget and ignore the things

It would go a long way it would help a lot

To go back to square one to go back to the beginning again

Be on tenterhooks be in great suspense

If you toe the line you follow the rules and behave your self

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