Филологические
науки / 10. Этно-, социо- и психолингвистика
Шойманова М.Б.
Аспирант КазУМОиМЯ им. Абылай-хана
Ethnolinguistic aspect of phraseological units concerning cattle
A phraseological unit is a phrase which means something different from
the meanings of the separate words that are a part of it. Usually it cannot be
understood by the literal interpretation of the words that make up the
expression. Used together, the words convey a meaning that is often related to
the individual words in the phraseological unit. Some phraseological units have
become so well worn that they are clichés and overused or commonplace
expressions. They may be used to create an affect such as shock, irreverence or
exaggeration. Most English and American people use them, especially when they
talk to one another, and, consequently, they form a very important part of
British English and American English. They are used to give life and richness
to the expressed linguistically in a new way. They take existing words, combine
them in a new sense, and bring forth new expressions. They also may take the
form of traditional saying or proverbs.
This article is dedicated to the exploration of phraseological units
concerning cattle. Cattle belong to a great family called Bovidae, along with
the sheep, goat, water buffalo, American bison, and antelope. The animals in
this family are ruminants, or cud chewers.
The first cattle were used as work animals as well as producing milk and
beef. The same kind of animal performed all three tasks. Gradually, people
began to breed cattle either as beef animals or for producing milk.
The word cattle usually mean cows, bulls, steers, heifers, and calves. A
cow is a female and a bull is a male. Steers are males whose reproductive organs have been removed by an
operation. A young cow is called a heifer
until she gives birth to a calf. A calf
is a young cow or bull. The mother of a calf is called a dam, and the father is called a sire.
A group of cattle is called as a herd.
[1, 426]
Hereinafter are given a few phraseological units concerning cattle:
a milch (or milking) cow –
a universal provider, one from whom it is easy to obtain money. ‘The boys are
old enough to get a job. You are becoming the milch cow of the family.’ ‘Milch’
means ‘milk giving’ and derives from Anglo-Saxon, ‘milch’ (milk). It is still used in the phrases ‘milch cow’ and ‘milch ewe’. The Russian equivalent to this unit is «дойная корова»,
постоянный источник дохода, обогащения.
… Jos was a regular milch cow to
the doctor… (W. Thackeray, ‘Vanity Fair’)
… Джоз был для доктора настоящей дойной коровой… [2, 181]
the sacred cow –
a derogatory term for any institution or custom generally regarded as sacrosanct
which, in the opinion of its critics, is useless and should be abolished, such
as Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Mixed Economy. The phrase originates in
the Hindu belief that cows are sacred and should not be slaughtered, even in
times of famine. The Russian equivalent
to this unit is «священная корова», неприкосновенная личность.
Tories… regard rent, interest
and profit as sacred cows to be fattened at the expense of the people. (‘Daily Worker’, Nov. 25, 1961)
Консерваторы… считают арендную плату, проценты и прибыль
священной коровой, которая должна жиреть за счет народа. [2, 181]
like bull in a china shop – very clumsy and destructive. This phrase is often used when tact and diplomacy are
notably absent. The Russian equivalent to this unit is слон в посудной лавке, неуклюжий, неловкий человек, «медведь».
‘You have strength… it is untutored
strength’. ‘Like a bull in a china sop’, he suggested and won a smile. (J.
- У вас есть сила… но это сила, не обузданная
разумом.
- Как у слона в посудной лавке, - подсказал он и был награжден улыбкой
девушки. [2, 113]
to kill the fatted calf –
to treat a person with special hospitality, usually after a long absence from
home. The Russian equivalent to this unit is заклать упитанного тельца, встретить
радушно (как блудного сына) [этим. библ. Luke XV, 30]
The father killed the fatted
calf to celebrate his son’s return from the army service.
Отец накрыл богатый стол, чтобы отметить возвращения его сына
со службы в армии.
calf-love means
the first adolescent love-affair; ‘puppy-love’ [2, 58]
till (or until) the cows come home means
an unconscionably long time. The Russian equivalent to this unit is бесконечно долго, до бесконечности,
целую вечность; до второго пришествия (выражение, широко распространенное в
Англии в 17-18 вв., было потом забыто, но сохранилось
в США, откуда снова вернулось в Англию);
Steady, Larry! Steady, boy!
I’m here! I’m with you till the cows come home. (J. Conroy,
‘The Disinherited’, part III, ch. II)
Успокойся, Ларри! Успокойся, мальчик! Я здесь. Я всегда буду
с тобой.
‘I’ve got to go now’, she
insisted. ‘If you like to wait I’ll meet you… about
- Мне сейчас нужно уходить, - настаивала Гини. – Если у тебя есть желание
подождать, то мы можем встретиться… около четверти восьмого.
- Подождать? Я готов ждать тебя хоть вечность. [2, 182]
to worship the golden calf –
to worship money, to subordinate everything else to mercenary considerations.
The reference is to the wrath of God at the worship by the children of
…but to worship the golden
calf for eighteen shillings a week! Oh pitiful, pitiful!
(Ch. Dickens, ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, ch. X)
…но поклоняться золотому тельцу за восемнадцать шиллингов в
неделю! Печально, весьма печально!
Yet they remain murderers for
profit. They worship only the Golden Calf on week days. (‘The Worker’, Febr. 22, 1959)
И все-таки автомобильные компании – гангстеры от наживы. Они
поклоняются только золотому тельцу. [2, 121]
salt the cow to catch the calf means
gain one’s profit obliquely. The Russian equivalent is достичь своего окольным путем.
I went on the old saying of
salting the cow to catch the calf.
Я, как говорится, действовал окольными путями [2, 182]
Next unit is to take the bull by the horns that means
to grapple fearlessly with a problem. The Russian equivalent to this unit is “брать быка за рога”.
‘See here’, he exclaimed suddenly, looking sharply at the musician and
deciding to take the bull by the horns, ‘you are in quite as delicate a
situation as I am, if you only stop to think. (Th. Dreiser, ‘The Titan’, ch. XX)
- Послушайте, - вдруг воскликнул он, смотря в упор на музыканта и решив
действовать напрямик, - если вы дадите себе труд подумать, то поймете, что
находитесь в таком же щекотливом положении, как и я. [2, 113]
to score / hit a bull’s eye means
to achieve one’s exact aim, to make a spectacular success. ‘John hit the bull’s
eye with his intention, and now he is a very rich man.’
bull of
He assured me that I had burst
upon those gentry roaring… like the bull of
Капитан Уильямс уверял меня, что я … ревел как бык, когда,
появившись неожиданно, стал разнимать дерущихся.
[2, 113]
an Irish bull means
an evident cockamamie, bull. The Russian equivalent is очевидный абсурд, явная нелепость.
To speak of “a free hand in
the terms of this correspondence” is an Irish bull. (J.Galsworthy, ‘The Man of Property’, part III, ch. 1)
Говорить о «полной свободе действий в пределах, указанных в
переписке», - полнейшая нелепость. [2, 113]
as an ox goes to the slaughter means
obediently, without complaint. The Russian equivalent is «как вол на убой», покорно,
безропотно (этим. библ. Proverbs VII,)
On the day of my departure I
was up a little after five; by six we began to load the donkey; and ten minutes
after, my hopes were in the dust. The pad would not stay on Modestine’s back
for half a moment… and I went forth from the stable door as an ox goeth to the
slaughter. (R.L. Stevenson, ‘Travets with a Donkey’, ‘The Donkey, the Pack, and the Pack-Saddle.’)
В день отъезда я встал в начале шестого. В шесть мы начали
нагружать ишака. А через десять минут все мои надежды рассыпались в прах.
Мягкое седло и минуты не держалось на спине Модестины… я выше из стойла,
чувствуя себя игрушкой в руках судьбы. [2, 558]
Above are given some phraseological units having in its structure the
word cattle. Cattle are among the most important farm animals. We eat the meat
of cattle as roast beef, veal, hamburger, and hot dogs. We drink the milk of
cattle, and use it to make butter, cheese, and ice-cream. The hides of cattle
provide leather for our shoes. Cattle also furnish materials for such useful
items as medicines, soap, and glue. In some countries, cattle supply a main
source of power by pulling plows, carts, and wagons. In some parts of the
world, a family’s wealth is judged by the number of cattle its own. All cattle
have heavy bodies, long tails, and cloven hoofs. Cattle chew their food two
separate times to digest it. After they chew and swallow the food, they bring
it up from the stomach and chew it again. This once-swallowed food is called a
cud. Cattle graze lazily in green pastures and on the plains. Their mooing, or
lowing, often breaks the silence of the countryside. Nevertheless people on
every continent raise cattle. Cattle live in cold lands such as
Literature:
1.
The
World Book Encyclopedia Volume 3; 426p. 1986,
2.
А.В. Кунин, Англо-русский фразеологический словарь. Издание 5-е, исправленное около 20 000 фразеологических единиц, Москва,
«Живой язык», 1998