Lessons 14 · 1 lessons · B. Mengliyev, Sh. Toshmirzayeva, S. Atoyeva, S. Majidova. Ona tili (Uzbek language), Grade 11, Part 2. “O‘qituvchi” publishing and printing creative house, Tashkent, 2020
14
A word and an idiom are not equal
Textbook: Part 2, pp. 48–50
GoalKnow how an idiom (phraseological unit) differs from a word, its figurativeness and stylistic colouring; use idioms correctly by meaning.
New words
idiom, set expression · iborafigurativeness · obrazlilikhomonymous idiom · omonim iboraword-for-word translation · so‘zma-so‘z tarjima
Explanation
An idiom is a set combination used ready-made, whose meaning does not come from the sum of the meanings of its words. By the notion it expresses it may equal a single word (“og‘zi qulog‘ida”, literally “his mouth at his ears” – very happy), but while a word is often stylistically colourless, an idiom always has figurative and emotional colouring. So if we replace an idiom with an ordinary word, the meaning stays but the force of effect disappears. The composition of an idiom cannot be changed (one says “qo‘li gul”, “his hand is a flower”, not “qo‘li atirgul”), and translating it word for word into another language ruins the meaning. Idioms can be synonymous (og‘zi qulog‘ida – boshi osmonga yetdi, “his head reached the sky”) and also homonymous: “ko‘z yummoq” means to pass away or to deliberately overlook. Using idioms in moderation shows the richness of one’s language; using too many makes speech heavy.
Worked examples
Word and idiom: “Natijani eshitib, Aziza juda xursand bo‘ldi” (very glad) – “Natijani eshitib, Azizaning og‘zi qulog‘ida edi” (beaming). The meaning is the same, but the second is livelier.
Homonymous idiom: “Chol uzoq yillik dardidan so‘ng ko‘z yumdi” (the old man passed away). “Direktor o‘quvchining xatosiga ko‘z yumdi” (the director overlooked the pupil’s mistake).
Class activity
“Idiom – meaning”: two groups pair cards: idioms (qo‘li gul, ichi qora, dili siyoh, yelkasidan tog‘ ag‘darildi) on one side and their meanings on the other; the fastest group wins.
Practice
1
What is an idiom and how does it differ from a word?
A set combination whose meaning does not come from its parts; always figurative and stylistically coloured.
2
Explain: qo‘li gul, ichi qora, dili siyoh, yelkasidan tog‘ ag‘darildi.
Skilful; malicious; upset; freed from a heavy worry, relieved.
3
Rewrite “Natijani eshitib, juda xursand bo‘ldi” with an idiom.
“Natijani eshitib, og‘zi qulog‘ida bo‘ldi” (or boshi osmonga yetdi).
4
Show two meanings of “ko‘z yummoq” in sentences.
For example: “Bobom ko‘z yumdi” (passed away); “Hakam qoidabuzarlikka ko‘z yumdi” (deliberately ignored a violation).