Nina Staudohar MWLU Project

University of Ljubljana

Faculty of Arts

Department for Translation

Idiomatics and Stylistics

IDIOMS PROJECT 2009-10

Animal idioms – dog/pes

Nina Štaudohar

2. letnik

18061280

Mentor: doc. dr. Silvana Orel Kos

Contents

1 Lexicographical part...........................................................................................................3

1.1 English-Slovene..........................................................................................................3

1.2 Slovene-English..........................................................................................................6

2 General part.......................................................................................................................10

2.1 Topic outline.............................................................................................................10

2.2 Research methods.....................................................................................................10

2.3 Conclusion................................................................................................................11

2.4 Bibliography.............................................................................................................11

2

1 Lexicographical part

1.1 English-Slovene

MWLU YOU CANT TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS

sourceCambridge International Dictionary of Idioms

(http://dictionary.cambridge.org)

frequency 161.000

frequency (BNC) 2

register/style/function Informal; proverb

definition

Something that you say which means it is difficult to make someone

change the way they do something when they have been doing it the

same way for a long time

illustrative

exampleThey say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but I’m living proof.

Source British National Corpus

example

translation

Pregovor pravi, da starega konja ne naučiš jahati, vendar sem jaz živ

dokaz, da lahko.

Lexicographic

tr. equivalent 1

Starega konja ne naučiš jahati.

Source 1http://sl.wikiquote.org/wiki/Slovenski_pregovori

lexicographic

tr. equivalent 2Kar se Janezek nauči, to Janez zna.

source 2 http://www.mojnet-si.net/reki/ljudski_pregovori.html

MWLU FIGHT LIKE CAT AND DOG

source Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms

frequency 61.100

frequency (BNC) 4

register/style/function Informal; idiom

definition To argue violently all the time

3

http://www.mojnet-si.net/reki/ljudski_pregovori.html

http://sl.wikiquote.org/wiki/Slovenski_pregovori

illustrative

example

We fought like cat and dog the whole time we were together or at

least most of the time, she added.


example

translation

Ko sva bila skupaj sva se vedno oziroma večino časa prepirala kot pes

in mačka.

Lexicographic

tr. equivalentsPrepirati se, živeti kot pes in mačka

source Veliki angleško-slovenski slovar

MWLU THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

source http://www.doghause.com/idioms3.asp

frequency 566.000

frequency (BNC) 3


definition The hottest days of summer

illustrative

example

At times during the dog days of summer, deeper parts of the bay

become anoxic.


example

translation

V času pasje vročine ostanejo globji predeli zaliva občasno brez

kisika.

Lexicographic

tr. equivalentsPasja vročina, pasji dnevi

source SSKJ

MWLU IT IS RAINING CATS AND DOGS


frequency 142.000


definition Raining very heavily

illustrative

example

It was raining cats and dogs and the teachers were running in and out

helping us get our stuff in.

source British National Corpus

example Deževalo je kot iz škafa, učitelji pa so tekali not in ven 4ern am

4

http://www.doghause.com/idioms3.asp


translation pomagali pospraviti stvari.

Lexicographic

tr. equivalentsDeževati/liti kot iz škafa


MWLU DOG DOES NOT EAT DOG


frequency 50.200

frequency (BNC) 2

register/style/function Informal; proverb

definition One disreputable person will not harm another disreputable person

illustrative

example

Stanislav Andreski is no believer in what he calls “the principle that

dog does not eat dog,” the unwritten code that keeps members of the

same profession from attacking each other in public even if attack is

justified.

Source http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,903608,00.html

example

translation

S. Andreski ne verjame načelu, ki pravi “vrana vrani ne izkljuje oči”

– nenapisano pravilo, ki pripadnike enakega poklica odvrača od

medsebojnega napadanja v javnosti, četudi je napad upravičen.

Lexicographic

tr. equivalentsVrana vrani oči ne izkljuje


MWLU HELP A LAME DOG OVER A STILE

sourcehttp://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/animal-

idioms.htm

frequency 192.000


definition To help someone who is in difficulty or in trouble

illustrative

example

“You know, I don’t believe in churches and parsons and all that,” she

said, “but I believe in God, and I don’t believe He minds much about

what you do as long as you keep your end up and help a lame dog

over a stile when you can”.

5

http://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/animal-idioms.htm


http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,903608,00.html


Source http://maugham.thefreelibrary.com/Of-Human-Bondage/66-1

example

translation

“Ne verjamem v cerkve, duhovnike ter podobno”, je rekla. “Vendar

pa verjamem v Boga in mislim, da se On ne ozira na to kaj počneš,

dokler počneš to kar je treba ter pomagaš ljudem v stiski kadar jim

lahko.”

Lexicographic

tr. equivalentsPomagati komu v stiski


MWLU (GO TO) SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG


frequency 926.000

register/style/function Informal, humorous (used as an euphemism); idiom

definition

If you tell someone you are going to see a man about a dog, it is a

way of saying that you do not want to tell them where you are really

going, especially when you are going to the toilet

illustrative

exampleI won’t be long. I’m just going to see a man about a dog.

Source http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

example

translationTakoj pridem. Samo nastran grem..

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsIti nastran

source My own equivalent (but also found in SSKJ)

MWLU NOT HAVE A DOGS CHANCE


frequency 15.000

register/style/

functionInformal, conversational; idiom

definition No chance at all

illustrative

example

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t have a dogs chance of finding old

statements and details then jump online and save yourself some time.

6

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

http://maugham.thefreelibrary.com/Of-Human-Bondage/66-1

Sourcehttp://www.austsafe.com.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=GtAieQZnVeQ

%3D&tabid=77&mid=517

example

translation

Če ste tip človeka, ki ima težave pri iskanju starih poročil in podrobnosti,

skočite na internet in si tako prihranite nekaj časa.

(v tem primeru sem zaradi konteksta uporabila drugačno ustreznico)

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsbrez vsakega upanja, ni šanse (pog.)

source Angleško-slovenski slovar Password, SSKJ

MWLU PUPPY LOVE


frequency 2.260.000

frequency (BNC) 8


definitionRomantic love which a young person feels for someone and which

usually disappears as they become older

illustrative

example

Dev Patel's Mom Confirms Son's Puppy Love With 'Slumdog' Star

Freida Pinto

sourcehttp://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/dev-patels-mom-confirms-

romance-slumdog-star-freida-pinto-279426 (a newspaper headline)

example

translation

Mama Deva Patela potrdila sinovo “petošolsko” ljubezen z zvezdnico

filma "Slumdog" Friedo Pinto

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsPetošolska ljubezen


MWLU SELL SOMEBODY A PUP


frequency 69.900


definition To deceive someone into buying something which has no value

7

http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/dev-patels-mom-confirms-romance-slumdog-star-freida-pinto-279426

http://www.wowowow.com/entertainment/dev-patels-mom-confirms-romance-slumdog-star-freida-pinto-279426

http://www.austsafe.com.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=GtAieQZnVeQ%3D&tabid=77&mid=517

http://www.austsafe.com.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=GtAieQZnVeQ%3D&tabid=77&mid=517

illustrative

example

The document, written on 13 September 1940 by Patrick Duff, then

permanent secretary at the Office of Works, reveals how Churchill

complained that Duff had "sold him a pup" and let him think that

"this place is a real bomb-proof shelter".

sourcehttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/churchill-felt-he-

was-sold-a-pup-of-a-bomb-shelter-letter-reveals-1753021.html

example

translation

Dokument, ki ga je 13. septembra 1940 napisal Patrick Duff, takratni

sekretar Urada za delo, razkriva kako se je Churchill pritožil, da ga je

Duff oguljufal ter ga pustil verjeti, da je “zaklonišče resnično varno

pred bombnimi eksplozijami".

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsOguljufati koga, predrago prodati


1.2 Slovene-English

MWLU ŠE PES IMA RAD PRI JEDI MIR

source SSKJ

frequency 1.560

register/style/

functionPogovorno, ekspresivno; idiom

definition Ljudje se med jedjo ne smejo motiti, nadlegovati s kakimi opravki

illustrative

example

In ker bi tudi mene močno motilo, da bi drugi otroci kričali in letali

okrog moje mize medtem ko jem, pričakujem in zahtevam tudi od

svojih otrok, da ne motijo drugih! Saj verjetno poznate pregovor »še

pes ima rad pri jedi mir.«

sourcehttp://www.ringaraja.net/forum/m_4737110/mpage_3/key_/

tm.htm#4737884

example

translation

As it would disturb me if other children would be screaming and

running around my table while I eat, I expect and demand from my

children not to disturb others. As you know, everyone deserves to eat in

peace.

8

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsEveryone deserves to eat in peace

source My own equivalent

MWLU ZEBE ME KOT PSA

source SSKJ

frequency 30.200

register/style/function Pogovorno; idiom (primera)

definition Zelo zebe

illustrative

example

Čeprav o vremenu velikokrat govorimo, ko nimamo o čem drugem,

mimo njega preprosto ne moremo. Je možno, da človeka sredi maja

zebe kot psa?

source Korpus Nova beseda

example

translation

Although we talk a lot about weather when there is nothing else to

talk about, we cannot just by pass it. But is it possible for a person

feeling cold in the middle of May?

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsFeeling cold


MWLU VEM, KAM PES TACO MOLI

source Slovensko-angleški slovar

frequency 40.500

frequency (korpus

Nova beseda)98

register/style/function Pogovorno, ekspresivno; idiom

definition Vedeti kaj je skrivni namen govorjenja, ravnanja neke osebe

illustrativeSicer mi tega ni nikoli omenil, ampak jaz po sedmih letih prijateljstva

9

exampleže vem, kam pes taco moli.

source http://gomi-9.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

example

translation

Although he never mentioned that, but after seven years of friendship

I already know which way the wind blows.

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsI know which way the wind blows

source Slovensko-angleški slovar, www.freedictionary.com

MWLU ODPLAZITI SE KOT POLIT CUCEK / KUŽEK


frequency 20.600 (“kot polit cucek”)

frequency (korpus

Nova beseda)2

register/style/function Pogovorno; idiom

definition Boječe, preplašeno, ponižno

illustrative

exampleDomov sem se odplazil kot polit cucek, se ulegel na kavč in se

poskušal umiriti.

source http://volkec.blog.siol.net/2009/02/09/ti-si-ziher-pozigalec/

example

translation

I slunk away home like a beaten cur, lay down on the sofa and tried to

calm myself down.

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsTo slink away like a beaten cur / with ones tail between ones legs


MWLU UTRUJEN KOT PES


frequency 7.710

frequency (korpus 1

10

http://www.freedictionary.com/

Nova beseda)

register/style/function Pogovorno; idiom (primera)

definition Na smrt utrujen, izčrpan

illustrative

examplePojma nimate! »Po delu si utrujen kot pes. Spiš kot otrok, za kaj več

ni energije.«


example

translation

You have no idea! “One feels dog-tired after work. You sleep like a

baby, and don’t have energy for anything else".

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsDog-tired


MWLU (POČUTIM SE) KOT PES V CERKVI

source SSKJ

frequency 102 (“kot pes v cerkvi”)

register/style/function Pogovorno; idiom

definition Odveč, nezaželen

illustrative

example

Kakorkoli, interneta v rednem šolskem delu ni, ker ga ni mogoče

uokviriti v tradicionalni sistem pouka, pač pa izpade kot “pes v

cerkvi” - lahko je sicer prijazen, miren, celo pameten, a vseeno nima

tam kaj iskati!

sourcehttp://www.ljudmila.org/subkulturni-azil/frontier/FRANCI

%20PIVEC_Informacijska%20druzba.pdf

example

translation

However, internet is not included in regular school work, because it

cannot be incorporated into the traditional educational system. It turns

out to be unwanted – it can be friendly, quiet and even smart, but it

has still nothing to do there!

lexicographic Unwanted

11

tr. equivalents


MWLU PES, KI LAJA, NE GRIZE

source SSKJ

frequency 169.000

register/style/function Pregovor

definition Človek, ki veliko govori ali grozi, ne naredi hudega

illustrative

example

Ombudsman je namreč, metaforično rečeno, pes, ki laja, a ne grize -

ker nima zob. Neposrednih vzvodov, da bi probleme reševal sam,

nima.


example

translation

An ombudsman is actually, metaphorically speaking, a barking dog

that never bites – because he has no teeth. He has no direct means to

solve problems.

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsA barking dog never bites

source www.bostondirtdogs.com

MWLU IZGOVOR JE DOBER, TUDI ČE GA PES NA REPU PRINESE

source SSKJ

frequency 1.160

frequency (korpus

Nova beseda)2

register/style/function Pregovor

definitionV sili se izkoristi kakršnokoli opravičilo; vsak, še tako slab izgovor je

dober

illustrative

exampleVsak izgovor je dober, pa če ga pes na repu prinese, so včasih starši

rekli otroku, ki se je skušal nekako izmotati iz tega, kar je ušpičil.


example Every excuse is good in trouble, said parents sometimes to a child,

who tried to extricate himself from doing something bad.

12

http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/

translation

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsEvery excuse is good in trouble


MWLU BITI NA PSU

source http://razvezanijezik.org

frequency 10.000

frequency (korpus

Nova beseda)288


definition1 Nekaj je zelo slabo

definition2 Biti čisto na tleh, slabo se počutiti

illustrative

example1 Res, koncentracija današnjih otrok je na psu in nič drugače ni bilo, ko

smo se z ladjo vozili na otoček Lokrum.

illustrative

example2Tudi Leopoldus je bil na psu. Sedel je na stolu in skrušeno gledal

predse.


example

translation1

Today’s kids concentration is poor, and that didn’t prove wrong when

we were going to the island Lokrum by boat.

example

translation2

Leopold felt like nothing on earth. He was sitting on a chair, looking

sad.

lexicographic

tr. Equivalents1Being poor

lexicographic

tr. Equivalents2To feel like nothing on earth, to feel poorly/rotten

source1 My own equivalent

source2 Slovensko-angleški slovar

MWLU VREME, DA BI SE ŠE PES OBESIL

source SSKJ

13

frequency 6


definition Zelo slabo, neprijazno vreme

illustrative

example Tečemo, pa tudi če je vreme, da bi se še pes obesil.

source http://www.tekaskiforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=426&start=30

example

translationWe run even in foul weather.

lexicographic

tr. equivalentsFoul, nasty weather


2 General part

2.1 Topic outline

As part of the Idiomatics Project Work I investigated multi-word lexical units within the topic

of animals, to be more exact, dogs. The task was expected to be difficult and it also was. I

decided to search for different types of MWLU, such as proverbs, sayings and idioms related

to the topic of dogs. I analyzed their meaning, frequency, how and where they are used, what

their function is and gave an illustrative example. Already at the beginning I knew that there

would be some MWLUs in English which would not entirely correspond to the ones in

Slovene and the other way round. As expected, in some cases there were some difficulties in

finding appropriate lexicographic equivalents. However, with the use of internet, dictionaries

and different translational strategies I have found the appropriate solutions.

2.2 Research methods

First I used internet resources and different dictionaries in order to choose ten English and ten

Slovene examples out of a range of possibilities. To find the appropriate equivalents I used

mono- and bilingual dictionaries. Corpora were of great help when trying to determine

14

whether a certain MWLU is actually being used in discourse or not, and to provide some

illustrative examples. I also used Google to check the frequency of an MWLU. In cases when

I was not able to find an appropriate lexicographic translation equivalent, I tried to find my

own equivalent that corresponded to the original meaning.

2.3 Conclusion

To conclude, it was much easier to analyze English MWLU’s than Slovene ones. That is,

there are more English dictionaries and other resources available. Although I was able to find

Slovene MWLU’s quite easy, it was much more difficult to find their appropriate equivalents.

Analyzing English MWLUs I also found one or more appropriate equivalents in quite few

cases, whether analyzing Slovene MWLUs that happened only in one case. In one case there

was a Slovene MWLU where I found two different meanings of an idiom and therefore also

two different translation equivalents. There are also examples, when we find a certain

expression in a dictionary, but the corpora do not show the actual use of an expression. I

believe, most of these MWLU’s are used colloquially, and that is why the corpora do not give

so many results comparing to Google. I found out that each of the MWLU has a specific

function and can be used to express different things, for example: emotions, advice, general

truths and similar. In one case I also found an idiom used as an euphemism.

2.4 Bibliography

Grad-Leeming, Slovensko-angleški slovar (elektronska izdaja, verzija 1.1).

Amebis, d.o.o

Grad-Škerlj-Vitorovič,Veliki angleško-slovenski slovar (elektronska izdaja, verzija

1.2). Amebis, d.o.o.

Slovar slovenskega knjižnega jezika, SAZU in ZRC SAZU (elektronska izdaja,

verzija 1.1). Amebis, d.o.o.

Angleško-slovenski slovar Password (elektronska izdaja). Amebis, d.o.o.

http://dictionary.cambridge.org


http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/ (British National Corpus)

http://bos.zrc-sazu.si/s_beseda.html (Nova beseda)

http://www.thefreedictionary.com

15

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

http://bos.zrc-sazu.si/s_beseda.html

http://www.natcorp.ox.ac.uk/


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

http://www.google.com

http://www.google.si


16

http://www.google.com/

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