English sustainable expressions: from the history of Apple idioms

Under the term "stable expressions" linguists understand such constructions, the meaning of which differs from the direct meaning of the words entering into it. To denote this concept there are also synonyms for "idiom" and "phraseology." As a rule, these lexical units have a fixed grammatical structure and a certain order of words, they are used in speech only entirely.

Linguists of the world are still arguing which phrases and sentences can be considered phraseological. In English, the term "stable expressions" is often understood as the so-called "phrasal" verbs (stable combinations of verbs with adverbs and prepositions): to eat in - there are at home, to eat out - eat in a restaurant or in a cafe, to eat something up - Eat something completely.

Some researchers refer to idioms proverbs and sayings, aphorisms and quotations. Without going into the subtleties of terminology, in this article we want to consider English stable expressions that use the word "apple". At the same time, by default, we will consider that proverbs, sayings, aphorisms can be attributed to phraseologicalisms and phraseological turnovers , because of their frequent reproducibility and special metaphorical nature.

Apple idioms

Russian and English idioms, which go back to biblical or ancient myths, are tracing. Compare:

Adam's apple - Adam's apple;

Apple of discord is an apple of discord.

Because it is much more interesting to consider "apple" stable expressions, peculiar only to the English language.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away (Eat an apple a day, and the doctor will not be needed), says the proverb.

Studies conducted in Britain indicate that with the active use of this fruit (at least 1 per day), the risk that a person will have a myocardial infarction decreases by 21%, and the average life expectancy increases by 17 years.

The apple of somebody's eye.

So they say about a person (or an object), who is loved most of all in the world or who are insanely proud. Russian equivalent: "the apple of the eye", "favorite child". By the way, the very word "apple" comes from the Anglo-Saxon "aeppel", which meant both the eye and the apple.

To polish the apple.

It means - flattering someone, podlizyvatsya, "scattered with small beads" or "pour honey in your ears." In the XVI-XVIII centuries, first in Sweden and Denmark, and then in America, arose such a custom: the students gave the teachers red, ruddy, polished to shine apples. Especially often resorted to this method negligent schoolchildren in the hope of "appease" the teacher, get a high score.

Americans are very fond of apples. According to legend, during the conquest of the country, one of the pioneers was engaged in the cultivation of these fruits, for which he received the nickname Johnny Apple Seed - Johnny Appleseed. Although the recipes for pies with these fruits have met in various publications as far back as the 14th century, but it was in America that the famous apple pie became not just a confectionery product, but one of the national symbols. Therefore, some stable expressions in English go back to this culinary product.

Apple pie order is the ideal order.

As American as apple pie - so American, as an apple pie.

As easy as apple pie - as simple as apple pie.

What could be easier than preparing a pie with apples? The first confectionery products of the colonists were generally baked on the basis of stale bread. The Russian proverb will sound like this: "It's easier to steam turnip", "Simpler simple."

Big Apple (Big Apple)

This is how New York is called in the United States, and sometimes any megapolis. In the 30s of the 20th century, jazz performers from all over the world came to this city, who loved to say: "There are many different apples on the apple tree, but if you conquered New York, consider that the biggest apple you have in your pocket".

Stable expressions reflect the national language picture of the world. They allow you to master the language and its shades more deeply, to make the speech more colorful and emotional.