VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES -NGUYỄN THI ̣THÀ NH A STUDY ON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING WORDS DENOTING FOOD AND DRINK IN ENGLISH AND THEIR VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS FROM CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE (NGHIÊN CƢ́U VỀ NHƢ̃ NG THÀNH NGƢ̃ CÓ CHƢ́A CÁC TƢ̀ CHỈ THƢ́C ĂN VÀ ĐỒ UỐNG TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ TƢƠNG ĐƢƠNG CỦA CHÚNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT NHÌN TỪ GÓC ĐỘ VĂN HÓA) MA MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60 22 02 01 Hanoi – 2014 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES -NGUYỄN THI ̣THÀ NH A STUDY ON IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS CONTAINING WORDS DENOTING FOOD AND DRINK IN ENGLISH AND THEIR VIETNAMESE EQUIVALENTS FROM CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE (NGHIÊN CƢ́U VỀ NHƢ̃ NG THÀNH NGƢ̃ CÓ CHƢ́A CÁC TƢ̀ CHỈ THƢ́C ĂN VÀ ĐỒ UỐNG TRONG TIẾNG ANH VÀ TƢƠNG ĐƢƠNG CỦA CHÚNG TRONG TIẾNG VIỆT NHÌN TƢ̀ GÓC ĐỘ VĂN HÓA) MA MINOR THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 60 22 02 01 Supervisor: Assoc Prof., Dr Nguyễn Xuân Thơm Hanoi – 2014 DECLARATION I certify that the content of this thesis is the result of my own work and that all the material and sources collected in preparing this study have been identified and acknowledged The thesis has not, wholly or in part, been submitted for any degree to any other universities or institutions or for any other purposes i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS On the completion of this thesis, I am grateful to many people First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor, Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Xuan Thom for his enthusiastic guidance and valuable advice and help, without which, this thesis could not be completed I also wish to thank all my lecturers of Post Graduate Department, College of Foreign Languages, Vietnam National University for their helpful instruction during my whole course of studying In addition, I owe a great debt of gratitude to my family, friends and colleagues, whose encouragement and assistance play an important part in my doing this thesis Finally, I am all too aware that despite all the helpful advice and assistance, the project is far from perfect Therefore, I have sole and full responsibility for any inadequacies and shortcomings that the thesis may be considered to have Hanoi, October 2013 Nguyễn Thị Thành ii ABSTRACT One of the most effective and colourful ways to transfer culture is the use of idioms which, however, causes many troubles for English learners because of their confusing meanings To help learners have a better understanding of idioms, particularly idioms containing food and drink this paper conducts “A study on idiomatic expressions containing words denoting food and drink in English and their Vietnamese equivalents from cultural perspective” The idioms studied of both languages are analyzed and compared in terms of their syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and cultural features The equivalence those idioms of the two languages is also analyzed On this basis, it also offers some educational implications for English teachers and learners to make their teaching and learning more effective iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii ABSTRACT iii PART I: INTRODUCTION Rationale to the study Research aims and research questions Objectives of the research Scope of the research Methods of the study Significance of the research Design of the research PART II: DEVELOPMENT Chapter I: Literature Review Chapter II: Theoretical background 2.1 Overview of Idioms 2.1.1 Definition of idioms 2.1.2 Typical features of idioms 2.1.3 Idioms and other similar language units 2.2 The relationship of Language and Culture 12 2.2.1 Concept of Culture 12 2.2.2.The inseparable Relationship between Language and Culture 12 2.2.3 The Relationship between Idioms and Culture 12 Chapter III: METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE 14 3.1 Research design 14 3.2 Research methodology 14 3.3 Data collection 14 a What is food? 14 iv b What is drink? 16 c Choosing idioms containing food and drink 16 3.4 Data analysis 16 3.5 Reliability and validity 17 Chapter IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 17 4.1 Syntactic features of idioms containing food and drink in English and Vietnamese 17 4.1.1 Phrase Structures 17 4.1.2 Sentence Structures 20 4.2 Semantic features of idioms containing food and drink in English and Vietnamese 21 4.2.1 Idioms having human implications 21 4.2.2 Idioms having non-human implications 25 4.3 Similarities and differences in syntactic and semantic features of idioms containing food and drink in English and Vietnamese 26 4.3.1 Similarities 27 4.3.2 Differences 28 4.4 The equivalence of the English and Vietnamese idioms containing food and drink 31 4.4.1 Idiomatic equivalence 31 4.4.2 Conceptual equivalence 32 4.4.3 Lexical equivalence 33 4.4.4 Semantic and pragmatic equivalence 37 4.5 Cultural characteristics of English and Vietnamese idioms containing food and drink 37 4.6 Implications for teaching and learning idioms containing food and drink39 PART III: CONCLUSION Conclusion 40 v Limitations of the thesis and further study 40 Suggestions for further study 41 REFERENCES 42 APPENDIXES I vi PART I: INTRODUCTION Rationale to the study Mastering a foreign language is a strong desire of all learners However, it is not an easy task because of many obstacles that learners face during their learning Moreover, their final target of learning a foreign language is the ability to communicate A successful communication can only be reached when both the speakers and the listeners have a common understanding of each other However, the differences in many aspects of the languages and cultures cause various problems for learners in the process of mastering a foreign language One of the most effective and colourful ways to transfer culture is the use of idioms Because idioms imply culture, we cannot understand idioms correctly without the cultural context Besides, according to Cambridge International dictionary of Idioms (1998), on the one hand “… it is often impossible to guess the meaning of an idiom from the words it contains”; on the other hand “Idioms may also suggest a particular attitude of the person using them, for example disapproval, humour, exasperation or admiration ” Therefore, idioms are among the most interesting English aspects but it has never been easy to learn as well Thus, a good understanding of idioms is the key for learners to know more about the target language as well as its culture and to avoid culture shocks during communication Making comparisons between English idioms and Vietnamese ones can help Vietnamese learners comprehend the similarities and differences of the two languages and cultures, which in turn help them improve their English Because of the reasons above, I have wished to conduct some studies on English idioms and Vietnamese equivalent ones However, due to the limitation of the graduation paper’s scope and time, I would like to focus on English idioms containing food and drink and their equivalents in Vietnamese which have attracted me most for a long time in view of their variety in English idiom treasure Research aims and research questions 90 Holy mackerel 91 Hot potato how surprising, or how wonderful a problem, situation, etc that is difficult and unpleasant to deal with something extra and not essential that is added to an already good 92 Icing on the cake 93 In a pickle 94 In a stew (about/over sth) 95 In apple-pie order 96 In the pudding club in a difficult or unpleasant situation to become/feel very anxious or upset about sth The state of being very carefully and neatly arranged pregnant 97 In the soup in trouble Jam tomorrow good things that are promised for the future but never happen 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 to stop talking because one’s Keep one’s breath to words are not having any cool one’s porridge effect to destroy sth that would Kill the goose that make you rich, successful, lays the golden egg Know how many be sensible and intelligent beans make five If you say that someone knows their onions, you mean that they know their Know one’s onions subject well or can their job well Know which side to know where you can get one’s bread is an advantage for yourself buttered Land of milk and honey thâ ̣t nga ̣c nhiên, thâ ̣t tuyê ̣t vời vấ n đề khó giải quyế t , vấ n đề nan giải điề u may mắ n hay tuyê ̣t vời nào đó đế n sau mô ̣t điề u may mắ n hay tuyê ̣t vời khác có những vấn đề khó giải quyết lo lắ ng hay tƣ́c giâ ̣n về viê ̣c gì rất ngăn nắp, gọn gàng, đƣợc sắp xếp khéo léo có thai tình tra ̣ng rắ c rố i, gă ̣p khó khăn nhƣ̃ng điề u tố t đe ̣p đƣơ ̣c hƣ́a he ̣n tƣơng lai nhƣng không thành hiê ̣n thƣ̣c Có nói nữa cũng phí sức phá hỏng đánh mất một nguồn lợi lớn Sắ c xảo và nha ̣y bén thạo nghề, có kinh nghiê ̣m làm viê ̣c gì biế t rõ bên nào có lơ ̣i cho ̀ h nơi đƣợc xem là có đời a place where life is pleasant sống tốt đẹp và không and easy and people are có khó khăn gì, thế very happy lơi ćn nhiều ngƣời tìm đến VII 105 Lay an egg 106 Like a dose of salts Like taking candy from a baby Like the cat that’s got the cream 107 108 to fail or be unsuccessful at something that you are trying to very fast and easily used to emphasize how easy it is to sth thất bại công việc cố làm Rấ t nhanh và dễ dàng dễ nhƣ trở bàn tay very pleased with yourself rấ t hài lòng với bản thân 109 Live off the fat of the land to get enough money to live comfortably without doing much work 110 Make a hash of sth to sth badly có đủ tiền sống thoải mái mà không phải làm viê ̣c quá vấ t vả làm việc mợt cách tệ hại 111 Make a meal of/out of 112 Make an omelette without breaking eggs 113 Make fish of one and flesh of another 114 Make mincemeat of sb 115 116 Make no bones about Meat and drink to sb 117 Meat and potatoes 118 Milk and honey 119 Milk and water 120 Money for jam to spend more time, energy, etc doing sth in a way that other people think is unnecessary and/or annoying You cannot achieve sth important without causing a few problems to express a difference between two persons, groups, etc., esp by favouring one more than the other to defeat sb completely in a fight, an argument or a competition to hide no feelings about dành nhiều thời gian, sƣ́c lƣ̣c để làm mô ̣t viê ̣c mà ngƣời khác thấy khơng cầ n thiế t hay bƣ̣c chấp nhận những khó khăn hay rắc rối nhất định nhằm đạt đƣợc điều thiên vi ̣ đánh ba ̣i hoàn toàn không che giấ u cảm xúc something that sb enjoys là niềm vui của very much the most basic and important phầ n bản và quan aspects or parts of sth trọng nhất prosperity and abundance thịnh vƣợng và giàu có something that is weak in strength or substance money obtained easily or with little effort VIII yế u ớt, nhạt nhẽo (Tiề n) làm chơi ăn thật 121 Mutton dressed as lamb 122 Not amount to a hill of beans 123 Not care beans 124 Not care/give a fig (for sb/sth) 125 Not cost a bean 126 Not for all the tea in China 127 128 Not have a bean Not know beans about sth used to describe a woman who is trying to look younger than she really is, especially by wearing clothes that are designed for young people cƣa sƣ̀ng làm nghé It is not important không quan tro ̣ng không có mấy giá trị, không đáng kể not care at all about someone or something not to care at all about sth; to think that sth is not important cost nothing không quan tâm to have no money không quan tâm; coi điề u gì là không quan trọng chẳ ng đáng giá gì nhấn mạnh là khơng ḿn làm điều gì, bất kể là điều ấy sẽ mang lại nguồn lợi lớn đến đâu nữa không có tiề n not knowing about a subject không biế t về vấ n đề gì not even for a great reward 129 Not one’s cup of tea not what sb likes or is interested in 130 Not to have two beans to rub together không phải là ngƣời đƣơ ̣c yêu thić h not have any money không có đồ ng nào Not worth a bean Someone or something that is not worth a bean is of little or no value, and is not worth bothering with không có mấ y giá tri ̣và đó không đáng nga ̣i 132 Nutty as a fruitcake Behave in a strange or crazy way 133 Off one’s nut 134 Off one’s oats 135 Off one’s onion 136 Old trout 131 crazy Someone who is off their oats is not well and therefore not eating much mad; out of one’s senses a bad-tempered or annoying old woman IX cung cách ứng xử có phần nào điên rồ, khơng bình thƣờng điên da ̣i khơng khỏe, ăn it́ điên, mấ t trí bà già khó tính 137 Over-egg the pudding to spoil something by trying too hard to improve it 138 Pick over the bones of someone to examine something carefully an event that sb talks about that seems very unlikely to happen to be a third person with two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone together 139 Pie in the sky 140 Play gooseberry 141 Pour oil on troubled waters 142 Pull the/someone’s chestnuts out of the fire to or say something in order to make people stop arguing and become calmer to save another person or a situation from difficulty or certain ruin, esp by putting oneself in danger 143 Quarrel with bread and butter To act contrary to your best interest; to snarl at that… 144 Red herring 145 Rub salt into one’s wounds 146 Save one's bacon 147 Separate/Sort out the wheat from the chaff 148 Serve someone the same sauce 149 Settle one’s hash an unimportant fact, idea, event, etc that takes people’s attention away from the importance ones to increase someone’s feeling of injury or shame Escape from injury; avoid harm, especially to one's body to distinguish useful or valuable people or things from ones that are not useful or have no value to give back the same treatment to deal with someone in such a way that he can cause no more trouble X làm hỏng việc cố gắ ng quá sƣ́c cho viê ̣c đó kiể m tra kỹ lƣỡng mô ̣t sƣ̣ kiê ̣n dƣ̣ kiế n rấ t khó xảy ra; bánh vẽ làm ngƣời thứ ba (đi kèm theo một cặp nhân) cố gắng xoa dịu sự bất đồng, sự tranh chấp (làm nguôi giận ) cƣ́u hay cƣ́u vañ mơ ̣t tình thế cách đặt bản thân vào nguy hiể m bỏ nghề đã ni sớ ng mình, ngƣơ ̣c la ̣i với quyề n lơ ̣i của chin ́ h ́ u tớ gây nhiễu , mấ t tâ ̣p trung, đánh la ̣c hƣớng xát muối vào vết thƣơng cứu mợt ngƣời thoát khỏi mợt tình thế khó khăn, nguy hiểm phân biê ̣t cái tố t cái xấ u , phân biê ̣t cái hay cái dở ăn miế ng trả miếng trị cho một trận, sửa cho một trận 150 Sit above the salt 151 Sit below the salt 152 Small beer 153 Small potatoes 154 Someone’s daily bread 155 Someone’s salad days 156 Sour grapes 157 Speak with a plum in one’s mouth 158 Spill the beans in a position of honour, esp among guests at a dining table not in a position of honour, esp among guests at a dining table a person or thing that has no great importance or value, especially when compared with sb/sth else a person or thing that has no great importance or value, especially when compared with sb/sth else a person’s food or the money that he needs in order to live the years of life when someone was young and lacking in experience used to show that you think sb is jealous and is pretending that sth is not important If someone speaks with a plum in their mouth, they speak in a way that shows they are from a very high social group to reveal a secret to suffer whatever misfortunes are caused by one’s own foolish actions without help from others 159 Stew in one’s own juice 160 Sugar and spice 161 Take (the) bread out to take away sb’s job so that they are no longer able to of somebody’s earn enough money to live mouth kind and friendly XI ngồ i ăn cùng với ngƣời gia đình / khách ngồ i ăn cùng với ngƣời hầ u ngƣời hoă ̣c vật tầm thƣờng, không quan trọng ngƣời hoă ̣c vâ ̣t tầ m thƣờng, không quan trọng thƣ́c ăn hoă ̣c tiề n cầ n để số ng tuổ i trẻ nông nổ i, tuổ i trẻ thiếu kinh nghiệm nho xanh chẳ ng xƣ́ng miê ̣ng ngƣời phong lƣu/ bắt khơng đƣợc, tha làm phúc; chê bai ganh tỵ nói giọng bề để lọt tin tức ngoài, để lộ bí mật mỡ ̀ h rán ̀ h tố t bu ̣ng và thân thiê ̣n cƣớp mấ t miế ng cơm/ cầ n câu cơm của 162 Take sth with a pinch of salt to be careful about believing không tin mô ̣t cách that sth is completely true tuyê ̣t đố i to be the most surprising, annoying, etc thing that has happened or that somebody has done 163 Take the biscuit/cake 164 Take the gilt off the gingerbread to or be sth that makes a situation or achievement less attractive or impressive 165 Talk turkey to talk about sth seriously 166 Tea and sympathy 167 Teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs 168 The best/hottest thing since sliced bread 169 The big enchilada 170 The carrot and (the) stick (approach) 171 The cream of sth 172 The milk of human kindness The proof of the 173 pudding 174 The rough end of the pineapple 175 The salt of the earth kindness and attention that you give someone when they are upset to tell or show sb how to sth that they can already well, and probably better than you can là điều xảy gây ngạc nhiên, tƣ́c giâ ̣n nhấ t cạo bỏ nƣớc sơn hào nhoáng, vứt bỏ những cái tô điểm bề ngoài nói việc mợt cách nghiêm túc sƣ̣ tớ t bu ̣ng và cảm thông với ngƣời tƣ́c giâ ̣n trƣ́ng khôn viṭ ngƣời hoă ̣c vâ ̣t rấ t đƣơ ̣c yêu thích hay ngƣỡ ng mô ̣ the most important person or ngƣời hoă ̣c vâ ̣t quan thing trọng nhất a person or thing that is greatly liked or admired a reward and a punishment thƣởng và pha ̣t the best people or things in a tinh hoa, tinh túy particular group lòng tốt và sự cảm thông Kind behaviour, considered đối với ngƣời khác, to be natural to humans đƣợc xem nhƣ bản chất tự nhiên của ngƣời said to mean that you can only judge the quality of trăm nghe không bằ ng something after you have mô ̣t thấ y tried, used, or experienced it tình h́ng đó có a situation in which sb is ngƣời bi ̣đố i xƣ̉ tê ̣ và treated badly or unfairly không công bằ ng a very good and honest ngƣời rấ t tố t và thâ ̣t thà, person that you can always đáng tin câ ̣y depend on XII a person who is praised by a lot of people in a particular place because of something that they have done well the whole thing; everything 176 The toast of… 177 The whole enchilada 178 The world is one’s oyster there is no limit to the opportunities open to you 179 Throw/cast one’s bread upon the waters to something good that gives you no benefit now but may give you some benefit in the future Tough/smart cookie someone who is clever and successful, and knows how to get what they want 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 used when saying what time Turn someone into a you usually go home or go pumpkin to bed at night to feel weak because you are Turn to jelly nervous The upper crust are the upper classes and the Upper crust establishment To cause problems for sb or Upset the applecart spoil their plans, arrangements, etc Use a sledgehammer to use more force than is necessary to crack a nut to act with common sense; Use one’s loaf be sensible; think clearly Used to tell sb to become aware of what is really happening in a situation, Wake up and smell especially when this is sth the coffee unpleasant Walk on eggs If you are walking on eggs/eggshells, you are being very careful not to offend someone or anything wrong XIII tiế ng lành đồ n xa toàn bộ, tấ t cả mo ̣i thƣ́ hô ̣i nằ m tầ m tay chấp nhận một nguy rủi ro làm một điều tốt đẹp mà có thể sẽ mang lại lơ ̣i ích tƣơng lai ngƣời rấ t thông minh và thành công, biế t cách đa ̣t đƣơ ̣c nhƣ̃ng gì mình muố n thƣờng dùng nói thời gian ba ̣n thƣờng về nhà hay ngủ lo lắ ng đế n mê ̣t mỏi tầ ng lớp thƣơ ̣ng lƣu, tầ ng lớp của xã hô ̣i phá đám, làm hỏng kế hoạch mợt tình trạng tớt đẹp giết gà dao mổ trâu sử dụng trí thông minh dùng để nhắc đó nhâ ̣n thƣ́c đúng về điề u thƣ̣c sƣ̣ diễn ra; tỉnh ngộ hành động một cách thâ ̣n tro ̣ng, dè dặt 189 190 When the moon turns green cheese never không đời nào Worth your salt Deserving respect, especially because you your job well đáng kin ́ h tro ̣ng, làm việc giỏi, xứng đáng với đồng lƣơng XIV APPENDIX 2: VIETNAMESE-ENGLISH IDIOMS OF FOOD AND DRINK Vietnamese idioms Ăn cháo đái bát Ai biế t đâu ma ăn cỗ Ăn bánh trả tiề n Ăn bơ làm biế ng Ăn cá bỏ lờ Ăn cám trả vàng Ăn cáy bưng tay Ăn nào rào ấ y 10 11 12 13 Ăn táo rào sung Ăn cay uố ng đắ ng Ăn cháo cầ m Ăn chay niêm ̣ Phâ ̣t Ăn chó cả lông 14 Ăn chưc̣ đòi bánh chưng 15 Ăn cơm gà gáy, cấ t binh nửa ngày 16 Ăn cơm mới nói chuyêṇ cũ 17 18 Ăn cơm nhà Chúa múa tố i ngày Ăn cơm nhà thổ i tù và hàng tổng English equivalents (eat porridge and urinate in the bowl); ungrateful /Bite the hands that feed / Eaten bread is soon forgotten Who knows where the ghost is having its feast After the feast/dinner comes the reckoning To be lazy Ungrateful Repay manifold Go at it the wrong way; waste effort Don’t bite the hand that feeds you; be grateful Bite the hand that feeds you; ungrateful To drink a bitter cup; to suffer Allay hunger by sipping porridge To obey the Buddhist rules To be miserly, to be tight-fisted (eat other’s food and demand rice cake) Ask for too much Dilly-dally, be a slowpoke (eat new rice, tell the old story) Speak of the old days in the present situation, reminisce To spend time irresponsibly Charity begins at home XV 19 Ăn cơm nhà vác ngà voi 20 21 22 Ăn cướp cơm chim Ăn hương ăn hoa Ăn mâ ̣n trả đào 23 Ăn mâ ̣t trả gừng 24 Ăn mày đòi xôi gấ c 29 30 Ăn miế ng chả trả miế ng bùi Ăn miếng trả miếng Ăn mô ̣t bát cháo cha ̣y ba quãng đồng Ăn muố i còn chuố i chát Ăn nói cà riề ng cà tỏi Ăn ố c nói mò 31 Áo ấm cơm no 32 33 34 35 Ao sâu tố t cá Bắ c nước chờ ga ̣o người Bạn bè xôi thịt Bánh đúc bày sàng Bảo xôi ừ xôi, bảo thịt ừ thịt 25 26 27 28 36 37 Bắt cá hai tay 38 Bé hạt tiêu 39 Bình cũ rượu mới 40 Bờ xôi ruô ̣ng mâ ̣t 45 Bóp chết từ trứng nước Bữa rau bữa cháo Cá chậu chim lồng Cà cuống chết đến đít còn cay Cá đối bằng đầu 46 Cá mè một lứa 41 42 43 44 Neglect one’s responsibilities at home to practice charity Take the bread out of sb’s mouth Eat very little; be a light eater Return gift for gift (return ginger after eating honey); repay kindness with injury; ingratitude Beggars cannot be choosers; don’t look a gift horse in the mouth Return gift for gift Tit for tat (To walk three miles for a bowl of rice) Not worth the trouble Of two evils, choose the lesser; choose the least of two ills Speak disrespectfully Speak by guess and by God Abundant clothing and food To be welloff Deep lakes have meaty fishes Passively wait, depend on others Good-weather friends Expose sth Agreeing with everyone, without any opinion of one's own Be on the both sides of the fence / to run after two hares Little body, great mind Use old forms to express new ideas / new wine in old bottles (Used to show the pride of the farmers When talking about their country) rich, fertile land Crush sth in the egg Live in want Behind prison bars (cassia cicada remains bitter till death) It’s difficult to change one’s nature Six to the one and half a dozen to the other Put or consider different kind of people or things together in the same group / Dogs XVI 47 Cá nằm thớt 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 61 62 63 64 65 Cà riềng cà tỏi Cãi chém chả Câm hế n Cắ n cơm không vỡ Cao lương mi ̃ vi ̣ Cay ớt Chắ c cua ga ̣ch Chán cơm nếp nát Chê cam sành vớ phải quýt hôi Chén chú chén anh Chén tạc chén thù Chó già giữ xương Chửi chó ăn vã mắ m Chuột chù nếm dấm Chuột sa chĩnh gạo Chuyện nở ngô rang Có cam phụ quýt Có cháo đòi chè 66 Cố đấm ăn xôi 67 Có nếp có tẻ 68 69 70 Có oản phụ xôi Có thịt đòi xôi Có thóc mới bóc gạo 71 Cơm bưng nước rót 56 57 58 59 60 73 74 75 76 77 78 Cơm chẳ ng lành canh chẳ ng ngo ̣t Cơm đen vâ ̣n túng Cơm hàng cháo chơ ̣ Cơm ngon/dẻo canh Cơm niêu nước lo ̣ Cơm no rươ ̣u say Cơm sung cháo dề n 79 Cơm tẻ me ̣ ruô ̣t 72 of the same street bark alike In a very dangerous situation, difficult to escape To pick up quarrel; disrespectful manner Have a heated argument with each other As mute as a fish / As dumb as a an oyster A good-for-nothing; to be all thumbs Rich food, delicacy As hot as mustard Very firm, sure; As sure as eggs in eggs As dry as dust; as dull as ditch-water Worthlessly choosy To feast together Toasts exchanged in a drinking about Selfish; to be a dog in the manger To heap insults upon somebody Used to criticize a show-off To be in good luck To chat loudly New one in, old one out To give him an inch, he will take a yard To put one's pride in one's pocket for the sake of one's end To have both sons and daughter, to have both a boy and a girl New one in, old one out To give him an inch, he will take a yard No flour, no paste Be treated like a king; get red carpet treatment Discord between husband and wife Stroke of bad luck To be without a home good meals and good soup To live on simple fare To have eaten and drunk one’s fill Live in want Corn is the staff of life; there is nothing like plain bread XVII 80 Cơm tẻ no xôi vò chẳ ng thiế t 81 Cơm thừa canh că ̣n 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 Còn nước còn tát Con sâu bỏ rầ u nồ i canh Củi quế gạo châu Đâm bi tho ̣ ́ c, chọc bị gạo Đắt tôm tươi Dây cà dây muố ng Dễ ăn gỏi Đo lo ̣ nước mắ m đế m củ dưa hành Đói ăn bánh ve ̃ Dùi đục chấm (nước) (mắ m) cáy Được diếc tiếc rô Ép dầu ép mỡ nỡ ép duyên 89 90 91 92 93 94 Gạo chợ nước sông 95 Gắ t mắ m tôm 96 Giá áo túi cơm 97 Giao trứng cho ác 98 Giâ ̣t đầ u cá vá đầ u tôm Giết gà bằng dao mổ trâu 100 Gừng càng già càng cay 101 Há miệng chờ sung 99 102 Hàng thịt nguýt hàng cá 103 Hàng tôm hàng cá 104 Hiề n củ khoai Húng mọc, tía tô cũng 105 mọc 106 Kẻ ăn ốc người đổ vỏ 107 Kén cá chọn canh 108 Khát nước mới đào Not want, not wait Left-over food; the miserable life of a servant While there’s life, there’s hope One rotten apple spoils the barrel High living costs, the high cost of living Play off two adversaries Sell like hot cakes Cock-and-bull story As easy as a pie Stingy, cheese-paring Hope is the poor men’s bread (Dip a hammer in shrimp sauce); unsuitable, rude Get inch and want mile Love can’t be forced To wander around homeless; a miserable way of life; to live from hand to mouth Bad-tempered (Racks for coats, sacks for rice) Unless men only concerned with their material needs and wants Set a wolf to watch the sheep To rob Peter to pay Paul; to match the parts Use a sledgehammer to crack a nut With age comes wisdom To wait for good luck (the butcher hates the fish dealer) Do sth out of envy (of women) Quarrelsome As gentle as a lamp To imitate; to take a leaf out of somebody's book One beats the bush and another catches the birds Pick and choose / Choosy To dig a well as one is thirsty XVIII giế ng Khinh khin ̉ h chinh ̃ 109 mắ m thố i Contemptuous If you cannot have the best, make the best of what you have; there is small choice in rotten apples Không ưa thi ̀ dưa có giòi Faults are thick where love is thin Cunning, foxy Láu tôm láu cá Cut your coat according to your cloth Liêụ cơm gắ p mắ m Lợn lành chữa thành lợn The remedy may be worse than the disease què to have a mean heart Lòng chim dạ cá Lúng búng ngậm To sputter hột thị When you are rich you are powerful / Mạnh vi ̀ ga ̣o ba ̣o vi ̀ tiề n Money and rice create one’s pride (Sawdust and bitter melon) Frauds in Mạt cưa mướp đắng society/ when Greek meet Greek Red as a beetroot Mă ̣t đỏ gấ c As yellow as saffron Mă ̣t vàng nghê ̣ Little supply much demand Mật ít ruồi nhiều Flies are easier caught with honey than Mâ ̣t ngo ̣t chế t ruồ i with vinegar / Sweet words are dangerous Mă ̣t tái/xám gà cắt White as a sheet tiế t Put up a handsome outer appearance Màu mỡ riêu cua (limp as vermicelli) very soft, (as) soft as Mề m bún butter; As soft as wax Fortune favors the fools / A blind cat Mèo mù vớ cá rán catches its good meal Greedy, want to marry both sisters Mía đánh cụm Miệng thơn thớt, dạ ớt A honey tongue a heart of gall ngâm Stew in one’s own juice Mỡ ̀ h rán ̀ h To spring up like mushrooms Mọc lên nấm Một nụ cười bằng mười Laughing is the best medicine thang thuốc bổ A drop in the bucket Muố i bỏ biể n/bể Mười voi không được Much ado about nothing bát nước xáo To fish in troubled water Mươ ̣n gió bẻ măng To endure hardships and achieve a lofty Nằm gai nếm mật arm Không có cá lấ y rau má 110 làm ngon 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 XIX 136 Nâng nâng trứng 137 Nát tương 138 Nem công chả phươ ̣ng 139 140 141 142 Ngậm bồ hòn làm Ngậm đắng nuốt cay Ngang cua Nghèo rớt mùng tơi 143 Ngọt mía lùi 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 Nguây nguẩy mẹ quẩy tôm Nhẵn củ tỏi Nhát cáy Nhạt nước ốc Nhịn nhịn cơm sống Như (ăn) cơm bữa Như cá gặp nước Như mèo thấ y mỡ Guard sb/sth like the apple of one’s eye To be completely crushed / as pasty as soy (Peacock dumplings and phoenix pies) rare delicacies Grin and bear it Bite the bullet Utterly nonsensical Poor as a church mouse As sweet as roasted sugar cane; as sweet as honey To turn away in anger All finished, all gone As timid as a rabbit Insipid To control one’s thinking uneasily As often as one’s meals Feel like duck in water As quick as a cat that catches the mice To share one’s food and clothing with Nhường cơm sẻ áo others To be smooth-tongued Nói dẻo kẹo To be wordy in ill-mannered way Nói hành nói tỏi To be as sweet as sugar Nói đường Talk haltingly Nói nhát gừng To be ill-worded at sb Nói đổ mẻ vào mặt Used to imply a woman in her youth Nụ cà hoa mướp Neither flesh nor fish / to be half true Nửa nạc nửa mỡ wording Both husband and wife have out-of Ông ăn chả, bà ăn nem marriage relationship Ông mắ t chân giò, bà thò Both the man and the woman have to pay chai rươ ̣u Quầ n nước sáo áo cháo Worn out and dirty clothes lòng January commits the faults and May bears Quýt làm cam chịu the blames To make things unambiguously clear Ra ngô khoai Ragged, tattered Rách xơ mướp To skin a flint Rán sành mỡ Rành rành canh nấu Clear as daylight XX hẹ A tree is known by its fruit / Such beef, such broth 169 Rối canh hẹ To be in a stir 170 Rụng sung Fall a lot Good wine is not due to an earthen Rươ ̣u ngon chẳ ng nê ̣ (kể ) 171 container; a rose by any other name would be sành smell as sweet Drunkenness reveals what soberness 172 Rươ ̣u vào lời conceals; Wine’s in, words are out 173 Sơn hào hải vi ̣ Rare and fancy food Throw a sprat to catch a herring/ Thả săn sắt bắt 174 mackerel/whale cá rô 175 Thêm dấ m thêm ớt Pinch of salt 176 Thêm mắ m thêm muố i Pinch of salt To be a sycophant/hanger-on/camp 177 Theo voi ăn bã mía follower 178 Thuô ̣c cháo chảy To know by heart 179 Thừa nước đu ̣c thả câu To fish in troubled water If you dance you must pay the fiddle; if 180 Tiề n trao cháo múc you call a tune you must pay the piper 181 Trà dư tửu hậu After-tea, after-drink Avoiding one problem but getting hit with 182 Tránh vỏ dưa gặp vỏ dừa another./ Out of the frying pan into the fire; from bad to worse 183 Tre già măng mo ̣c The young succeed the old 184 Treo đầu dê, bán thịt chó He cries wine and sells vinegar 185 Trồ ng cà đươ ̣c cà As you sow so shall you reap 186 Trứng cho ̣i với đá Hopeless fight 187 Trứng để đầ u đẳ ng/gâ ̣y In a dangerous situation 188 Tương cà gia Plain food and life 189 Vắt chanh bỏ vỏ Slough off former associates 190 Xấ u từ trứng Ignoble by nature 168 Rau nào sâu nấ y XXI ... Choosing idioms containing food and drink From those definitions of food and drink, I call all idioms related to any kind of food and drink “idioms containing food and drink? ?? or “idioms of food and. .. focus on a small part of English idioms, ? ?A study on idiomatic expressions containing words denoting food and drink in English and their Vietnamese equivalents from Cultural Perspective? ?? I also call... idioms in general and English and Vietnamese idioms containing food and drink in particular always attract great attention of all linguists and readers as well However, each language has it profound