Proverbial phrase

Proverbial phrase

A proverbial phrase or a proverbial expression is type of a conventional saying similar to proverb transmited by oral tradition. The difference is that a proverb is fixed expression, while a proverbial phrase permits alterations to fit the grammar of the context. [ [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0043-373X%28194904%298%3A2%3C95%3APPFC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-3&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage "Proverbial Phrases from California"] , by Owen S. Adams, "Western Folklore", Vol. 8, No. 2 (1949), pp. 95-116 doi|10.2307/1497581] [Arvo Krikmann "the Great Chain Metaphor: An Open Sezame for Proverb Semantics?", "Proverbium, 11 (1994), pp. 117-124.]

Another similar construction is an idiomatic phrase. Sometimes it is difficult to draw a distinction between the two. In both of them the meaning does not immediately follow from the phrase. The difference is that an idiomatic phrase involves figurative language of its components, while in a proverbial phrase the figurative meaning is the extension of its literal meaning. Some experts classify proverbs and proverbial phrases as types of idioms. [Lexicography: Critical Concepts (2003) R. R. K. Hartmann, Mick R K Smith, ISBN 0415253659, [http://books.google.com/books?id=x8LpWk9sPOEC&pg=PA303&lpg=PA303&dq=%22proverbial+phrases+are%22&source=web&ots=NHiQmz_UQJ&sig=ZjmUDlpgrQHfDe_NRnydPZs8dn4&hl=en p. 303] ]

References

Further reading

*"Early American Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases", by Bartlett Jere Whiting (1977) ISBN 0674219813


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Proverbial name (Africa) — A proverbial name is a type of given name formation in some cultures of Africa. A proverbial name is a name which is a proverbial phrase or a phylosophical statement. An example from the Urhobo culture: Okeremute ( there is time for everything )… …   Wikipedia

  • proverbial — proverbial, iale, iaux [ prɔvɛrbjal, jo ] adj. • 1487; de proverbe 1 ♦ Qui est de la nature du proverbe. Phrase proverbiale. Qui tient du proverbe par la forme, l emploi. Expression, locution proverbiale. 2 ♦ (1803) Qui est aussi généralement… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • proverbial — 1. adjective a) Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale. Doris: Youre making me feel like the proverbial stepmother. b) Widely known; …   Wiktionary

  • phrase — /frayz/, n., v., phrased, phrasing. n. 1. Gram. a. a sequence of two or more words arranged in a grammatical construction and acting as a unit in a sentence. b. (in English) a sequence of two or more words that does not contain a finite verb and… …   Universalium

  • phrase — Synonyms and related words: Parthian shot, adage, address, adjectival phrase, affirmation, allegation, ana, anacrusis, analects, answer, aphorism, apostrophe, apothegm, article, articulate, assertion, averment, axiom, back matter, bass passage,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • phrase — /freɪz / (say frayz) noun 1. Grammar a sequence of two or more words arranged in a grammatical construction and acting as a unit in the sentence. 2. Speech a word or group of spoken words which the mind focuses on momentarily as a meaningful unit …  

  • phrase — [[t]freɪz[/t]] n. v. phrased, phras•ing 1) gram. a sequence of two or more words arranged in a grammatical unit and lacking a finite verb or such elements of clause structure as subject and verb, as a preposition and a noun or pronoun, an… …   From formal English to slang

  • Pushing on a string (phrase) — Pushing on a string is a metaphor for influence that is more effective in moving things in one direction than another. If something is connected to you by a string, you can move it toward you by pulling on the string, but you can t move it away… …   Wikipedia

  • With flying colours — A ship in harbor, flying its flags. With flying colours is a popular proverbial phrase of the English language. The phrase s origins relate to ship flags. Contents 1 History …   Wikipedia

  • Cantillation — is the ritual chanting of readings from the Bible in synagogue services.The chants are rendered in accordance with the special signs or marks printed in the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Bible (or Tanakh) to complement the letters and vowel points …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”