idiomi, lecture 08, 12 13

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VariationVariation

Translation of FEIs that Translation of FEIs that involve variationinvolve variation

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VariationVariation

champ at the bit/chafe at the bit champ at the bit/chafe at the bit = to be eager and not = to be eager and not willing to wait to do sth.willing to wait to do sth. (=biti nestrpljiv, jedva (=biti nestrpljiv, jedva čekati, čekati, cupkati od nestrpljenjacupkati od nestrpljenja))

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: The kids were The kids were champing at the bitchamping at the bit to get to get into the swimming pool. The dogs were into the swimming pool. The dogs were champing at champing at the bitthe bit to begin the hunt. to begin the hunt.

the shoe is on the other foot/the boot is on the other the shoe is on the other foot/the boot is on the other footfoot = the situation is now opposite of what it was, esp. = the situation is now opposite of what it was, esp. because someone who was weak now has powerbecause someone who was weak now has power (=situacija se promijenila, situacija je obrnuta)(=situacija se promijenila, situacija je obrnuta)

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: I was one of his research assistants, subject to his I was one of his research assistants, subject to his orders, but now that I'm his department head orders, but now that I'm his department head the shoe is on the the shoe is on the other footother foot. .

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VariationVariation blow off steam/let off steamblow off steam/let off steam = to do or say sth. that = to do or say sth. that

helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy helps you to get rid of strong feelings or energy (=ispuhati se)(=ispuhati se)

EXAMPLES: EXAMPLES: I've told her she can call me and talk any I've told her she can call me and talk any time she wants to time she wants to blowblow offoff some some steamsteam. After a long car . After a long car trip, the kids need to run around a bit and let trip, the kids need to run around a bit and let offoff steamsteam..

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Verb VariationVerb Variation

throw/tossthrow/toss in the towel in the towel = to quit; = to quit; to admit defeat to admit defeat (odustati, povu(odustati, povući se; ći se; priznati poraz)priznati poraz)

EXAMPLE: When John could stand no more of Mary's EXAMPLE: When John could stand no more of Mary's bad temper, he bad temper, he threw in the towelthrew in the towel and left. The union and left. The union was forced to was forced to throwthrow in the towelin the towel and settle their bitter and settle their bitter dispute with the company.dispute with the company.

look/shootlook/shoot daggers at someone daggers at someone = = to look angrily at to look angrily at someone (=strijeljati koga pogledom)someone (=strijeljati koga pogledom)

EXAMPLE: I suddenly noticed David EXAMPLE: I suddenly noticed David looking daggerslooking daggers at me at me and thought I'd better shut up.and thought I'd better shut up.

say/kisssay/kiss goodbye to sth. goodbye to sth. twist/wraptwist/wrap someone around one’s little finger someone around one’s little finger

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Noun VariationNoun Variation a skeleton in the a skeleton in the closet/cupboard closet/cupboard = = a scandal that is kept secreta scandal that is kept secret

(mračna tajna) If you want to be a successful politician, you can't afford to have too many skeletons in your cupboard.

hold a hold a gun/pistolgun/pistol to someone’s head = to someone’s head = to use threats to force to use threats to force someone to do what you want Management are holding a someone to do what you want Management are holding a gungun to to our heads. If we don't behave we'll lose our jobs.our heads. If we don't behave we'll lose our jobs.

like a cat on a like a cat on a hot tin roofhot tin roof/a cat on /a cat on hot bricks hot bricks = = to be nervous to be nervous and unable to keep stilland unable to keep still; to be jumpy; to be jumpy (biti nemiran, nervozan, kao (biti nemiran, nervozan, kao na iglama) na iglama) What's the matter with her? She's What's the matter with her? She's like alike a catcat on aon a hothot tintin roofroof this morning. this morning.

burn one’sburn one’s boats/bridges = boats/bridges = tto o destorydestory one's one's pathpath, , connectionsconnections, , reputationreputation, , opportunitiesopportunities, etc., etc. (spaliti za sobom sve mostove) (spaliti za sobom sve mostove) Even if you are dismissed from a job in the worst way, take care to not burn your bridges with unseemly comments on the way out, since you never know who you will meet again.

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Adjective and Modifier VariationAdjective and Modifier Variation

a a bad/rottenbad/rotten apple apple = = one bad person in a group of one bad person in a group of people who are goodpeople who are good (trula jabuka, gnjila jabuka) (trula jabuka, gnjila jabuka) You'll You'll find the occasional find the occasional rottenrotten appleapple in every organization in every organization (see also a proverb: (see also a proverb: a a rotten apple spoils the barrel)

a a different/anotherdifferent/another kettle of fish = kettle of fish = if you say that if you say that something or someone is a something or someone is a differentdifferent kettlekettle of of fishfish, , you mean that they are completely you mean that they are completely differentdifferent from from something or someone else that has been talked about something or someone else that has been talked about (drugi par opanaka, druga prica) (drugi par opanaka, druga prica) Andy was never very Andy was never very interested in school, but Anna, now she was a interested in school, but Anna, now she was a completely completely differentdifferent kettlekettle of of fishfish..

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Particle VariationParticle Variation

on/alongon/along the right lines the right lines = = do something in a way that do something in a way that will bring good results will bring good results (biti na dobrom putu) (biti na dobrom putu) Do you Do you think we're think we're on theon the rightright lineslines with this project? with this project?

go go round/aroundround/around in circles = in circles = to use a lot of time and to use a lot of time and effort trying to do something, without making any effort trying to do something, without making any progressprogress (vrtiti se u krug) I need some more data to I need some more data to work on, otherwise I'm just work on, otherwise I'm just goinggoing roundround in circlesin circles. . We can't We can't gogo roundround inin circlescircles all day - someone will all day - someone will have to make a decision.have to make a decision. We spent the whole day going around in circles looking for a document which everyone thought was lost but which wasn't.

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Conjunction VariationConjunction Variation

when/ifwhen/if push comes to shove push comes to shove = = if sth. can be done if if sth. can be done if push comes to shove, it can be done if the situation push comes to shove, it can be done if the situation becomes so bad that you have to do it (kad dodje voda becomes so bad that you have to do it (kad dodje voda do grla, ako dodje stani pani), If push comes to shove, do grla, ako dodje stani pani), If push comes to shove, we can always sell the car.we can always sell the car.

hit -hit -and/orand/or-miss -miss = if sth. is hit-and-miss you cannot = if sth. is hit-and-miss you cannot depend on it to be of good quality, on time, accurate, depend on it to be of good quality, on time, accurate, etc, (slabe kvalitete, neprecizno, idi mi dodji mi) We etc, (slabe kvalitete, neprecizno, idi mi dodji mi) We used a cheap printer, but the quality was a bit used a cheap printer, but the quality was a bit hit or hit or missmiss. Weather forecasting used to be a very . Weather forecasting used to be a very hit-and-hit-and-missmiss affair. affair.

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Specificity and AmplificationSpecificity and Amplification

have a (have a (goodgood) laugh) laugh = laugh (dobro se ismijati) I was = laugh (dobro se ismijati) I was embarrassed at the time, but I embarrassed at the time, but I had a good laugh had a good laugh about it laabout it later.ter.

in (in (fulfull) blooml) bloom = to be producing flowers (u punom = to be producing flowers (u punom cvatu) The apple trees are cvatu) The apple trees are in full bloomin full bloom..

turn (turn (overover) in one’s grave) in one’s grave = if you say that a dead = if you say that a dead person would turn in their grave, you mean that they person would turn in their grave, you mean that they will be very angry or upset about sth. If they knew will be very angry or upset about sth. If they knew about it (okretati se u grobu) She’d about it (okretati se u grobu) She’d turn in her graveturn in her grave if if she knew what he was spending his inheritance she knew what he was spending his inheritance on.on.

up the creek (up the creek (without a paddlewithout a paddle)) = = in trouble (u nevolji) in trouble (u nevolji) If any more people resign, we’ll be really If any more people resign, we’ll be really up the creekup the creek..

Specificity and AmplificationSpecificity and Amplification

at all hours (at all hours (of the day and nightof the day and night)) = = continually during the day and the night continually during the day and the night (u svako doba dana i no(u svako doba dana i noćići) They keep ) They keep ringing me up ringing me up at all hoursat all hours..

put flesh (put flesh (and boneand bone) on something ) on something = add = add more details to a plan, idea, argument, to more details to a plan, idea, argument, to make it better or more complete make it better or more complete (uobli(uobličitičiti) We need some real figures and ) We need some real figures and evidence to evidence to putput fleshflesh on the theory. on the theory.

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TruncationTruncation

make hay make hay (while the sun shines)(while the sun shines) = you = you should make good use of an opportunity should make good use of an opportunity while it lasts (while it lasts (željezo se kuje dok je vrućeželjezo se kuje dok je vruće) ) While I was living in France, I decided to While I was living in France, I decided to make hay while the sun shinesmake hay while the sun shines and learn and learn how to speak French!how to speak French!

finders keepers finders keepers (loser(loserss weepers) weepers) = said by = said by a child who has found an object to the child a child who has found an object to the child who has lost it to show that they intend to who has lost it to show that they intend to keep it (ko nadje njegovo)keep it (ko nadje njegovo)

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TruncationTruncation what's sauce for the goose (is sauce for the what's sauce for the goose (is sauce for the

gander)gander) = = something that you say to suggest something that you say to suggest that if a particular type of behaviour is that if a particular type of behaviour is acceptable for one person, it should also be acceptable for one person, it should also be acceptable for another person (ono acceptable for another person (ono što je što je dozvoljeno jednom mora biti dozvoljeno i dozvoljeno jednom mora biti dozvoljeno i drugomdrugom))

nothing ventured, nothing gainednothing ventured, nothing gained = = something that you say which means that it is something that you say which means that it is necessary to take risks in order to achieve necessary to take risks in order to achieve something (ko riskira taj profitira) something (ko riskira taj profitira)

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Variations between British and Variations between British and American EnglishAmerican English

flogflog a dead horse a dead horse (BrE), (BrE), beatbeat a dead horse a dead horse (AmE) (AmE) = = to waste effort on sth. that there is no chance of to waste effort on sth. that there is no chance of succeeding at (soliti more, raditi uzaludan posao) He succeeding at (soliti more, raditi uzaludan posao) He keeps trying to get it published but I think he’s keeps trying to get it published but I think he’s flogging a dead horseflogging a dead horse..

kickkick one’s heels one’s heels (mainly BrE), (mainly BrE), coolcool one’s heels one’s heels (mainly AmE(mainly AmE)) = be forced to wait for a period of time = be forced to wait for a period of time (satima (satima čekatičekati, dre, dreždatiždati) She ) She kicked her heelskicked her heels for for hours at the gate of the Embassy.hours at the gate of the Embassy.

touchtouch wood wood (BrE), (BrE), knockknock wood, wood, knock onknock on wood wood (AmE)(AmE) = kucnuti o drvo= kucnuti o drvo

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in the in the drivingdriving seat seat (BrE), (BrE), in the in the driver’sdriver’s seat seat (AmE) (AmE) = = to be in control of a situation (kontrolisati situaciju) The to be in control of a situation (kontrolisati situaciju) The consumer is consumer is in the drivingin the driving seatseat due to the huge range due to the huge range of goods on the market.of goods on the market.

red as a red as a beetrootbeetroot (BrE), (BrE), red as a red as a beetbeet (AmE) (AmE) = crven = crven k’o paprika, zacrvenjeti se kao bulkak’o paprika, zacrvenjeti se kao bulka

wear the wear the trouserstrousers (BrE), (BrE), wear the wear the pantspants (AmE) (AmE) = to = to be the person in a relationship who makes all the be the person in a relationship who makes all the important decisions (biti onaj koji nosi important decisions (biti onaj koji nosi hlače u kući, biti hlače u kući, biti muško u kućimuško u kući) I don't think there's any doubt about who ) I don't think there's any doubt about who wears the trouserswears the trousers in their house. in their house.

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like turkeys voting for like turkeys voting for ChristmasChristmas ( (mainly BrEmainly BrE), ), like turkeys voting for like turkeys voting for ThanksgivingThanksgiving ( (AmEAmE)) = = kao ovce na klanjekao ovce na klanje

turn on turn on sixpencesixpence ( (BrEBrE), ), turn on turn on a dimea dime ((AmEAmE)) = to change direction very quickly (promijeniti = to change direction very quickly (promijeniti kurs/smjer u trenu) The economy is not likely to kurs/smjer u trenu) The economy is not likely to turnturn on aon a dimedime between now and the end of between now and the end of the year. We never knew what our father would the year. We never knew what our father would decide because his opinions could decide because his opinions could turnturn on aon a dimedime..

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not see the not see the woodwood for the trees for the trees ( (BrEBrE), ), not see not see the the forestforest for the trees for the trees ( (AmEAmE)) = to be unable = to be unable to get a general understanding of a situation to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details because you are too worried about the details (ne(ne vidjeti šumu od stabala vidjeti šumu od stabala) The politician's ) The politician's opponents claimed that she opponents claimed that she couldn'tcouldn't seesee the the forest for the treesforest for the trees, because she spent so , because she spent so much time trying to solve minor problems.much time trying to solve minor problems.

rub rub shouldersshoulders with with ( (BrEBrE), ), rub rub elbowselbows with with ((AmEAmE)) = to meet and spend time with ( = to meet and spend time with (družiti družiti sese), She claims that she ), She claims that she rubs shoulders with rubs shoulders with royalty all the time.royalty all the time.

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(not) beat about the bush(not) beat about the bush ( (mainly Britishmainly British)), , (not) beat around the bush(not) beat around the bush ((mainly Americanmainly American) ) = to avoid talking about what’s important = to avoid talking about what’s important ((obilaziti kao mačka oko vruće kaše, kružiti kao obilaziti kao mačka oko vruće kaše, kružiti kao kiša oko Kragujevca, odugovlačitikiša oko Kragujevca, odugovlačiti) ) Don’t beat Don’t beat around the bush around the bush – get to the point!– get to the point!

lead someone lead someone upup the garden path the garden path ( (BrEBrE), ), lead lead someone someone downdown the garden path the garden path ( (AmEAmE)) = to = to deceive someone (prevariti koga, vudeceive someone (prevariti koga, vući koga za ći koga za nosnos) It seems as if we’ve been ) It seems as if we’ve been led up the led up the garden path garden path about the position of our hotel – about the position of our hotel – it’s miles from the beach.it’s miles from the beach.

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a storm in a teacupa storm in a teacup ((BrEBrE), ), a tempest in a a tempest in a teapotteapot ( (AmEAmE)) = a lot of unnecessary anger = a lot of unnecessary anger and anxiety about an unimportant matter and anxiety about an unimportant matter (praviti od muhe medvjeda)(praviti od muhe medvjeda)

have one’s hand/fingers in the tillhave one’s hand/fingers in the till ((BrEBrE), ), have one’s hand in the cookie jarhave one’s hand in the cookie jar ((AmEAmE)) = = do something wrong or bad, steal (biti do something wrong or bad, steal (biti uhvaćen uhvaćen na djeluna djelu) Uncle Joe got caught with his ) Uncle Joe got caught with his handhand in the cookiein the cookie jarjar while trying to grab a toy while trying to grab a toy intended for the kids.intended for the kids.

idiomi, lecture 08, 12 13

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