Idiomsoms and Phrases

1. Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and
Proverbs
China Teachers Workshop
Lynn Henrichsen

2. Idioms
• Groups of words whose meaning does not
equal the literal sum of the parts
– Kick + the + bucket ≠ Die
– Pull + your + leg ≠ Tease

3. Idioms
• Vocabulary items that are especially difficult
for Chinese learners of English to comprehend
and learn
• Vocabulary items that may mystify even
proficient Chinese teachers of English
• Vocabulary items that you know naturally
(most of the time) and use frequently
• Something you will probably teach in China

9. Phrasal Verbs
• Two (or more) words, the first of which is a
verb that is followed by what looks like a
preposition (actually a “particle”), which
function together as a verbal unit
– Look + over = Examine
• A phrasal verbs is not the same as a verb
followed by a preposition:
– Look + over = Peer across

10. Phrasal Verbs
• Some phrasal verbs are separable
– Look over the fence
– Look the fence over
– Look it over (obligatory when object is a pronoun)
– Look over it (changes to verb + preposition meaning)
• Other phrasal verbs are inseparable
– They looked after our children
– They looked after them
– * They looked them after

12. Proverbs
• Groups of words whose meaning may or may
not be idiomatic but that are widely known
and express some sort of wisdom
– The early bird catches the worm.
– Birds of a feather flock together
• Chinese has many proverbs!
• Many of them express wisdom similar to that
of English proverbs, but the words they
employ are different.

16. Video Examples from China
Planned, thorough vocabulary teaching
Impromptu vocabulary teaching
Idioms and proverbs