TITULO: LOS MODISMOS EN LA LENGUA INGLESA.

DISCIPLINA: INGLÉS.

AUTORES: ORIANA MIRANDA MADRUGA* SAHELY CALAS ROBAINA**

INTRODUCCION

Todo aquel que desee dominar una lengua extranjera debe adentrarse en el campo de los modismos pues éstos son una parte importante del idioma y abarcan un gran por ciento del habla. Generalmente los métodos convencionales para el aprendizaje de un idioma no brindan información sobre estas frases hechas como también se les llama, las cuales son creadas por las personas en sus conversaciones diarias y aprobadas por su uso. Todo estudioso del idioma inglés debe tener conocimiento sobre los modismos de esta lengua. El objetivo de este trabajo es que todo aquel que domine la lengua inglesa compruebe sus conocimientos en cuanto a modismos y a su vez se motive a profundizar un poco más sobre esta materia que le da tanto encanto y colorido al idioma. Este trabajo en su desarrollo consta de cinco partes: 1- Una breve explicación sobre los modismos. 2- Una pequeña prueba diagnóstico o auto-examen para comprobar sus conocimientos actuales sobre modismos. 3- Respuestas y evaluación del auto-examen. 4- Una lista de modismos que creemos pueden ser atractivos e interesantes. 5- Un pasatiempo o puzzle basado en los modismos anteriores a modo de entretenimiento y con sus correspondientes respuestas. DESARROLLO Los modismos o “idioms” son combinaciones de palabras que funcionan como una sola unidad y que tienen un significado especial que generalmente no se puede inferir

a partir de sus partes por separado. Cualquier estudiante extranjero con un conocimiento del significado de cada una de las partes que componen la frase o modismo no necesariamente conocerá el significado de la misma. Hay varios grados de idiomaticidad; ésto quiere decir que hay modismos que son considerados altamente idiomáticos, pues si cambiamos o quitamos alguna de sus palabras éste no conservaría su significado. Como ejemplo de modismo altamente idiomático tenemos “run over” que significa “atropellar”, si le quitamos la palabra “over” entonces quedaría la palabra “run”, que significa “correr, fluir, ejecutar un programa” , si le quitamos la palabra “run” nos queda “over”, que significa “encima, demasiado, etc.”. Hay otros modismos que son considerados semi-modismos, pues aun retirando una de sus partes, sí mantiene su significado. A los modismos se les han dado diferentes nombres, como por ejemplo frases verbales, expresiones idiomáticas, etcétera, y se pueden agrupar según sus patrones estructurales. Entre los patrones estructurales más comunes se encuentran: 1- verbo intransitivo + particiclo Ej: Come on. 2- verbo intransitivo + preposición + ( ) Ej: Apply for (a job) 3-verbo intransitivo + particiclo + preposición + ( ) Ej: Go back to (somebody’s city) 4-verbo transitivo + particiclo + ( ) Ej: Fill (the glass) up 5-verbo transitivo + ( ) + preposición + ( ) Ej: Talk (somebody) into (it) 6-verbo transitivo + ( ) + particiclo + preposición + ( ) Ej: Drive (somebody) out of (her/his mind) Para una mejor comprensión de estos patrones es necesario esclarecer los siguientes términos:

1- verbo intransitivo: Aquel verbo que no es precedido por un complemento. 2- Verbo transitivo: Aquel verbo que es precedido por un complemento. 3- Particiclo: Aquella palabra que es usada con un verbo para darle un

significado especial al mismo. 4- Preposición: Aquella palabra que precede al verbo y requiere de un

complemento. Además de los patrones estructurales antes mencionados, existen también expresiones complejas que contienen otras partes del discurso como adjetivos y sustantivos. Muchas de estas expresiones a pesar de que parecen diferentes encajan en los patrones anteriores, como por ejemplo la expresión “drive (him) out of (his mind)”, que encaja en el patrón número 6. Hay pocos modismos que no tienen preposiciones ni particiclo, por tanto no encajan en los patrones estructurales anteriormente mencionados. Más que concentrarse en los patrones gramaticales, el profesor debe emplear tiempo de su clase ayudando a los estudiantes a aprender cuan flexible es cada modismo, lo cual significa que se les debe enseñar que tiempos verbales están mas comúnmente asociados a los modismos, que estructuras gramaticales están generalmente asociadas a los mismos como por ejemplo la voz pasiva, la forma

imperativa, entre otras cosas. A continuación aparece una pequeña autocomprobación de sus conocimientos en materia de modismos. AUTOEXAMEN Marque con una “X” el significado correcto de los siguientes modismos: a) to pick on someone _____seleccionar a alguien. _____cogerla con alguien. _____nombrar a alguien. b) to hit the sack _____golpear el saco _____tener ganancias _____irse a dormir c) to see eye to eye _____estar enamorado _____mirarse a los ojos _____estar de acuerdo d) to pass out _____repartir _____morirse ____pasar por fuera e) on labor _____de parto _____muy atareado _____muy enfermo f) to check in _____registrarse _____chequear _____mirar dentro g) to be sick of something _____caer en cama _____estar arto de algo _____estar enfermo de algo h) on account of _____segun la cuenta de _____a cargo de _____por motivos de i) to run into someone _____piropear a alguien _____apurar a alguien _____encontrarse con alguien j) to stand someone up _____dejar plantado a alguien _____castigar a alguien parandolo _____caerle bien alguien k) to get on one’s nerves _____poner nervioso _____sacar de quicio _____empeorar

l) to call somebody names. _____decirle nombretes a alguien. _____pasar lista _____insultar a alguien. m) to feel blue _____ sentir frio _____ sentirse deprimido _____ sentirse confundido. n) down and out _____ sin dinero _____ Fuera de lugar _____ enfermo. o) look out! _____ ¡ten cuidado! _____ ¡mira! _____ ¡ fuera! p) In the nick of time _____ muy tarde _____ justo a tiempo. _____ en un corto periodo de tiempo. q) to give up _____ dar ayuda moral _____ desmayarse _____ renunciar r) To show up _____ lucirse _____ aparecerse. _____ mostrar s) To take a dip _____ darse un chapuzòn. _____ tomar un descanso _____ tomar un consejo t) To go with _____ continuar _____ rimar _____ combinar con. RESPUESTAS Y EVALUACIÖN DEL AUTOEXAMEN a) to pick on someone: cogerla con alguien. b) to hit the sack: irse a dormir c) to see eye to eye: estar de acuerdo d) to pass out: repartir e) to be on labor: estar de parto f) to check in: registrarse g) to be sick of something/someone: estar arto de algo/alguien. h) on account of: por motivos de i) to run into someone: encontrarse con alguien j) to stand someone up: dejar plantado a alguien k) to get on one’s nerves: sacar de quicio l) to call somebody names: insultar a alguien. m) to feel blue: sentirse deprimido

n) down and out: sin dinero o) look out!: ¡ten cuidado! p) In the nick of time: justo a tiempo q) to give up:renunciar r) To show up: aparecerse. s) To take a dip:darse un chapuzòn. t) To go with something: combinar con algo. De 19 a 20 respuestas correctas: Domina la materia aunque siempre es bueno continuar profundizando. De 15 a 18 respuestas correctas: Está muy bien pero no se confíe, continúe estudiando. De 10 a 14 respuestas correctas: Está bien pero debe continuar estudiando. De 8 a 10 respuestas correctas: No le ha dedicado mucho tiempo al estudio de los modismos. Anímese y profundice en el tema. De 5 a 7 respuestas correctas: No conoce casi nada de esta materia. Anímese y estúdiela. Menos de 5 respuestas correctas: ¿Alguna vez le ha dedicado un tiempito al estudio de los modismos? No pierda tiempo y comience hoy mismo.

ALGUNOS MODISMOS INTERESANTES

MODISMOS CON COLORES

BLACK

black and white: to think of everything or judge everything as either good or bad (bien claro, en blanco y negro) ” He tries to see everything in black and white although he knows this is impossible.”

To black out1. to darken by putting out or dimming electric lights (ocurrir un apagón) 2. to lose consciousness (desmayarse)

1.” During the war people in the cities were forced to black out their windows so that the enemy aircraft could not see them.” 2. “Suddenly the man blacked out during the parade and had to be helped to a quiet place.” the black sheep (of the family):a person who is a disgrace or embarrassment to a family or group (la oveja negra de la familia) ”The man is the black sheep in his family and is the only member who has not had a successful career and life.”

in the black: successful or profitable (exitoso) ”The company has been in the black since they began to adopt many new ideas to cut costs.” BLUE to happen out of the blue: to happen very suddenly and unexpected.(ocurrir rápido e inesperadamente)

“I was driving home when out of the blue a deer jumped out in front of my car. I braked just in time to avoid it. We were both very lucky not to be hurt.” to blue-pencil something: to censor something.(censurar algo) ”Reports on the mistreatment of the political prisoners were blue-pencilled by the authorities” a blue-eyed boy: a critical description of a boy/young man who has been singled out for special favours by someone in authority.(niño mimado) ”John is a real blue-eyed boy. The team manager always gives him special treatment. It isn’t fair to the rest of us.”

a bolt from the blue: some unexpected bad news.(un acontecimiento inesperado) "It came like a bolt from the blue that they are getting divorced.”

to look / feel blue. to look / feel depressed or discontented.(sentirse triste) "Things are looking blue for Tom these days. His wife has left him." once in a blue moon: to occur extremely rarely or only once in a life-time.(de Pascuas a San Juan.) ”My brother only rings home once in a blue moon. I wish he would ring our parents more often" boys / men in blue the police because of the color of their uniforms.(la policia) "Let’s get out of here! The boys in blue are coming." BROWN to be browned off: to be bored, annoyed at something (estar aburrido) ”I’m browned off with this place. There is nothing to do here”. COLORLESS to be colorless: to lack personality, to be boring. (sin personalidad) “Nothing he said stands out in my memory. I'm afraid he's a dull, colorless man”. to be off color: to be not quite at one's best, to feel queasy or slightly ill.(sentirse indispuesto) "She's a little off color today because she was up very late last night and had too much to drink!." to give/lend colour to: to make (an account, story, explanation, etc.) more credible or more believable.(darle credibilidad a algo) " The broken window on the ground floor lent color to her story that her house had been burgled" a highly colored report: a report that is exaggerated or biased.(un reporte exagerado) "I read the government’s highly colored report on the great state of the health services." to see someone in his true colours : to understand someone's true character, often for the first time.(darse cuenta como es alguien en realidad)

“As soon as he made a fuss about returning her money, I saw him in his true colors." to show oneself in one's true colors: to reveal one's true nature.(mostrarse tal cual

es) "'When he lost his temper at the party, he showed himself in his true colors" with flying colors : with great success, with distinction. (con gran éxito) “We were all expecting him to fail, but he passed with flying colors.”

GREEN to be green: inexperienced, immature (inmaduro) ”He is rather green and doesn’t have enough experience to drive the large piece of machinery yet.” green with envy: full of envy, very jealous (morirse de envidia) ”I was green with envy when I heard that she would be going to London for a month while I had to stay and work.” give someone the green light: give permission to go ahead with a project (dar luz verde) ”We were finally given the green light to begin setting up the new project.” get the green light: receive permission to go ahead with a project (tener luz verde) ”We got the green light to go ahead with the new advertising campaign.” grass is always greener on the other side: a place that is far away or different seems better than where we are now ”He realized that the grass is always greener on the other side when he saw that his new job wasn’t perfect and had its own problems too.” green belt: an area of fields and trees around a town (zona verde) ”The city has a policy of increasing the green belt around the city.” green thumb: a talent for gardening, ability to make things grow (mano para las plantas) ”She has a green thumb and is able to grow one of the best gardens in our neighborhood.” GOLDEN a golden opportunity: a great opportunity that might never come again (una excelente oportunidad) ”This is a golden opportunity to make a business deal with that big company.” a golden handshake: a large sum of money paid to a retiring manager or director, or to a redundant worker.(gratificación) ”The company chairman received a huge golden handshake on retiring.” a golden boy: a young man idolized for a great skill, usually in sport. (niño mimado)

"David Beckham is the golden boy of English soccer”

PINK tickled pink: be very pleased, thrilled, delighted (contentísimo, chocho) ”She was tickled pink that you made the effort to go and visit her when you were in town.”

to be in the pink: to be happy. (estar felíz de la vida)

“She finished university and found a good job, so she is in the pink.

to look through rose-coloured/tinted spectacles: to see things in a flattering or over-optimistic light.(ver las cosas color de rosa) "It annoys me that she sees everything through rose-coloured spectacles, but she would feel differently if she had to live there." RED to show the red card to someone: to be dismissed from your job.(ser despedido del trabajo) "The accountant was shown the red card for hiding company money. to be in the red: to have an overdraft, to be in debt. (estar endeudado) ”I am overdrawn again. I hate being in the red.” to catch someone red-hand: to catch someone in the act of committing a crime, usually a theft. (agarrar a algn con las manos en la masa) " The manager caught the new employee red-handed taking money out of the box." to see red: to react with uncontrollable rage against someone or something.(ponerse hecho una furia) "John saw red when he saw his girlfriend laughing with another guy." red tape: bureaucratic delay, excessive attention to rules and regulations, often resulting in injustice to the ordinary citizen.(trámites burocráticos, papeleo) "I want to start a new business but the red tape involved is very frustrating."

to see the red light: to recognize approaching danger, the red light being a danger signal.(reconocer el peligro)

"When the doctor warned his patient that further drinking would damage his liver, the man saw the red light and quit." paint the town red: go out and party and have a good time (salir y pasarla bien) ” When my cousin came to visit us we decided to go out and paint the town red.” roll out the red carpet: greet a person with great respect, give a big welcome (recibir a alguien con bombos y platillos) ”When Nelson Mandela visited Washington, they rolled out the red carpet and gave him a great welcome.” a redneck: an ignorant, insensitive person.(persona ignorante e insencible) "Our new co-worker is a real redneck. He doesn’t seem to know anything about life." SILVER the silver screen: the cinema (cine) ”Valentino was one of the earliest stars of the silver screen.” WHITE as white as a sheet: in a state of great fear (blanco como un papel) ”You look like you’ve just seen a ghost. Your face is as white as a sheet.” white elephant: a useless possession (objeto superfluo, inútil) ”The new stereo that he bought is a white elephant and he doesn’t need it at all.” white as a ghost: very pale because of fear, shock, illness etc.(pálido de miedo) ”My sister became white as a ghost when she saw the man at the window.” a white lie: a harmless lie (told to be polite or to do something not seriously wrong). (mentira piadosa) ”I told my boss a white lie and said that I was sick yesterday when actually I wasn’t.” a white-collar worker: a professional or office worker who wear a shirt with a white collar. (trabajador de oficina, administrativo) "The recession has hit factory workers (blue-collar workers) much harder than white-collar workers." YELLOW yellow-bellied: extremely timid, cowardly (cobarde) ”He is a yellow-bellied coward and never is willing to fight for what is right.” a yellow streak: cowardice in character (tener de cobarde) ”He has a yellow streak running down his back and is not a good person to expect to support you when things become difficult.”

MODISMOS RELACIONADOS CON DINERO.

Break even: have income equal to expenses ”Our company was able to break even after only six months of operation.” break the bank: win all the money at a casino gambling table ”He broke the bank at the casino and walked away with a lot of money.”

Burn a hole in your pocket: money that one wishes or intends to spend quickly (often for something frivolous) ”The money had been burning a hole in his pocket when he decided to go to the casino.”

buy off: give money to someone to stop them from doing their duty ”They tried to buy off the politician but he refused to go along with their plan.”

cash in on: make money from an opportunity ”The former football player cashed in on his popularity to open a very successful restaurant.”

caught short: not have enough money when you need it ”I was caught short and had to borrow some money from my father last week.”

cheapskate: a person who will not spend much money, a stingy person ”My friend is a cheapskate and won't even go to a movie with me.” chicken feed: a small amount of money ”His son always wants to borrow money and says that it is only chicken feed but little by little it adds up to a lot of money.”

clean up: make a lot of money, make a big profit ”I cleaned up at the horse races last year and still have some of the money left.”

cold hard cash: cash, coins and bills ”I paid for the stereo in cold hard cash.”

cook the books: illegally change information in accounting books in a company ”The accountant was cooking the books for over a year before he was caught.”

cut-rate: sell for a price lower than usual ”We went to a cut-rate furniture store to buy some new furniture for our apartment”

deadbeat: person who never pays the money he owes ”Recently the government has been making an effort to solve the problem of deadbeat dads who don't support their families.”

down and out: have no money ”My friend was down and out for several years before he got a job and started making money.”

Dutch treat: something where each person pays their own share ”We went to the movie as a Dutch treat so it didn't cost me much money”

To feel like a million dollars: feel wonderful ”Although I have been sick for a few weeks I feel like a million dollars today.”

foot the bill: pay ”My sister is footing the bill for her daughter's education so she is making sure that she studies hard.”

for a song: At a low price, cheaply ”We bought the car for a song and will try and sell it for a higher price.” grease your palm: give a tip, pay for a special favour or extra help, bribe

“The waiter was greasing his palm at the restaurant until he was finally fired.”

hand to mouth: having only enough money for basic living ”My friend has been living from hand to mouth since he lost his job”

hit the jackpot: make a lot of money suddenly ”We hit the jackpot at the casino and came home with a lot of money.” in the black: profitable, making money ”Our company has been in the black since it was first started” in the red: unprofitable, losing money ”The company has been in the red for several months now and will soon have to go bankrupt.” lay away money: save money ”I am trying hard to lay away enough money to buy a house.” pay an arm and a leg for something: pay a high price for something ”I paid an arm and a leg for my car but I am not very happy with it” piggy bank:a small bank, sometimes in the shape of a pig for saving coins ”The small boy saved up much money in his piggy bank.” .

CRUCIGRAMA DE MODISMOS 1 37 40 2 3 4 33 5 49 51

6 44 7 35 41 8 9 47 31 36 10 52

11 12 13 42 14

34 15 16 30 17 18 38 39 46 50 19 20 43 21 53

22 48 29 32 23 45 24 25 26 27 28

ACROSS. DOWN.

1- A ---------- lie. 1- To go --------. 2- To change one’s -----------.(rev.) 2- To ------- somebody around. (rev.) 3- Little by ----------. 7- To keep in ----------. 4- The silver -----------. 8- White ---------------. 5- To ------------ on someone. (rev.) 12- To ---------- someone up. 6- To ---------- up with something. 14- A --------- from the blue. 7- Green ------------. 29- Take it ---------. 8- Face to -----------. 30- From time to --------. 9- To ---------- in love. 31- ----------- bellied. 10- Foot the ---------. 32- To --------- in mind. 11- For ever and ---------. 33- Easy --------- easy go. 12- To hit the --------. 34- To read ------------- the lines. (rev.) 13- A golden ---------------. 35- Once in a --------- moon. 14- Piggy ---------. 36- To weep/shed ----------------- tears. 15- To run ---------- someone. 37- To ---------- in. 16- In the --------- of time. 38- To be ----------- off. 17- To -------- out. 39- ----------- or later. 18- ---------- in case. (rev.) 40- To be -------- of something. 19- As a ------------ of fact. 41- To be on -----------. 20- To ----------- someone crazy. 42- ------------- pink. 21- To --------- up. 43- To --------- cats and dogs. 22- To be --------- and out. 44- On ------------ of. 23- In the --------------- o fan eye. 45- To ----- ahead. 24- To take a -------. 46- To see ------. 25- Black ----------. 47- To pass ---------. 26- To ---------- the ice. 48- Every -------- day. 27- To see eye to -------. 49- To -------- names. 28- To --------- between the lines. (rev.) 50- To -------- out.

51- To -------- out. 52- To be in the --------. 53- To be the --------- of one’s eye.

RESPUESTAS DEL CRUCIGRAMA DE MODISMOS

W H I T E C S D N I M I H L I T T L E I T S C R E E N C K C I P H O C K C A T C H A A T H U M B K L C L S O E L E C A F C F A L L S U Y U C L L I B O W P C E V E R E O U S A C K I H L O P P O R T U N I T Y N L C H I T A B A N K O N O A C I N T O W E D N I C K D L T E I T B L A C K T S U J I W L B S E R F M A T T E R O D R I V E G I V E E E O O A D O W N L E K B T W I N K L I N G T D I P A E N E N O H P S H E E P E B R E A K E Y E A Y P D D A E R

CONCLUSIONES Si después de leer los modismos que aparecen en este artículo y de realizar la autocomprobación se da cuenta que tiene dificultades con los mismos y no los conoce todos anímese a estudiar con detenimiento y a profundidad los modismos pues estos abarcan una gran parte de la lengua inglesa. Si por el contrario los conoce todos, esto no quiere decir que no le queda nada por aprender pues el idioma inglés como toda lengua viva esta en constante desarrollo y enriquecimiento y nunca es suficiente el conocimiento que se tiene. Si de alguna forma usted piensa que sus conocimientos son suficientes y que no le es necesario profundizar en materia de modismos o que los modismos no tienen gran importancia en la lengua inglesa, lea este pequeño fragmento: “In some ways China is simply doing; and to an extent, it’s actually catching up with; what a lot of other countries are doing as well. It’s embarked on a major military modernization program that will replace troop numbers with more professional and integrated forces with more high tech weaponry”

¿Cómo le fue? ¿Se dio cuenta de cuantos modismos pueden haber en un simple párrafo? Anímese a profundizar en esta parte del idioma inglés tan bonita y que tanto colorido le da a la lengua. Si se embulla, pues…BREAK A LEG!

BIBLIOGRAFÍA - Manual de Modismos Americanos mas comunes, by Solomon Wiener.

- English Verbal Idioms, Frederick T. Wood. - Sitio en internet. Learn English>English Lessons>Everyday English>Color Idioms, List of English Colour Idioms, Examples