• Friday, March 29, 2024
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The forms of nouns in idiomatic expressions

Idiomatic expressions

Idiomatic expressions, or idioms for short, are witty expressions that embody meanings, which may not be recoverable from the meanings of the individual words that constitute the idioms. Idioms are the colours added to talks, speeches or writing to beautify them. However, the challenge with idioms is the condition that they have to be used with exactitude. In another sense, their forms are not subject to distortions or modifications. It has been observed that many a second-language user of English prefers to deploy idioms for their aptness and conciseness, but often violates the fixity. Against this backdrop, this piece will discuss one of the oft-represented word classes in English idioms, as well as the appropriate forms they should always portray.

An essential characteristic of nouns is number, which deals with their singular and plural forms. The choice of nouns (whether singular or plural) in English idioms is not open to negotiation or rationalisation; hence, the need to ascertain the appropriateness of such noun forms. For starters, when something that is completely unexpected happens, it is said to have occurred out of the blue (not, out of the blues). The appropriate and inappropriate deployment is well evidenced below:

One day, out of the blues, she announced that she was leaving (non-standard).

One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving (standard).

Also, the bravery and determination to do something is expressed as ‘having the guts’ (not, gut). As such:

I do not have the guts to say that to his face (standard).

Moreover, the readership should bear in mind that to tell one something that is false, as a way of joking with one, is to pull one’s leg (not, legs). Besides that, when you do anything with as much energy as possible, it could be expressed as doing the same ‘for dear life’ or ‘for your life’ (not, lives). The examples below clarify the usage:

We sighted the police from afar, and we ran for our dear lives (non-standard).

We sighted the police from afar, and we ran for our life (standard).

We sighted the police from afar, and we ran for dear life (standard).

In the latter example, you should observe that ‘dear life’ is not preceded by any possessive determiner. Consequently, it is inappropriate to say, ‘…for his/her/my/our/their dear life’.

I ran for my dear life (non-standard).

I ran for dear life (standard).

She had run for dear life before the police intervened (standard).

To be embroiled in a violent dispute or disagreement is to be at loggerheads (not, loggerhead). Similarly, when someone’s life or development has reached a significant stage of its manifestation, it is said to be at a crossroads (not, crossroad). One should pay special attention to the obligatory article ‘a’ which precedes ‘crossroads’.

What is more, when a pregnant woman’s waters (not, water) break, the liquid in her womb is dispensed with before she is delivered of her baby/babies. Hence:

Mrs Johnson’s water broke yesterday (non-standard).

Mrs Johnson’s waters broke yesterday (standard).

My water has broken (non-standard)

My waters have broken (standard).

Not only that, a person you love and cherish dearly is the apple of your eye (not, eyes).

Again, to disagree or argue with someone about something is to take issue (not, issues) with that individual.

Benson does not take issues with people over politics (non-standard).

Benson does not take issue with people over politics (standard).

Next, when something is not beneficial or it gives people an undesirable perception of you, it does you no favours (not, favour).

Procrastination and doubt will not do you any favour (non-standard).

Procrastination and doubt will not do you any favours (standard).

Procrastination and doubt will do you no favours (standard).

Further to the foregoing, there are instances whereby the nouns embedded in some idioms are altered or distorted significantly. For example, a dangerous situation that could escalate into violence is designated as a ‘powder keg’ (not, a keg of gunpowder).

Some state governments are sitting on a keg of gunpowder (non-standard).

Some state governments are sitting on a powder keg (standard).

By the way, how do you placate and reassure somebody who was jilted by a romantic partner?

Tolu, rest assured that there are many fishes in the ocean (non-standard).

Tolu, rest assured that there are many more fish in the sea (standard).

Moreover, when we intend to ascertain if something is good or bad, we ought to acknowledge that ‘the proof (not, taste) of the pudding is in the eating’.

By the way, a child who constantly absents himself/herself from school without official permission plays truant (not, truancy).

Last but not least, whenever you are admonishing people that humans cannot be forced to leverage opportunities, you are duty-bound to admit that:

You can take a horse to a river, but you cannot force it to drink water (non-standard).

You can take/lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him/it drink (standard).

Since the fixity of idiomatic expressions is non-negotiable, this treatise is an invaluable guide for the precise application of some English idioms. It also educates the reader on the imperative of being mindful of the appropriate forms of nouns in idiomatic expressions.