Understanding Idiomatic Expressions
Now it’s time for more practice of a skill you learned in Unit 6 and Unit 10, Book One — hypothesizing the meaning of idiomatic expressions. Remember that in the case of idiomatic expressions, word formation clues can be misleading, but context clues — examples, explanations, contrasts or parallel phrases — will help you figure out the meanings.
Let’s look at some of the idiomatic expressions in Passage A and try to guess their meanings according to the contexts in which they appear.
Example 1
She lies motionless: the head seems unusually large on a skeleton body; the skin is dark yellow and hangs loosely around exaggerated bones that not even a blanket can hide…
A. swing from or round B. wait for
C. be friendly with D. be near
According to the context, A should be the right choice.
Example 2
I reach for the light switch, and as it silently lights the scene, I return to the bed to observe the patient with an unemotional, medical eye.
A. stretch so as to touch or get B. try to do something impossible
C. raise one’s hand D. stretch so as to enter
According to the context, A should be the right choice.
Understanding Idiomatic Expressions
The meaning of idiomatic expressions can be very hard — even impossible — to guess. Word formations in dictionaries don't always help, and can even fool us
entirely! Idioms grow out of events and usage within the specific culture and that is why learning the cultural behavior is as important — and maybe more important in some instances — as learning the words if we are to achieve truly effective communication.
To understand idiomatic expressions in a reading passage, one must be good at:
1) searching for context clues,
2) looking at examples if there are any,
3) finding explanations if there are any,
4) locating opposite or similar expressions.
Here are more examples picked up from Reading Passage A.
Example 1
They are ice cold, and I quickly move to the wrist and feel for the faint pulse. (Para. 4, Reading Passage A, Unit 5)
feel for: try to find sth. by touch
Example 2
She is too weak for conversation, so without asking, I go about providing for her needs. (Para. 5, Reading Passage A, Unit 5)
go about (doing sth.): start to work at sth.
Example 3
When I am finished, I pull a chair up beside the bed to face her and, taking her free hand between mine, again notice the long, thin fingers. (Para. 6, Reading Passage A, Unit 5)
pull a chair up: move a chair forward
Decisions of the Heart 阅读技能/reading skill
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