Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: inglese d'america

Ciao,
sono impegnata in una ricerca su modi di dire o "idioms" tipicamente
americani, in pratica su quelle espressioni sia slang che colte che hanno un
preciso significato ma che se le si va a scomporre e a tradurre per
componenti singole non danno assolutamente l'idea di ciň che vogliano
dire...!
C'č qualcuno che sappia consigliarmi qualche esempio o darmi qualche dritta?
grazie mille,
@gnese

 writes

See the thread "to tip one's hand", this isn't in common use in the UK.
Cheers
-- 
John G Davies

 wrote in message
vvew8.42858$vF6.1...@news2.tin.it...

Vai a questo indirizzo:
http://www.syllabos.com/
Cerca in Dizionari online, poi seleziona i criteri (monolingue, slang,
ecc.).
Ciao
Cinzia
--
Per rispondermi personalmente, togliere "-sendmenocrap" dal mio indirizzo
e-mail.
To reply, please remove "-sendmenocrap" from my e-mail address.

 wrote in message
news:vvew8.42858$vF6.1...@news2.tin.it...


 wrote 

http://www.manythings.org/slang/slang1.html
http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/amerispeak.htm
---
Xakero

 
http://www.manythings.org/slang/slang1.html
Since when a "bad movie" means an "intense" movie? Or "awesome" is slang? I
wouldn't trust this site too much.
Giovanni Bajo

 wouldn't trust this site too much.
Nel contesto giusto, la parola 'bad', detto come slang, significa l'opposto del
significato usuale. Quest'uso è anche il slang africano-americano. La parola
'awesome' esiste come una parola comune. Comunque, l'uso può considerato come
slang nel senso che si dice 'awesome' come una risposta generale a molte cose,
come la parola 'great', anche quando non è sucesso nulla spaventoso.

 come la parola 'great', anche quando non è sucesso nulla spaventoso.
Qui però allora mi permetto di contestare il significato di "slang". Ogni
tanto io in italiano dico "fantastico!" in modo ironico per indicare
qualcosa che fantastico non è per nulla. Ora, se questo lo chiami slang,
allora praticamente uno non può più dire nulla senza che sia slang(1). Usare
una parola in un significato opposto (o leggermente differente) a quello
comune è un tipo di costruzione linguista che c'è in tutte le lingue.
E comunque ho postato solo i primi due esempi. Andando avanti ci sono ben
altre perle tipo "flashback" che è una parola normalissima, o "blade" nel
significato di coltello, e così tante altre che c'è da perdere il conto. Lo
slang nel senso di slang è quello utilizzato in quella (stupenda) versione
di Cinderella postata in questo newsgroup qualche giorno fa. Awesome in un
senso leggermente distorto, a mio avviso, non lo è.
Riguardo agli articoli sullo slang, mi hanno raccontato che una volta un
giornale locale voleva pubblicare un articolo sui modi di dire comuni tra i
giovani di Los Angeles, e ha mandato un tipo a fare interviste in una
scuola. Bene, i ragazzi si erano accordati il giorno prima per rifilargli
frasi completamente inventate...
Giovanni Bajo
(1) Sempre che tu mi conceda l'utilizzo del termine "slang" anche in
italiano, cosa che ha perfettamente senso a mio avviso.

 Qui però allora mi permetto di contestare il significato di "slang".
Vabbè, slang o non slang, intendevo dire soltanto che c`è un uso informale della
parola 'awesome' che potrebbe spiegare perchè questa parola sia inclusa nel
site. Pensavo che tu fossi un po confuso dopo leggerlo e volevo offrirti una
spiegazione.

 sito), e anche loro non lo avevano mai sentito dire.
Dear Giovanni,
Is this not why we frequent this newsgroup (and others)?  So much to learn
and so little time.
What Tony wrote regarding the word _bad_ having an 'opposite meaning' of the
word as conventionally understood and defined is correct. That neither you
nor your two American and one English friend have ever heard it, is not
necessarily surprising, however, and notwithstanding it is so.
This group is _bad_!
I remains as always, etc.,ecc.,
Bambi
dtb


Io ho vissuto negli USA + di 20 anni fa e già allora "bad" col significato
di "great, cool" era piuttosto comune tra i giovani. Tra l'altro, io vivevo
in una comunità con quasi nessun nero, molti bianchi e molte persone di
origine messicana e la parola era  sulla bocca di tutti.


 dire...!
As you progress with your research you will probably find that
"idioms" and "slang", while sometimes seemingly related, are two
different things, and that idioms and slang expressions can be
narrowly limited regionally or culturally, slang more so than idioms.
I am not much familiar with slang, but for example in a sentence like
"Look at him strutting around like he's the cat's whiskers" the
expression "the cat's whiskers" is definitely an idiom and certainly
not slang.
My trusted 
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
 gives the following
definitions for "idiom" and "slang":
QUOTE
idiom
noun [C] 
a group of words in a fixed order having a particular meaning,
different from the meanings of each word understood on its own
To "have bitten off more than you can chew" is an idiom that means you
have tried to do something which is too difficult for you.
slang (INFORMAL LANGUAGE)
noun [U] 
informal language, which might include words and meanings which are
not polite and which might stay in use only for a short time. It is
used by particular groups of people who know each other, and is
usually spoken rather than written.
UNQUOTE
Certainly, both subjects, idioms and slang, are worthy of research,
but from your initial query I believe it is idioms you are researching
and I trust that you will find this rewarding.
If it is a thesis you are writing on the subject of idioms in the
American language and you need help every once in while, by all means
do not hesitate to visit this news group again.
Incidentally, are you sure you want to limit your research to idioms
in American English, rather than English in general?
---
Xakero

 and so little time.
That's right, I've just learnt something new :)
Giovanni Bajo

sito), e anche loro non lo avevano mai sentito dire.
Ti posso garantire che nello slang americano "bad" significa "good".  Lo dico
senza nessuna esitazione.  Mi sorprende che le persone a cui tu hai chiesto ti
abbiano detto di no.  E' forse gente anziana?  
ciao
arianna

 wrote in 

Just know I found the following:
QUOTE
An idiom-full story
Pardon my French, but today it was cold enough to freeze the balls off
a brass monkey. Already, I'm starting to feel a little bit under the
weather. My wife is giving me the third degree. It is true that my
friends and I painted the town red last night. We were all dressed to
the nines (let me tell you, if you're looking for bigger bang for your
buck, shop at the thrift stores). Anyway, it was supposed to be a
surprise party for my good friend Al, but somebody let the cat out of
the bag and Al, the prankster that he is, returned to his apartment,
where we were all hiding, pretending to be a cross-dresser. Everyone
agreed that this stunt was a little over the top. To say the least, Al
is a horse of a different color. Anyway, when I got home, I was three
sheets in the wind, but these aren't crocodile tears. All my wife can
say is that I should quit my bellyaching and get a job. For the love
of Pete, does anyone around here have any sympathy? Ever since my old
man bought the farm, I've been awfully down. I can still hear him
saying "Son, the world is your oyster." Unfortunately, everything
isn't exactly hunky dory right now. I've been across hell's half acre
trying to find a job, searching this city down to the gnat's ass. I'm
living hand to mouth, and still don't have a pot to piss in. Well, I
noticed a "workers needed" sign at the boatyard; I should arrange for
an interview and strike while the iron's hot. Lord willin' and the
creek don't rise, I'll soon be back on my feet.
UNQUOTE
Source: 
http://www.geocities.com/amazingidioms/narrative.htm
(where each idiom serves as link to its explanation)
---
Xakero

 abbiano detto di no.  E' forse gente anziana?
Da The pocket Dictionary of American Slang edizione primi anni '80 :
Bad. adj Eminently appropriate or suitable,excellent, wonderful;orig.,
adroitly played or arranged.
Cool and far out use.In order to be cool and to demonstrate a lack of
emotion, cool and far out slang and jargon sometimes relies on
understatement.
Saying that something one likes or considers good is "bad" is, of course,
the ultimate understatement.
Yours
Sal

 dire...!
Here are some more idioms, with an explanation of their origin, but
they appear to be British, not used in the USA:
QUOTE
Only a few centuries ago, personal hygiene left much to be desired.
Many women and men developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would
spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their
complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began
to stare at another woman's face she was told "mind your own bee's
wax"
Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term "crack a
smile". Also, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt
and therefore the expression "losing face."
UNQUOTE
Source: Bangkok Post, 26 April 2002
I could not find any confirmation of the etymology on the Internet.
---
Xakero

Source: Bangkok Post, 26 April 2002
Cute!  However I don't like Bolly.
Just out of curiosity....are you a teacher?  Do you use the Bangkok Post with
your students?
bye
arianna

> I could not find any confirmation of the etymology on the Internet.
Non mi ha sorpreso che non eri riuscito a confermare l'etimologia.

 your students?
I browse it when sojourning in the Land of Smiles. Not much worth
reading in there, mostly local gossip. A good laugh once in while
about the antics of local politicians.
---
Xakero

 abbiano detto di no.  E' forse gente anziana?
No, tutte persone sotto i trenta anni. Forse si usa da certe parti e da
altre no?
Giovanni Bajo

Giovanni Bajo
Mah...lo dubito, ma e' possiblile.  Comunque in California  si usa.  
ciao
PS: you should check song lyrics.  I'm sure you'll find a lot of that.

 PS: you should check song lyrics.  I'm sure you'll find a lot of that.
I'll pay attention to them, ok, thanks for the hint.
Giovanni