Verbal idioms constitute a universal category. A verbal idiom (VID) has at
least two lexicalized components including a head verb and at least one of its dependents. The dependent can be of
different types. Here are some examples:
Subject
أسهم ال ارتفعت stock soared
броят му се ребратаbe counted someone's (possessive pronoun) ribs(someone) to be very thin and skinny
ein kleines Vöglein hat mir gezwitscherta little bird told me
μου είπε ένα πουλάκιme told a little-birda little bird told me κόβειτομάτι μου cut the eye my
a little bird told someone
tu horaha llegadoyour time has arrivedyour time has come
ἐὰνθεὸςἐθέλῃean theos ethelēif god want.3SGif possible
boontjekomt om zijn loontjehe that mischief hatches, mischief catches
licho wiedevil knowsI have no idea
a sua horachegouyour time has arrivedyour time has come
a șoptit o păsăricăwhispered a bird littlea little bird told someone
srce padev hlače komu (someone's) heart drops into the pantsone is lacking courage to do something , sekira padev med komu (someone's) hatchet falls in honeyone gets lucky
ђаво да некога носиđavo da nekoga nosimay the Devil carry someoneto hell with someone Бог некога погледаоBog nekoga pogledaoGod looked at someoneto be lucky ђаво је умешао прсте đavo je umešao prstethe Devil mixed in his fingersan unfavorable outcome пао некоме мрак на очи pao nekome mrak na oči darkness fell on someone's eyesto blow a fuse
Direct object
إجتماع أحيى revived a meeting to lead a meeting
гушна букетаhug the bunch of flowersto die
er hat den Schuss nicht gehörthe did the shoot not hearit takes him a long(er) time to understand sth
κάνωσεφτέkano sefte λαμβάνω μέροςtake part κρατάω τα μπόσικαkratao ta bosika
het ijzer smeden als het heet isiron forge while hotmake hay while the sun shines; strike while the iron is hot
udać Grekato pretend to be a Greekto pretend not to understand
bater as botasto hit the bootsto die, abrir mão de algo to open hand (of something)to give up (on something)
bater as botasto hit the bootsto die, abrir mão de algo to open hand (of something)to give up (on something)
ustreliti kozlato shoot the goatto say or do something stupid
дизати носdizati nosto raise one's noseto be haughty добити ногуdobiti noguto get a legto get dumped држати банкуdržati bankuto hold a bankto dominate the conversation
Circumstantial or adverbial complement
الحديد وهو ساخن ضرب hit the iron and it is hot strike while the iron is hot
удрям в гръбhit in the backto stab in the back правя сам да си говориmake (someone) to talk to himselfto drive (someone) crazy
etwas wie warme Semmeln verkaufensth. like warm bread rollsto sell sth. fast and easy
φέρω βαρέωςbring heavily
to take something with a pinch of salt, to sell like hotcakes, to strike while the iron is hot, to come off with flying colors
coger algo con pinzasto hang something with pegstake something with a pinch of salt
iets met een korreltje zout nemento take something with a pinch of salt
wiercić komuś dziurę w brzuchuto drill a hole in one's bellyto intrusively solicit someone, to insist too much
levarem contato bring in accountto take into account ir ao argo to the airto go on air
a luaîn considerareto bring in accountto take into account
spati kot ubitto sleep like deadto sleep soundly
продаје се као алваprodaje se kao alvato sell like halvato sell well ударити на велика звонаudariti na velika zvonato bang on big bellsto spread the news бити као запета пушкаbiti kao zapeta puškato be like a tense rifleto be ready for action
It is often challenging to distinguish VIDs from other VMWE categories if only one dependent of
the head verb is lexicalized. The VMWE categorization depends on the category of this
dependent:
Reflexive clitic or particle: the VMWE is either an IRV (reflexive pronoun) or a VPC (particle), never a VID.
Verb with no lexicalized dependent: fine-grained tests need to be applied in order to
discriminate between a MVC and a VID. See the section on Structural tests.
Extended nominal phrase: fine-grained tests need to be applied in order to
discriminate between an LVC and a VID. See the section on Structural tests.
With a dependent of any other category, the VMWE is always a VID, including the following:
Adjectival phrase
постигам своетоto achieve one's ownto have it my way
schwarz fahrento drive blackto take a ride without a ticket
κάνω αρπαχτή κρατάω πισινή
to come clean, to stand firm
jugar sucioto play dirtyto play dirty
zwartrijdento drive blackto take a ride without a ticket
zrobić swojeto do one's ownto do what one is supposed to do tykać cudzeto touch someone else'sto take something that does not belong to you dopiąć swegoto button up one's ownto fulfill one's plans
to jogar sujoto play dirty
a juca murdarto play dirty
biti zelen od zavistito be green with envy
бити зеленbiti zelento be greento be a greenhorn/to be inexperienced
Verb with lexicalized dependents
не мога две думи на кръст да кажаI cannot say two words crossing each otherto be unable to speak or express oneself→ две думи на кръст да кажа is a clause правя сам да си говориmake someone talk to himselfto drive someone crazy→ сам да си говори is a clause
έπεσεναπεθάνει
to make ends meet
de handen ineenslaanhands joined hitjoin forces
састављати крај с крајемsastavljati kraj s krajemto join one end to anotherto make ends meet→ крај са крајемkraj sa krajem is a clause
Relative clause
ще видиш откъде изгрява слънцетоyou will see where the sun rises from(angrily) you will get what you deserve, you will be punished
wissen wo es langgehtto know where things are headingto know on which side one's bread is buttered
δεν ξέρωπούνπαντατέσσερα
to know on which side the bread is buttered
saber de qué pie cojeato know of which foot (he/she) limpsto know someone inside out
de klok horen luiden, maar niet weten waar de klepel hangtto hear the bell ring, but not know where the clapper hangs ≈to not know the details of something
wiedzieć, skąd wieje wiatrto know where wind blows fromto know on which side your bread is buttered, to know how to take advantage of the situation
saber onde pisarknow where to-stepto know the way to succeed in something mostrar com quantos paus se faz uma canoashow with how many sticks one makes a canoeto punish or take revenge
a ști cu ce se mănâncă to know with what CL.Refl. eats to knwo what it is about
vedeti koliko je urato know what time it isto realize the truth
знати у ком грму лежи зецznati u kom grmu leži zecto know in which bush the rabbit liesto know what the main problem is не знати где је некоме главаne znati gde je nekome glavanot to know where one's head isto be out of one's mind дај шта дашдај šta dašgive what you givebe satisfied with anything that is given to you
Non-reflexive pronoun
втасахме яwe proved it.FEM (as in bread: raise in volume due to yeast)to fall into a difficult situation
es gibtit givesthere is
τακαταφέρνωta kataferno τηνπατάωtin patao
to make it
l'emporterto take it awayto win
prender leto take itto be beaten
het eens zijnit agreed beto agree
Polish does not seem to have this type of VMWEs
dá-lhe João! give to him/her, João!show them what you got, João!
a o ștergeto her deleteto fly the coop a o întindeto her extendto fly the coopsynonymous expressions with the non-anaphoric feminine ACC personal clitic 'o' functioning as an expletive
ucvreti joto escape herto escape something/someone by running
n.a.
Sentential expressions with no open slots, such as proverbs and conventionalized sentences, are included in
the scope of VIDs.
تجري الرياح بما لا تشتهي السفن Winds blow counter to what ships desire
краставите магарета се надушват отдалечеthe itchy donkeys smell each other from afaralike people are attracted to each other
Rom wurde nicht an einem Tag erbautRome was not build in a daywer A sagt muss auch B sagenwho says A must also say Byou must finish what you start
στο σπίτι του κρεμασμένου δεν μιλάνε για σχοινίin-the house the.GEN hunged-man.GEN not speak.03.PL about rope
Rome was not built in a day Fortune favors the bold The pleasure is mine I beg your pardon!
Roma no se construyó en un díaRome was not build in a daydonde dije digo, digo Diegowhere said.I said, say.I Diegoto do or give something and then take it back, to retract oneself
συνῄδηοὐδὲνἐπισταμένῳsunēdē ouden epistamenо̄know.PLP.1SG nothing know.PTCI know that I know nothing
de klok horen luiden, maar niet weten waar de klepel hangtto hear the bell ring, but not know where the clapper hangs ≈to not know the details of something
trafiła kosa na kamieńmet the scythe a stonesomeone rude/dishonest came across someone else who used similar methods against him/her
quem vê cara não vê coraçãowho sees face doesn't see hearta person can lie/omit his/her feelings
Urciorul nu merge de multe ori la apăPitcher-the not goes of many times at waterThe pitcher goes so often to the well that it is broken at last
Počasi se daleč pridemore haste less speed Po toči zvoniti je prepoznothere is no use ringing the bells after hailit is to late
нашла крпа закрпуnašla krpa zakrpua rag found a patchto find one's other half било па прошлоbilo pa prošlohappened and it's donelet bygones be bygones рекла казалаrekla kazalasaid and toldhearsay
If more than one dependent of the head verb is lexicalized, then the candidate VMWE is always classified as
a VID.
لسانه القط أكل the cat ate his tongue
заравям главав пясъкаto hide head in sandto pretend not to see a problem
die Katzeaus dem Sack lassento let the cat out of the bag
βάζω λάδιστη φωτιάvazo ladi sti fotia put oil to-the firemake things worse κάνωτηζωήποδήλατοkano ti zoi poδilatomake.1SG the life bicycleto torture
to let the catout of the bag, to cut a long storyshort, to call ita day
hacer de tripas corazónmake of intestines heartto pluck up the courage dejar con la miel en los labiosto_leave with the honey in the lipsleave (sb) wanting more dar gato por liebreto_give cat for hareto rip off, to take for a ride
se faire des idéesto make SELF ideasto imagine something false,s'en allerto go SELF from thereto leave,ily ait has therethere is
een katin de zak kopento buy a pig in a poke → two dependents kat and in de zak
chować głowęw piasekto hide head in sandto pretend not to see a problem
tapar o solcom a peneirato hide the sun with a sieveto sugar-coat
a da bir cu fugițiito give tribute with fugitives.theto back away
beseda mi je ostala v grluword got stuck in my throat I am speechless
бежати главомбез обзираbežati glavombez obzirato run away mindlesslyto bolt бежати као ђавоод крстаbežati kao đavood krstato run away like Satan from a crossto run like a bat out of hell забити главуу песакzabiti glavuu pesakto stick your head in the sandto bury your head in the sand ићи линијоммањег отпораići linijommanjeg otporato go with the line of least resistanceto take the path of least resistance
att sätta sigupp mot någonto sit oneself up against someoneto defy someone att dra sitt stråtill stackento draw one's straw to stack.theto contribute (in a small way)
Cases when there is no single clearly identifiable head verb, because of coordinated verbs or of an irregular
syntactic structure, are also covered by the VID category.
اصبر تنل be patient you getbe patient
цъфна и вържаto blossom and give fruit(usually sarcastically) to prosper
leben und leben lassenlive and let live
έδωσε πήρε
to drink and drive
coser y cantarto_sew and to_singeasy as pie, a piece of cake
ἠντεβόλει καὶ ἱκετεύεēntebolei kai hiketeuesupplicate.3SG and beseech.3SGhe begged and beseeched
leven en laten levenlive and let live → none of the verbs is clearly the head, as there is no universally accepted syntactic representation of coordination
pluć i łapaćspit and catchto be lazy, to do nothing useful coś kogoś ani ziębi, ani grzejesomething neither cools nor warms someonesomeone is indifferent to something badż tak dobry i zrób cośbe so good and do somenthingbe so good as to do something
pintar e bordarpaint and knitto abuse
a tunat și i-a adunatit.has thundered and CL.ACC-it.has gatheredbirds of a feather flock together seamănă, dar nu răsaresow.3SG (homonym of resemble), but not sprout.3SGnot to resemble
živi in pusti živetilive and let live
ни лук јео ни лук мирисаоni luk jeo ni luk mirisaoneither ate nor smelled an onionto be innocent нити смрди нити миришеniti smrdi niti mirišeneither stinks nor has a nice scentneither good nor bad
n.a.
to voice act to pretty-print to short-circuit to tumble dry
n.a.
court-circuiterto short-circuit
n.a. there are no cases of compound hyphenated verbs in RO
n.a. there are no cases of compound hyphenated verbs in SL
рекла-казалаrekla-kazalasaid and toldhearsay
In case of several lexicalized dependents, special care must be taken to identify and also annotate embedded
VMWEs.
страхувам се от собствената си сянкаto fear SELF from one's own shadowto get easily scared → contains the IRVстрахувам сеto fear SELFto be afraid
einen Plan aufstellento set up a planto draw up a plan → contains the VPCaufstellento set up
to let the cat out of the bag→ contains the VPC to let out
hacerse ilusionesmake.self hopesto get your hopes up→ contains the IRVhacerse
se faire des idéesto make SELF ideasto imagine something false → contains the non-VMWEs se faire and faire des idées
een plan opstellento set up a planto draw up a plan → contains the VPCopstellento set up
bać się własnego cieniato fear SELF one's own shadowto be very timid → contains the IRVbać sięto fear SELFto be afraid
virar-se nos trintaturn-RCLI in-the thirtyto get bycontains the synonymous IRVvirar-seto get by ≠ virar to turn/become
a da cărțile pe fațăto give cards.the on faceto reaveal one's true intentions→ contains the ID a da pe fațăto reveal a-și da arama pe fațăto give his/her copper.the on faceto reveal his/her true (evil) nature→ this is even more complicated since, besides the ID a da pe față, the IRV has to be annotated as well - a three-level embedding
delati se norca iz koga to make RCLI fool of someoneto make fun of someone→ contains the IRV delati se to make oneselfto pretend
бојати се сопствене сенкеbojati se sopstvene senketo fear SELF one's own shadowto be afraid of one's own shadow → contains the IRVбојати сеto fear SELFto be afraid
Idioms whose head verb is the copula (to be) can pose special challenges because their
complements may be (nominal, adjectival, etc.) MWEs themselves. In this task, we
consider constructions with a copula to be VMWEs only if the complement does not retain the
idiomatic meaning when used without the verb.
съм с единия крак в гробаbe with one leg in the graveto be close to death→ idiom because #с единия крак в гробаwith one leg in the grave loses the meaning съм на червеноbe on redto be in debt→ non-VMWE because the copula can be omitted, as in в края на месеца винаги оставам на червеноat the end of the month I always get into debt
sei kein Froschbe no frogbe no chicken → idiom because #kein Froschno frog loses the meaning
to be dying for → idiom because #dying loses the meaning of wanting something to be somebody→ idiom because #somebody loses the meaning of being important or successful it is double Dutch to me→ non-VMWE because the copula can be omitted, as in he seems to speak double Dutch
ser un pelotato be a ballto suck/butter up→ idiom because un pelotaa ball loses its original meaning
οἷοντ`ἦνhoion t’ēnof.what.sort and was.3SGit was possible
??? sprake zijn vanthere is some talk
być jedną nogą na tamtym świecieto be with one leg in the other worldto be close to death→ idiom because #jedna noga na tamtym świecieone leg in the other world loses the meaning być do rzeczyto be to the thingto be relevant→ non-VMWE because the copula can be omitted, as in dał parę argumentów całkiem do rzeczyhe gave a couple of quite relevant arguments być w trakcie (czegoś) to be in the road (of sth)to be doing sth→ non-VMWE because the copula can be omitted, as in wyszedł w trakciezebraniahe went out during the meeting
ser alguém na vidato be somebody in lifeto be somebody→ idiom because #alguém na vida loses the meaning não ser flor que se cheireto not be a flower that one may smellto be an untrustworthy person→ idiom because #flor que se cheire loses the meaning isso é grego pra mimthat's greek to me→ non-VMWE because the copula can be omitted, as invocê está falando grego
a fi ușă de biserică to be door of church to be honest→ idiom because #ușă de biserică loses the meaning a fi un papă-lapte to be a eat-milk to be a piker→ idiom because #un papă-lapte preserves the meaning
biti trn v peti komu to be a thorn in somebody's heelto be a big problem, obstacle → idiom because #trn v peti loses the meaning
бити неко и нештоbiti neko i neštoto be someone and somethingto be a somebody→idiom because #некоsomebody and #нештоsomething loses its meaning of being important or succesful бити једном ногом у гробуbiti jednom nogom u grobuto be with one leg in the graveto be close to death→idiom because #једном ногом у гробуwith one leg in the grave loses its meaning бити зеленbiti zelento be greento be a greenhorn/to be inexperienced → idiom because #зеленgreen loses its meaning
Note that special care must be taken in languages in which the copula omission is a regular or even a compulsory
phenomenon (e.g. in Russian). In those cases, language-specific tests are required to distinguish a
copula-based idiom from a non-verbal MWE.
Idioms typically have both a literal and an idiomatic reading. Thus, they are closely connected to
the phenomenon of a metaphor (see also the section on VMWEs versus metaphors).
This often makes them semantically
totally non-compositional, i.e. none of their lexicalized components retains any of their original
meanings. Some authors argue though that partial semantic compositionality can be obtained via
decomposability, e.g. to spill the beans
is compositional provided that to spill is paraphrased as to reveal and the beans as a
secret
VID-specific decision tree:
In this tree, a single YES to one of the tests is sufficient to decide that a candidate is a VID.
Note however that this tree is to be applied only after it was referred to by the generic decision tree containing structural tests.
Apply test VID.1 - [CRAN: Candidate contains
cranberry word?]
It is a VID, exit.
Apply test VID.2 - [LEX: Regular replacement of a
component ⇒ unexpected meaning shift?]
It is a VID, exit.
Apply test VID.3 - [MORPH: Regular
morphological change ⇒ unexpected meaning shift?]
It is a VID, exit.
Apply test VID.4 - [MORPHSYNT: Regular
morphosyntactic change ⇒ unexpected meaning shift?]
It is a VID, exit.
Apply test VID.5 - [SYNT: Regular syntactic
change ⇒ unexpected meaning shift?]
хващам натясноcatch in a tight placeto coerce, to pressure → натясно is only used in MWEs правя на бъзе и коприваto turn into elder and nettleto scold, to tell off → бъзе is an old word, very rarely used independently вземам предвид, имам предвидto → предвид (as adverb) is only used in MWEs стоя диван чапразto stay upright as in Osman councilto stay ready to serve → чапраз is an old word, very rarely used independently
sich um etw. scharento gather around something→ scharen is not a stand-alone word
μάλλιασε η γλώσσα μου is-full-of-hair-3SG the-SG.NOM tongue-SG.NOM my-SG.GEN.POSSto repeat the same thing again and again → μάλλιασε is not a stand-alone word
to go astray → astray is not a stand-alone word
sin decir ni chus ni mus → chus is not a stand-alone word without to_say neither chus nor muswithout saying a word no decir ni chus ni mus → chus is not a stand-alone word not to_say neither chus nor musnot to say a word, to remain silent hacer algo a troche y moche → troche is not a stand-alone word to do something at troche and dulledto do something in a nonsensical way, willy-nilly, haphazardly
txintik ere ez esan'txint' neither no saynot even say a word→the word 'txint' is not used out of this expression
prendre la poudre d'escampetteto escape → escampette is not a stand-alone word
μηδεμίανὤρηνἔχεινmēdemian о̄rēn ekheinno worry have.INFnot to be worried
mangiare a ufoto eat without paying → a ufo is not a stand-alone word fare lo gnorrito play dumb→ gnorri is not a stand-alone word scendere in lizzato enter the lists → lizza is not a stand-alone word
op apegapen liggenbe at one's last gasp→ apegapen is not a stand-alone word
odsądzić kogoś od czci i wiaryto refuse honor and faith to someoneto drag sb's name through the mire/mud, to damage someone's reputation by saying insulting things about them wyjść na jawto come-out to lightto transpire, to become known
ir para as cucuiasto go wrong → cucuias is not a stand-alone word
a nu avea habarto have no idea→ habar is not a stand-alone word
biti si kvitto pay up a debt, owe nothing to somebody→ kvit is not a stand-alone word
не би било згорегne bi bilo zgoregit wouldn't be for the worseit wouldn't be a bad idea → згорегzgoreg is not a stand-alone word читати (некоме) вакелуčitati (nekome) vakeluto read somebody a scoldingto scold somebody → вакелаvakela is not a stand-alone word имати на претекimati na pretekto have an abundance → претекpretek is not a stand-alone word не часитиne časitidon't jump the gun → часитиčasiti is not a stand-alone word
att komma ihågto remember→ ihåg is not a stand-alone word
further tests are required
правя на сос→ правя and сос are stand-alone words
sich um etw. herum stellento stand around something → all words are stand-alone words
to go away→ go and away are stand-alone words
ir a la universidadto go to university→ ir, a, laanduniversidad are stand-alone words
unibertsitatera joanuniversity-to goto go to university→both words are stand-alone
andare giù to go down → andare and giù are stand-alone words
hij gaat weghe goes away→ gaan and weg are stand-alone words
wyznać tajemnicęto reveal a secret→ wyznać and tajemnica are standalone words
ir para a escolato go to school→ ir, para, aandescola are stand-alone words
a nu avea ideeto have no idea → all words are stand-alone words
biti si v soroduto be related to each other→ biti siandsorod are stand-alone words
бити квитbiti kvitto be even → битиbiti and квитkvitare stand-alone words
att komma påto figure out→ komma and på are stand-alone words
Test VID.2 - [LEX] - Lexical inflexibility
Does a regular replacement of one of the components by related words taken from a relatively large semantic
class lead to ungrammaticality or to an unexpected change in meaning?
it is a VID
وضعه على الرَّف put it on the shelf ـ→ وضعه على الطاولة # to put it on table
бълвам змии и гущериto spew snakes and lizards → #бълвам влечуги (to spew reptiles) всяка жаба да си знае гьолаevery frog to know its own puddle → #всяка жаба да си знае локвата
die Katze aus dem Sack lassento let the cat out of the bag → #den Hund aus dem Karton lassen#to let the dog out of the box eine Entscheidung treffento meet a decisionto make a decision → #eine Entscheidung machen/herstellena decision make/produce#to make/produce a decision
κάνωτηνπάπια → #κάνω τη χήναkano tin papia --> kano tin chinamake.1SG the duckplay dumb φέρω βαρέως → #φέρω ελαφρώς μπαίνει το νερό στ' αυλάκι → #μπαίνει το νερό στο ποτάμι
to let the cat out of the bag → #to allow the feline out of the container to go on → *to go upon to stand firm/fast → *to stand hard/rigid/solid
meterse en la boca del loboto_get_into.self in the mouth from_the wolfventure into the lion's den → #meterse en el ojo del gato tomar una decisiónto_take a decisionto make a decision → #hacer/coger/producir una decisiónto_make/grab/produce a decision#to make/grab/produce a decision
erabakia hartudecision taketo make a decision→erabakia #sortu/jaso/egin create/receive/do
περὶπολλοῦποιέομαιperi pollou poieomaiabove much.GEN do.1SGI hold in high esteem→ o # περὶ καλοῦ ποιέομαι
non dire gatto se non ce l'hai nel saccodon't say cat if it is not in the sackdon't count on something before it happens→ #non dire cane se non ce l'hai nel sacco#don't say dog if it is not in the sack sputare il rospospit the toadspit it out → #sputare la rana#spit the frog
een kat in de zak kopento buy a pig in a poke → #een hond in de zak kopen#to buy a dog in the bag een beslissing nemento meet a decisionto make a decision → #een beslissing producerena decision make/produce#to make/produce a decision
wiedzieć, co w trawie piszczyto know what in grass squealsto be well informed → #wiedzieć, co w trawniku popiskuje nie wchodzić w rachubęnot to come into countto be out of question → #wchodzić w liczenie/rachunek wodzić kogoś za nosto lead someone by the noseto cheat on someone → #wodzić za nozdrza/ucho/wargi
quebrar um galhobreak a branchto help → #danificar um ramoto damage a stem
a da cu bâta în baltă to give with bat-the in pondto say sth embarrassing → *a da cu bățul în baltăto give with stick-the in pond, *a da cu bâta în lac to give with bat-the in lake
imeti mačkato have a catto have a hangover → #imeti psato have a dog iti rakom žvižgatto go whistling to crabs to fail, to die → #iti jastogom pet to go singing to the lobsters
знати у ком грму лежи зецznati u kom grmu leži zecto know in which bush the rabbit liesto know what the main problem is → #знати у ком жбуну лежи кунић#znati u kom žbunu leži kunićto know in which shrub the hare lies пустити бувуpustiti buvuto let go of the flyto start a rumour/to spread news → #пустити вашку#pustiti vaškuto let go of the lice отети се контролиoteti se kontrolito break away from controlto lose control → #отети се провери#oteti se proverito break away from the examination
att Plocka russinen ur kakanto pick the raisins out of the caketo choose only the best things → #att välja ut nötterna från kakan
further tests are required
الطائرة أخذtake the plane → أخذ الحافلة take a bus
изнасям докладpresent a report → изнасям урок/лекция/презентация и т.н.
den Bus nehmento take the bus → den Zug/ das Flugzeug, etc nehmen to take the train/plain/etc
παίρνω το λεωφορείο
to take a plane → to take a bus/car/boat, etc.
coger el autobústo_take the busto take the bus → coger el avión/tren, etc. to take the plain/train/etc.
autobusa hartubus taketo take the bus → trena/taxia/hegazkina hartu to take a train/taxi/plane
prendere il trenoto take the bus → prendere il bus/aereo/etc to take the bus/plain/etc
jqum u joqgħodalways moving about
de bus nemento take the bus→ de trein, het vliegtuig, enz. nemento take the train, plain, etc
sprawić kłopotto make a trouble→ sprawić przykrość/trudność/niedogodność/problem/zawikłanie/nieprzyjemnośćto make a(n) nuisance/difficulty/inconvenience/problem/complication
quebrar um braçoto break an arm → quebrar uma perna/costela/falange to break a leg/rib/phalanx
a lua o decizieto take a decisionto make a decision → a lua o hotărâreto take a decreeto make a decision
delati težaveto make a trouble→ delati preglavice/probleme/to make a(n) nuisance/problem
изазвати проблемеizazvati problemeto cause problems → изазвати бриге/невоље izazvati brige/nevoljeto cause worries/afflictions
att ta bussento take the bus → att ta tåget/flyget, etc to take the train/plain/etc
Usual modifications for [LEX] include replacing content words in the candidate by synonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms,
antonyms, troponyms, meronyms, and related words in general.
Test VID.3 - [MORPH] - Morphological inflexibility
أخذ الثور من قرنيه to take the bull by his horns → أخذ الثور من قرنه# take the bull by one horn
хвърлям окоthrow an eyeto throw a glance → #хвърлям очи.PLURAL хващам бика.DEF за рогатаtake the bull by the horns → #хващам бик.INDEF за рогата не мога да си намеря мястоcannot find a place for myselfto be extremely nervous→ only exists in negative form
ins Gras beißento bite into the grassto die → #in ein Gras beißento bite into a grass#in die Gräser beißento bite into the grasses, in Kraft treteninto force stepto come into effect → #in Kräfte treteninto forces step
κάνω του αλατιού → #κάνω των αλατιών φέρω βαρέως → *φέρω βαρύτερα φέρω βαρέως → *φέρω βαρύτερα μπαίνωστοψητό → #μπαίνω στα ψητά
to kick the bucket → #to kick the buckets to pretty-print → *to prettier-print to take turns → #to take a turn
coger el toro por los cuernosto_take the bull by the hornsto take the bull by the horns → #coger el toro por el cuernoto_take the bull by the horn#to take the bulls by the hornsto_take the bulls by the horns#to take the bulls by the horns entrar en vigorto_enter in vigorto come into effect → #entrar en vigoresto_enter in vigors#to come into effects
prendre le taureau par les cornesto_take the bull by the horns → #prendre le taureau par une corneto_take the bull by a horn
περὶπολλοῦποιέομαιperi pollou poieomaiabove much.GEN do.1SGI hold in high esteem→ #περὶ πολλῶν ποιέομαι
andare a letto con le gallineto go to bed with the hens to go to bed early → #andare a letto con la gallinato_go to bed with the hen cercare il pelo nell'uovo to look for the hair in the egg to be pedantic → #cercare i peli nell'uovo
in de gaten houdento bite into the grassto die → #in ein Gras beißento bite into a grass#in die Gräser beißento bite into the grasses, in Kraft treteninto force stepto come into effect → #in Kräfte treteninto forces step
budować zamki na lodzieto build castles on iceto rely on unstable foundations → #budować zamek na lodzieto build a castle on ice mucha kogoś ugryzłaa fly bit someonesomeone is in a bad temper→ #mucha kogoś ugryziea fly will bite someone wyciągnąć nogito stretch.PERF legsto die→ #wyciągać nogito stretch.IMPERF legs(imperfective aspectual variant prohibited)
bater pernahit legto walk around → bater a/uma/essas perna/pernas/perninha/pernonato hit the/one/these leg/legs/leg.SMALL/leg.BIG
a da colțulto give corner.theto die → *a da colţurileto give corners.the
обећавати куле и градовеobećavati kule i gradoveto promise towers and townsto promise somebody the moon → #обећавати кулу и градobećavati kulu i gradto promise a tower and a town бити у свакој чорби мирођијаbiti u svakoj čorbi mirođijato be the dil in every brothto meddle → #бивај у свакој чорби мирођијаbivaj u svakoj čorbi mirođijabe the dil in every broth дође као кец на једанаестdođe kao kec na jedanaestcomes as an ace on an elevenan unfavorable outcome → #дође као кечеви на једанаестdođe kao kečevi na jedanaestcomes as aces on an eleven
träda i kraftstep in forceto come into effect → #träda i krafterstep into forces
further tests are required
لعبة صنع to make a toy → صنع ألعابto make many toys
хвърлям топкаto throw a ball → хвърлям топка/топката/топки/топките
einen Kuchen backento bake a cake → viele/keine/den Kuchen backen/machen many/no/the cake bake/make
κάνω κουλούρια → κάνω νόστιμα κουλούρια
to make a cake → to make a/many/those/no cake/cakes
mover el brazoto_move the armto move the arm → mover/agitar/levantar/estirar el brazo/la pierna/las manos/las piernas to_move/shake/raise/stretch the arm/the leg/the hands/the legsto move/shake/raise/stretch the arm/the leg/the hands/the legs
ἐπιστολὴνπέμπωepistolēn pempо̄letter.ACC send.1SGI send a letter→ ἐπιστολὰς πέμπω
fare un dolce → fare un/molti/dei/quei/nessun dolce/dolci
een taart bakkento bake a cake→ veel/geen/de taarten bakken/maken many/no/the cakes bake/make
kształtować opinięto form an opinion→ kształtować opinieto form opinions
bater o braçoto hit the arm→ bater o/os/um/esse braço/braços/bracinhohit the/the.PL/a/this arm/arms/arm.SMALL
a face o prăjiturăto make a cake → a face multe/aceste prăjiturito make many/these cakes
vzeti taksito take a cab → ne vzeti nobenega taksija/en taksi/dva taksija to take no/one/two/… cab(s)
att baka en kakato bake a cake → att baka flera/den där/några/ingen kaka/kakor to bake several/that/some/no cake(s)
Usual modifications for [MORPH] include inflecting content words in the candidate for gender, number, case, tense,
mood, aspect, etc. - depending on the target language's morphology.
Test VID.4 - [MORPHSYNT] - Morpho-syntactic inflexibility
یده ب أخذ take with his handto give a hand → يده في أخذ# to take in his hand
аз ти давам думатасиI give you my word → #аз ти давам неговата дума (I give you HIS word) азсипродавам душатаI sell my soul → #аз продавам неговата душа (I sell his soul)
Ichwerde mein Bestes tunI will my best doI will do my best → *Ich werde dein Bestes tunI will do your best, Ichgebe dir mein WortI give you my word → *Ich gebe dir ihr WortI give you her word
Ο Γιάννηςπαίζει τα ρέστατου → #Ο Γιάννης παίζει τα ρέστα μας Ο Γιάννηςέριξεμαύρηπέτραπίσωτου → #Ο Γιάννης έριξε μαύρη πέτρα πίσω μας
I will domybest → *I will do your best Igive you myword for that → #I give you his word for that he was pullingmyleg → #I was pulling my leg
tedoymipalabrato_you give_I my wordI give you my word → #tedoysupalabrato_you give_I his/her wordI give you his/her word
ilvidesonsache empties his baghe reveals his secret thoughts → #il vide mon sache empties my bag
περὶπολλοῦποιέομαιperi pollou poieomaiabove much.GEN do.1SGI hold in high esteem→ #περὶ τοῦ πολλοῦ ποιέομαι
Iofarò del miomeglio → *Io farò del tuo meglio Io ti do la miaparola→ #Io ti do la sua parola
Ik zal mijn best doenI will my best doI will do my best → *Ik zal jouw best doenI will do your best
Polish VMWEs do not seem to exhibit this kind of inflexibility
elese suicidouhe self.3P.SG suicided → *eleme suicidou euperdimeutempoI wasted my time → eu perdi teu/seu/nosso tempo English allows this, Portuguese doesn't. We say I made you waste your time instead.
Îți dau cuvântulmeuCL.DAT give.1SG word.the myI give you my word → #Îți dau cuvântul luiCL.DAT give.1SG word.the hisI give you his word
Vlečeš me za nosyou are pulling my noseyou're pulling my leg → *Vlečeš se za nosyou're pulling your nose Pojdi se solit!to go salt oneselfGet lost! → *Pojdi ga solitgo salt him
дати све од себеdati sve odsebeto give one's all → #дати све од тебеdati sve od tebeto give everything from you
Jag gör mitt bästaI do my bestI do my best → *Jag gör ditt bästaI do your best
further tests are required
копаясигробаto dig my grave → копаяти/му/й/имгроба (to dig your/his/her/their grave)
er trafseineEntscheidunghe made his decision → er trafmeine/ihre/unsere/eureEntscheidunghe made my/her/our/your decision
he didhisjob → he didmy/her/our/yourjob
Ha hechosutrabajoHas_he/she done his/her workHe/She has done his/her work → Ha hechomi/tu/nuestrotrabajoHas_he/she done my/your/our workHe/She has done my/your/our work
ἐπιστολὴνπέμπωepistolēn pempо̄letter.ACC send.1SGI send a letter→ τὴν ἐπιστολὴν πέμπω
hafatto il suolavoro → ha fatto il mio/tuo/nostro/vostro/lorolavoro
hij deedzijnwerk → he didmy/her/our/yourjob
Polish VMWEs do not seem to exhibit this kind of inflexibility
Eu fiz meu trabalhoI did my job → Tu/ele/nós fizeste/fez/fizemos meu trabalho You/he/we made my job
el îșiface temahe his does homework.thehe does his homework → el îmi/ne/leface temahe my/our/their does homework.thehe does my/our/their homework
opravil je svojonalogohe did his job → opravil je mojo/njeno/našo/tvojonalogohe did my/her/our/your job
урадио јесвојпосаоuradio jesvojposaohe did his job → урадио јемојпосаоuradio jemojposaohe did my job
han gör sitt jobbhe does his job → han gör mitt/hennes/vårt jobbhe does my/her/our job
Usual modifications for [MORPHSYNT] involve agreement or loss of agreement between some components in the candidate.
на стар краставичар краставици продавамto an old cucumber seller cucumbers to sellto try to cheat a more experienced person → #продавам краставици на стар краставичар, #краставиците са продадени бълвам змии и гущери → #бълвам гущери и змии
Noun phrase (NP) or prepositional phrase (PP)
speak of the devilthe person one is talking about shows up → #he was speaking of the devil to go bananasto get crazy → #bananas are gone to drink and drive → #drive and drink to kick the bucket → #the bucket was kicked
coser y cantarto_sew and to_singeasy as pie, a piece of cake → #cantar y coserto sing and to sew perder la cabezato_loose the headto go bananas → #perder las cabezasto_loose the heads
περὶπολλοῦποιέομαιperi pollou poieomaiabove much.GEN do.1SGI hold in high esteem→ #ποιέομαι περὶ πολλοῦ
alzare la crestato lift the crestbecome cocky → #la cresta è stata alzata the crest has been lifted andare in malorago to ruingo to ruin → #nella malora è andatain ruin was gone vivi e lascia viverelive and let live → #lascia vivere e vivilet live and live
ik zal hem mores lerenit trots and walksit is OK/as usual → #det går och knallar
kogoś krew zalewablood foods someonesomeone gets furious→ #ktoś jest zalewany przez krewsomeone is flooded by blood(passive blocked) robić bokamito do with-sidesto have serious financial problems→#robić swoją robotę bokamito do one's job with sides(regular modification blocked) dobrze komuś z oczu patrzywell someone.DAT from eyes lookssomeone looks like a good person → #uprzejmość dobrze komuś z oczu patrzykindness well someone.DAT from eyes looks(subject prohibited) nie zagrzać miejsca w pracy not to warm a place at worknot to stay long at one work→ #zagrzać miejsce w pracyto warm a place at work(negation is compulsory) zdechł pies!died the dog!it is a lost cause→ #pies zdechłthe dog died(a regular word order variability is blocked) wziąć w łebto take into headto fail→#wziąć porażkę w łebto take failure into head(direct object prohibited for the normally transitive verb wziąćto take)
pisar na bolastep on the ballmake a mistake → #a bola na qual ele pisou the ball on which he stepped
a da colțulto give corner.theto die → *colțul a fost dat corner.the has been given
delati se Francozato pretend to be Frenchto pretend to be indifferent → *delan Francoz made French
коцка је баченаkocka je bačenathe die has been thrownthe die has been cast → #коцка се бацилаkocka se bacila (blocked passive) the die cast itself ведрити и облачитиvedriti i oblačitito brighten and to cloudto call the shots → #облачити и ведритиoblačiti i vedriti (regular word order variability is blocked) to cloud and to brighten не вредети пишљивог бобаne vredeti pišljivog bobato not be worth a single beanto be worthless → #вредети пишљивог бобаvredeti pišljivog boba (negation is compulsory) to be worth a single bean носити на душиnositi na dušito carry something on one's soulto carry the burden of guilt → #ношење на душиnošenje na duši (nominalization blocked) carrying on a soul
det knallar och gårit trots and walksit is OK/as usual → #det går och knallar
It is not a VID, exit
продавам неговата колаI sell his car → колата му беше продадена (his car was sold), неговата кола, която тя продаде (his car which she sold), т.н.
jemandes Auto waschento wash one's car → ihr Auto wurde gewaschen her car was washed, das Auto, welches sie wusch the car that she washed, Autowaschen car-washing, etc
to wash one's car → her car was washed, the car that she washed, car washing, etc.
pisar la arenato step on the sand → la arena que pisaste The sand on which you stepped
ἐπιστολὴνπέμπωepistolēn pempо̄letter.ACC send.1SGI send a letter→ πέμπω ἐπιστολὴν
lavare la macchina →la sua macchina è stata lavata, la macchina che ha lavato, il lavaggio della macchina, etc.
iemands auto wassento wash one's car→ haar auto werd gewassen her car was washed, de auto, die zij wastethe car that she washed, autowassencar-washing, etc.
kształtować opinięto form an opinion→opinia jest kształtowanathe opinion is formed
pisar na areiato step on the sand → a areia na qual você pisou the sand on which you stepped jogar futebolto play football → ?futebol é jogado football is playedOne may argue that this is a VMWE because passive sounds strange. However, we assume that this sense of jogar does not accept passive. Since this construction is very productive, we do not annotate it as VMWE.
a spăla maşinato wash the car→ maşina a fost spălată, maşina pe care a spălat-o, spălarea maşinii etc.the car was washed, the car that he/she washed, car washing
narediti filmto make a movie → Film, narejen po knjigi a movie based on a book
написати књигуnapisati knjiguto write a book → књига је написана knjiga je napisanathe book is written
att tvätta bilento wash one's car → min bil tvättades my car was washed, bilen som hon tvättade the car that she washed, biltvätt car-wash etc.