world was collapsing. "(1990: 67-68).
1.4 Idioms referring to the 18 th century
There are some idioms, which reflect everyday life of people during the 18 th century. It refers to the idiom have an axe to grind , the idiomatic meaning of which is "to have a personal, often selfish, reason for being involved in something: I have no axe to grind - I just want to help you. ". The etymology of this idiom presents a great interest. It represents a story as it is believed, told by Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American statesman, diplomat, author, scientist, and inventor, about a man who "had once asked him to demonstrate how his father's grindstone worked - and had then produced an axe which he wanted to sharpen ".
1.5 Idioms referring to the 19 th century
Most idioms describe the everyday life; they are connected with the tools. Fly off the handle idiomatically means "to lose one's tempo: He flew off the handle when he heard that the boys had raided his garden again. "The metaphor is based on the possibility of an axe head to fly off the handle while one is using it. According to D. Boorstin, the idioms came into use in 1825.and implements play an important role in the life of Americans, as in a life of any people. They are often used in idioms. The prototype of the idiom get the hang of (something) originally meant, "to learn to use this or that tool. "Idiomatic meaning is" to learn, or begin to understand, how to do (something): It may seem difficult at first, but you'll get the hang of it after a few weeks. "Very important facet of life is disclosed in the idiom bark up the wrong tree , which presently means" to attempt to do the wrong thing or to do something in the wrong way or from the wrong direction: You're barking up the wrong tree if you think you will be able to influence the judge. "The metaphor comes from racoon-hunting, where dogs were used to locate racoons up in trees.are many idioms including elements denoting hunting in the common vocabulary stock, most of them were inherited by American English. It is noteworthy to underline that the idioms describes hunting a new animal, racoon, the habitat of which is the North America. D. Boorstin ref...
