Abstract:

Figurative structure of idioms reflects cultural codes that make linguistic picture of the world. Food and national cuisine represent a specific culture area. Idioms specify an English alimentary code and its axiological vector. The purpose of the article is to analyze metaphorical models presented in the idioms of the English alimentary code. 256 idioms of the English alimentary code make the object of the research. The idioms under analysis have been selected by the continuous sampling method from the bilingual Big English-Russian Phraseological Dictionary by A. V. Kunin. The descriptive method and the elements of the comparative-historical method were applied in the course of analysis. Metaphorical model GASTRONOMIC IMAGES is STATE OF A PERSON is represented by the frames ‘Physical parameters of a person’, ‘Satiety’, ‘Emotional state of a person’. The frame ‘Physical parameters of a person’ is represented by the slots ‘Constitution’, ‘State of health’. The slot ‘State of health’ is represented by lexemes denoting food and cooking attributes. Frame ‘Satiety’ is represented by slots ‘Basic need for food’, ‘State of intoxication’. Hunger and satiety are verbalized through anthropomorphic, natural and artifact metaphors. Frame ‘Emotional state of a person’ is represented by the slots ‘Pleasure’, ‘Confidence’, ‘Suffering/Humiliation’. Idioms of the English alimentary code corresponding to the given metaphorical models have been revealed. It was stated that they reflect gastronomic images. The analysis suggests the predominance of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and artifact metaphors. Key components are represented by the lexemes denoting food, feelings of satiety and hunger, and the process of eating.

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