American Journal Of Philological Sciences
144
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue 03 2025
PAGE NO.
144-147
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue03-36
Synonymy and variants of phraseological units with the
component “clothing”
A.Arslonzoda
Independent researcher at Fergana State University, Uzbekistan
Received:
28 January 2025;
Accepted:
28 February 2025;
Published:
31 March 2025
Abstract
:
The given article touches upon the issues of synonymy and variants of phraseological united under the
component “Clothing” in English, Russian and Uzbek languages. In
distinguishing between the terms of synonymy
and variants it has been approached to the views of different scholars. The equivalence of phraseological units
has also been considered.
Keywords:
P
hraseological units, component “Clothing”, synonym,
variant, expressiveness, equivalence.
Introduction:
Phraseological synonymy plays a
significant role in enriching the phraseological fund of
any language, as it reveals the semantic-paradigmatic
relationships among phraseological units. It is
important to distinguish phraseological synonymy from
the phenomenon of phraseological variants, a
distinction that has been examined in detail.
Phraseological units containing the component
“clothing” (“kiyim”) have been analyzed from a
comparative-contrastive
perspective
in
English,
Russian, and Uzbek, thereby highlighting both their
divergent and convergent features.
METHODS
The issue of phraseological synonymy has been
thoroughly examined in English, Russian, and Uzbek
linguistics. In particular, in English studies, it was
addressed by A. V. Kunin [4], in Russian by T. A.
Bertagayev and V. I. Zimin [1], and in Uzbek linguistics,
aspects of phraseological synonymy have drawn the
attention of Sh. Rahmatullayev [5]. The researcher
emphasized that phraseological synonyms, based on
varying imagery, should nevertheless convey the same
concepts and identical meanings [3]. In this article,
phraseological units containing the component
“clothing” (“kiyim”) in English, Russian, and Uzbek are
analyzed from a comparative-contrastive perspective,
including a detailed examination of their components.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
When language manifests through various linguistic
units, the emergence of these units in a synonymous
capacity is of particular interest. In addition to lexical
items, phraseological and paremiological units,
enriched by their own synonymous forms, also
contribute to the expansion of the lexical layer of the
language. One concept, object, or state can be
described and conveyed in multiple ways, employing
different methods and expressive tools.
Hence, the language features a considerable number of
phraseological units that are close in meaning.
However, the phraseological units that form a
synonymous set do not necessarily originate within the
same era or region. For instance, two phraseological
expressions containing the component “kiyim”
(“clothing”) reflect a single, similar meaning: Два
сапога пара (“two of a kind”; lit. “two boots make a
pair”) and Одного сукна епанча (“a cape made from
the same cloth”). While the first unit is tied to Russian
customs, the second appears to be borrowed from the
Tatar lan
guage. The notion of “taking someone else’s
money” is represented by a set of phraseological units
in Russian: класть в карман (“to pocket”), залезть в
карман (“to dig into someone’s pocket”), запускать
руку в карман (“to put one’s hand into someone’s
pock
et”), набивать карман (“to line one’s pockets”).
Another series of expressions illustrates a lack of
money: В кармане вошь на аркане, В кармане ветер
свистит, В кармане ветер гуляет, Карманная чахотка
(“there’s a louse on a leash in one’s pocket,” “the win
d
whistles in one’s pocket,” “the wind blows through
one’s pocket,” “pocket consumption (tuberculosis),”
respectively). While the lexeme pocket metaphorically
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
145
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American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
denotes money or means, the images of a louse (вошь),
consumption (чахотка), and whistling wind (ветер
свистит) convey negative connotations, signifying
poverty. In each case, the phraseological units reveal
associative links: the social ills of lice and tuberculosis
metaphorically represent a decline in one’s material
status, while the whistling wind is compared to a
portrait of destitution. Thus, phraseological units, even
when synonymous, can reflect different cultural and
historical layers. Their figurative motives (e.g., illness,
parasitic creatures, or the howling wind) demonstrate
how speakers conceptualize financial hardship and
material insufficiency. At the same time, these close-in-
meaning phraseological expressions highlight the
richness of the language’s semantic and imaginative
possibilities.
In the online Academic Dictionary, the phraseological
units “Держать в ежовых рукавицах” (“to keep under
tight control”) and “Брать в ежовые рукавицы” (“to
take into an iron grip”) are classified as synonyms. We
would, however, register our objection to such a
classification, underscoring the need to differentiate
between a synonym and a variant. In this regard, we
follow the viewpoint of Sh. Rahmatullayev. Discussing
A. Isayev’s position on the correct identification of the
component structure in phraseological units, Sh.
Rahmatullayev notes how “ko‘z yummoq,” “abadiy ko‘z
yummoq,” “olamdan ko‘z yummoq,” and “dunyodan
ko‘z yummoq”—
all conveying the notion of death
—
are
presented as independent phraseological units.
According
to
him,
the
lexemes
abadiy/olamdan/dunyodan constitute a facultative
(additional
) component, whereas ko‘z yummoq forms
the structural variant of the phrase. Drawing on this
perspective, we likewise assert that if a phraseological
unit includes a facultative
—
i.e., supplementary
—
component, it should not be regarded as a synonym but
rath
er as a variant. For instance, “Ежовые рукавицы”
itself
signals
severity;
when
coupled
with
supplementary components as in “Держать в ежовых
рукавицах” or “Брать в ежовые рукавицы,” the
meaning shifts toward “to act strictly” or “to maintain
a strong grip.
” If the noun phrase transforms into a verb
phrase by means of an additional component, we are
not dealing with a case of synonymy but of variation. In
the aforementioned phraseological units “Класть в
карман,” “Залезть в карман,” “Запускать руку в
карман,” and “Набивать карман,” the verb element
appears as a mandatory rather than facultative
component, since “карман” (pocket) alone cannot
serve as a full-fledged phrase. At the same time, each
of these phraseological expressions exhibits subtle
semantic distinctions. Phraseological variation, as a
phenomenon, is a broad topic that has been explored
by numerous scholars. For example, to distinguish
phraseological
synonyms
from
variants,
Sh.
Rahmatullayev cites the following key criteria: the
internal integrit
y of the phrase’s form, the uniformity
of its expressive coloring and semantic unity, its
identical functional usage, and the absence of stylistic
divergence.
Russian linguists V. P. Zhukov and A. V. Zhukov offer
definitions of phraseological synonymy that closely
align with Sh. Rahmatullayev’s views [2]. In their
interpretation, phraseological synonymy involves units
that are similar in meaning and belong to the same part
of speech category, yet differ in stylistic coloring and
expressive nuance.
Therefore, in order to distinguish phraseological
synonymy from phraseological variation, we adopt the
aforementioned explanations and turn our attention to
phraseological units containing the component “kiyim”
(“clothing”). We have elected to analyze only those
ex
pressions that include the “kiyim” component for the
purpose of contrasting synonymy and variation.
Certainly, phraseological expressions with other
components may also serve as synonyms for “kiyim”
-
based units. However, our primary aim is to focus
specifically on those phraseological units that
incorporate this particular component.
When examining the variant forms of phraseological
units, one can observe the breadth of their usage. For
example, we believe it is incorrect to classify the
phraseological exp
ressions “Быть под каблуком” (“to
be under someone’s heel”) and “Быть под башмаком”
(“to be under someone’s shoe”) as synonyms; rather,
we acknowledge them as variants. Furthermore,
phraseological units may, through their variants, enter
different stylistic layers of the language. The variant
forms mentioned above belong to a neutral layer, while
in colloquial speech they may change form, becoming
подбашмачник or подкаблучник. The English
equivalent is somewhat partial, differing by a single
component: “to be under smb.’s thumb.” This
phraseological unit also has synonyms, as indicated by
Lingvo’s electronic dictionary: “be in smb.’s pocket,”
“be in the hollow of smb.’s hand,” “be henpecked,” “be
tied (pinned) to one’s wife’s apron strings,” “be petty
-
coat-r
idden,” “be under smb.’s thumb (heel, hoof),”
“be beneath (under) smb.’s foot (feet).” The expression
“to be under smb.’s thumb” itself is accompanied by
variants such as “to be under smb.’s heel,” “to be under
smb.’s hoof,” and “to be under smb.’s foot.”
While the
Russian phraseological unit refers primarily to the
concept of being a “husband under his wife’s control,”
the English phrases have a broader meaning,
encompassing both a wife’s domination and
subjugation by anyone else’s oppression. Examples
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
146
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
tha
t specifically convey the meaning of “a husband
under his wife’s control” include “be tied (pinned) to
one’s wife’s apron strings” and “henpecked.”
Meanwhile, the Russian expression “Тупой как
валенок” (“dumb as felt boots”) also has several
variants: “Тупой как Сибирский валенок,” “Тупой как
Тамбовский валенок.” As another illustration of
phraseological variation in Russian, we can cite
“Отбросить штиблеты” / “Отбросить сандалии” /
“Отбросить коньки.” In all three of these examples, a
type of footwear serves the same function in the
underlying meaning, activated through a single
semantic notion.
Likewise, in Russian, phraseological variation is
exemplified by the following sets of expressions. For
instance:
Толстый карман / Тугой карман –
indicate wealth, a
pocket full of money;
Тощий карман / Пустой карман –
denote having no
money;
Вытрясти карман / Вывернуть карман –
to end up
impoverished;
Костюм Адама / Костюм Евы –
to be without clothing;
Снимать шапку / Снимать шляпу –
to show respect;
Остаться без рубашки / Остаться без штанов –
to
become destitute;
Держаться за бабью юбку / Держаться за мамину
юбку –
to be dependent on a woman;
Как раку фрак / Как щуке брюки / Как рыбе нижнее
бельё –
something that is utterly unnecessary;
Пеньковый галстук / Столыпинский галстук /
Муравьёвский галстук –
a metaphor for a noose.
In such cases of phraseological variation, substituting
one component for another does not alter the
connotative or semantic coloring of the given
expression. Each variant preserves the same expressive
effect, stylistic significance, and semantic load as the
others.
Turning to English, one finds a comparable pattern in
the phraseological units to hide behind a mother’s skirt,
to be tied to mother’s apron strings, to be tied to
one’s/wife’s apron strings, to be pinned to wife’s apron
strings, which illustrate both variation and synonymy.
When we compare to be tied to one’s apron strings, to
be tied to wife’s apron strings, and to be pinned to
wife’s apron strings, we observe that they differ by a
single lexical component while maintaining an identical
level of expressive connotation; thus, they constitute
variant forms of one another. Meanwhile, to hide
behind a mother’s skirt differs semantically and in
terms of expressive nuance from the aforementioned
variants, thereby forming a synonymous relationship
with them. The first group of variant expressions
signifies “being dependent on a woman,” whereas to
hide behind a mother’s skirt implies “remaining behind
a woman’s protection” or shifting responsib
ilities onto
a woman’s shoulders—
subtly distinct in meaning.
According to Sh. Rahmatullayev, phraseological
variants are set apart from phraseological synonyms by
their shared core lexical component, which remains
constant.
In Uzbek, among the set of phraseological expressions
involving the concept of “clothing” (kiyim), one finds
variant-
like units such as Yelkasi chopon ko‘rmagan
(“his shoulders have never felt a cloak”) and Elkasi to‘n
ko‘rmagan (“his shoulders have never seen a robe”).
These share the same core lexical components and
convey essentially the same semantic content, thus
constituting variational forms. By contrast, synonymic
expressions like Eti qo‘rpisiga sig‘may (“his div cannot
fit inside its sheath” –
implying boundless excitement),
Do‘ppisini osmonga otmoq (“to throw one’s doppi/cap
into the air”), and Ko‘ylagini to‘rt yirtish (“to tear one’s
shirt into four pieces”) all signify that the person in
question is overcome with joy or excitement.
Meanwhile, Yelkasi cho‘pon ko‘rmagan (“his sh
oulders
never wore a cloak”) and Bir to‘ni ikki bo‘lmadi (“he
never owned even two robes”) describe a person’s
poverty.
CONCLUSION
In analyzing the synonymy and variability of
phraseological units, we examined their etymology in
English, Russian, and Uzbek. This approach revealed
distinct cultural and national characteristics of each
people. Within the framework of phraseological
expressions containing the component “clothing”
(kiyim), instances of both synonymy and variation were
observed.
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