INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
SJIF 2019: 5.222 2020: 5.552 2021: 5.637 2022:5.479 2023:6.563 2024: 7,805
eISSN :2394-6334 https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd Volume 12, issue 05 (2025)
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LEXICOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ZOOMORPHIC METAPHORS (IN ENGLISH AND
UZBEK LANGUAGES)
Buriyeva Shaxodat Baxriddinovna
University of Information Technologies and Management
Abstract:
This article explores zoomorphic metaphors in English and Uzbek, focusing on their
lexicographic presentation. It outlines how these metaphors enrich language expressiveness and
reflect cultural values. The comparative analysis and dictionary-based study reveal their semantic,
stylistic, and functional characteristics.
Keywords:
zoomorphic metaphor, lexicography, semantics, function, comparative analysis
1. Introduction
Metaphors, particularly zoomorphic ones, play a significant role in both English and Uzbek.
These metaphors attribute animal characteristics to humans and serve as tools of vivid expression.
The study aims to analyze how these metaphors are used and presented in dictionaries of both
languages and to understand their semantic and cultural implications.
2. Methods
This research uses descriptive and comparative methods. Dictionaries such as the Oxford Idioms
Dictionary and Uzbek phraseological dictionaries were examined. Zoomorphic metaphors were
collected, categorized by animals, and analyzed based on their meanings, frequency, and stylistic
usage.
3. Results
Examples of zoomorphic metaphors:
English:
- As sly as a fox – cunning person
- A bear with a sore head – irritable person
- Snake in the grass – untrustworthy person
Uzbek:
- Tulkidek ayyor – cunning like a fox
- Bo‘riday yovuz – cruel like a wolf
- Iloqdek chaqqon – agile like a weasel
In both languages, metaphors express not just character but also emotional attitude. These
metaphors are found both in daily speech and formal texts.
INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
SJIF 2019: 5.222 2020: 5.552 2021: 5.637 2022:5.479 2023:6.563 2024: 7,805
eISSN :2394-6334 https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd Volume 12, issue 05 (2025)
26
4. Discussion
The metaphors found in English and Uzbek show both universal and culture-specific elements.
While some animals (e.g., fox, wolf) convey similar traits, the choice of animals and their
symbolic meanings can differ based on national perception. Lexicographically, English
dictionaries tend to include more fixed idioms, while Uzbek sources may vary in consistency.
5. Conclusion
Zoomorphic metaphors reflect human attitudes and cultural values. Their analysis through
lexicography provides insight into language richness and worldview. This study contributes to
metaphor research and highlights the need for more comparative studies in linguistic imagery.
References
1. Oxford Idioms Dictionary, Oxford University Press.
2. O‘zbek tilining izohli lug‘ati. G‘afur G‘ulom, 2006.
3. O‘zbek tilining frazeologik lug‘ati. Fan, 1992.
4. Kövecses, Z. Metaphor: A Practical Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2010.
5. Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. Metaphors We Live By. University of Chicago Press, 1980.
