1. By choosing absolute/complete equivalents

In this method each component of an idiom is retained in the TL including the connotative meaning. These are idioms from:

1. Greek or other mythology,

e.g. Augean stables – авгієві стайні (занедбане, занехаяне місце),

a labour of Sisyphus – сізіфова праця (важка і марна праця),

Pandora’s box – скринька Пандори (джерело всіляких лих),

The Trojan horse - троянський кінь (прихована небезпека)

2. ancient history or literature,

e.g. an ass in a lion’s skin – осел у левовій шкурі,

to cross/pass the Rubicon – перейти Рубікон (прийняти важливе рішення),

the golden age – золотий вік/золоті часи,

3. the Bible or works based on a biblical plot,

e.g. a lost sheep – заблудла вівця,

a prodigal son – блудний син,

the ten commandments – десять заповідей,

the thirty pieces of silver – тридцять срібняків

A great many absolute equivalents originate from contemporary or historical sources relating to different languages,

English: Time is money – час – гроші,

a self-made man – людина, що сама собі проклала шлях,

my house is my castle – мій дім – моя фортеця,

French: after us the deluge – після нас хоч потоп,

the fair sex – прекрасна стать,

the game is worth the candle – гра варта свічок,

Spanish: blue blood – блакитна кров,

to tilt at the windmills – воювати з вітряками,

Italian: Dante’s inferno – Дантове пекло,

Finita la comedia – ділу кінець,

German: Sturm und Drang – буря і натиск,

Da ist der Hund begraben – ось де собака заритий

Some expressions belonging to prominent authors have also turned into regular idiomatic expressions.

2. Translation of idioms by choosing near equivalents

The meaning of a number of idioms originating in both l-ges from a common source may sometimes have one or more components different than in the TL,

e.g. the devil is not so black as he is painted – не такий страшний чорт, як його малюють,

a lot of water has flown under the bridge – багато води спливло (з тих пір),

in broad daylight – серед білого дня,

as pale as paper/a sheet – блідий мов стіна,

one’s flesh and bone – рідна кровинка

Here we can observe some substitutions, both semantic and structural.

3. Translation by choosing genuine idiomatic analogies

Most English idiomatic expressions have similar in sense units in Ukrainian, and vice versa. These genuine analogies comprise proverbs and sayings, and also stable collocations,

e.g. to have a ready tongue – за словом у кишеню не лізти,

he that mischief hatches mischief catches – хто іншим лиха бажає, сам лихо має

Many of such expressions may have two and more analogous variants in the TL,

e.g. first catch your hare then cook him – не скуби, доки не зловиш, не кажи гоп доки не перескочиш

4. Translation by choosing approximate analogies

Some SL idioms may have peculiar components or their combination and thus form nationally peculiar expressiveness. The componential images of these phrases may have a hidden meaning which is not explicit/transparent. As a result, there exists no genuine analogy for the unit in the TL. Its meaning can be expressed by approximate analogies or by explication/description only,

e.g. kind words butter no parsnips – годувати байками солов’я,

more power to your elbow – ні пуху ні пера/луски,

to be finger and thumb – водою не розлити,

what’s Hecuba to me – моя хата скраю

The selection of approximate analogies for a translator is no easy task, and sometimes even requires a linguistic investigation on the part of a translator.