The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics Part 74. In the past decade, Cognitive Linguistics has developed into one of the most dynamic and attractive frameworks within theoretical and descriptive linguistics The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics is a major new reference that presents a comprehensive overview of the main theoretical concepts and descriptive/theoretical models of Cognitive Linguistics, and covers its various subfields, theoretical as well as applied. | 700 RAyMGND W. GIBBS JR. 12 a. built like a truck b. like getting blood out of a stone c. stick out like a sore thumb d. work like a dog Most metonymic idioms relate to parts of the body. The particular body part mentioned represents the whole person and foregrounds the physical sense or ability which constitutes the central part of the idiom s figurative meaning. For example lend an ear indicates both the person and his her attention and get one s head round something indicates a person and his her mind or understanding. Some further examples are in 13 13 a. hate someone s guts b. have an eye on something c. lend a hand d. lose one s nerve e. under someone s thumb For the above expressions the relationship between metonymic tenor and metonymic vehicle is often governed by physiology and the real world. Sense organs denote their respective senses and formulaic phrases mentioning hands for example generally have meanings to do with holding and manipulating Kovecses and Szabo 1996 . In other cases the relationship is culturally determined. By convention heart as in to lose heart indicates emotions and depth of feeling and nerve as in to lose one s nerve refers to audacity or bravery. Other metonymic idioms involve objects and places that represent actions activities or results or involve other part and whole relationships. For the most part these referents are also often culture specific. Consider the following cases 14 a. at the helm wheel b. from the cradle to the grave c. set sail d. take the floor e. without a stitch on Hyperbolic idioms describe literally impossible processes or attributes with the aim of intensifying our understanding of the main idea or event a speaker refers to. These include expressions like the following 15 a. a storm in a teacup b. breathe fire c. jump down someone s throat d. shoot the breeze e. sweat blood f. tie oneself into knots g. raining cats and dogs IDIOMS AND FORMULAIC LANGUAGE 701 Many idioms suggest exaggerations and .
