International Journal of Research in English, Media and Literary Studies
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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026): October
Articles

Conceptual Metaphor Analysis of Emotional Idioms in English and Arabic Languages

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  • Yassine Benali,
  • Salma El Khattabi

Published 2026-10-08

Keywords

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Abstract

The present study investigates a conceptual metaphor-based approach to the interpretation of idiomatic expressions of emotions in English and Arabic. Focusing on idioms expressing emotions such as anger, happiness, and sadness, the study examines metaphorical structures in both languages and explores how these structures influence bilingual learners’ understanding. It also considers the role of first language (L1) transfer in shaping learners’ interpretation of idioms in the target language (TL). A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 42 participants. The findings indicate that idioms are more effectively understood and retained when presented within a conceptual metaphor framework compared to contexts without such a framework. The study further highlights the importance of cultural context in shaping emotional idioms and demonstrates that awareness of conceptual metaphors can enhance second-language acquisition. Among the four idiom categories analyzed, Shared Metaphorical Concepts recorded the highest success rate at 86.2%, suggesting that universal or cross-linguistic metaphors significantly facilitate L2 comprehension. In contrast, English Idioms with No Arabic Equivalent Metaphors showed the lowest success rate at 57.1%, indicating that metaphorical mismatch poses a major challenge for learners. Overall, the findings suggest that a conceptual metaphor-based approach is an effective pedagogical strategy for teaching idioms in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context, as it enhances idiom comprehension, raises metaphor awareness, and helps bridge linguistic and cultural differences between English and Arabic.

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