語言是社會的產(chǎn)物。任何語言都在隨著社會的發(fā)展而發(fā)展。其中一個突出的傾向，就是簡化。例如英語有些慣用語中的小小成分就可以省略不用，趨向于較簡單的形式。

以下便是些慣用語某些成分可以被合法省略的例子:

⒈定冠詞 the 的省略，如：

● pull the strings→pull strings：通過人事用其影響力

● the long and the short of……→the long and short of……：總而言之

● if the worst comes to the worst→if worst comes to worst ：大不了

● to go through the proper channels→to go through proper channels：通過正常渠道

⒉不定冠詞的省略，如：

● in a great measure→in great measure：在很大程度上

● at a breakneck speed→at breakneck speed：以驚險速度

⒊名詞復(fù)數(shù)符號的省略，如：

● to rack one’s brains→to rack one’s brain：絞盡腦汁

● in the interests of……→in the interest of：為了……利益起見

⒋所有格代名詞的省略，如：

● to save one’s face→to save face：保存面子

● to take one’s leave of→to take leave：請假

⒌返身代詞的省略，如：

● to stand oneself aloof from→to stand aloof from：遠(yuǎn)離

● to adapt oneself to→to adapt to：適應(yīng)

⒍形容詞的省略，如：

● to make both ends meet→to make ends meet：收支平衡

● to take one’s own life→to take one’s life ：犧牲自己

● to hit the right nail on the head→to hit the nail on the head：做對、答對

● at long last→at last：終于

⒎介詞的省略，如：

● to take to flight→to take flight：逃之夭夭

● at full length→full length：詳細(xì)地

⒏副詞的省略，如：

● to have too many irons in the fire→to have many irons in the fire：要做的事太多

● to put out to sea→to put to sea：啟航

⒐“As”及其他詞語的省略，如：

● as regular as clockwork→regular as clockwork：很準(zhǔn)時地

● as blind as a bat→blind as a bat：視力不良

● his word is as good as his bond→His word is his bond：重視諾言