| Acknowledgements | 第1-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-8页 |
| 摘要 | 第8-9页 |
| Contents | 第9-11页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第11-15页 |
| ·The Significance of the Topic | 第11-12页 |
| ·Research Contents and Methods | 第12-13页 |
| ·The Structure of the Thesis | 第13-15页 |
| Chapter Two Literature Review | 第15-28页 |
| ·The Definition and the General Features of Idiom | 第15-18页 |
| ·The Definition of Idiom | 第15-16页 |
| ·The General Features of Idioms | 第16-18页 |
| ·The Relationship between Language, Culture and Thoughts | 第18-20页 |
| ·The Research on Idioms Abroad | 第20-22页 |
| ·The Research on Idioms in China | 第22-25页 |
| ·Speech Codes Theory | 第25-28页 |
| Chapter Three A Comparative Study of Chinese Culture and British Culture in Terms of Culture, Thought Patterns, and the Shape Taking of Idioms | 第28-38页 |
| ·The Influence of Geography | 第28-31页 |
| ·The Influence of History | 第31-34页 |
| ·The Influence of Religion | 第34-38页 |
| Chapter Four Thought Patterns Underlying Chinese and English Idioms | 第38-56页 |
| ·Different Attitudes toward Life | 第40-41页 |
| ·Different World Views | 第41-46页 |
| ·Different attitudes toward man and nature | 第42-44页 |
| ·Different attitudes toward men and men | 第44-46页 |
| ·Different Attitudes toward Value | 第46-56页 |
| ·Different Attitudes Toward Social Hierarchy | 第46-48页 |
| ·Different Attitudes Toward Modesty and How One Should Act | 第48-50页 |
| ·Different Attitudes Toward Time | 第50-51页 |
| ·Different Attitudes Toward Money | 第51-53页 |
| ·Different Attitudes Toward Animals | 第53-54页 |
| ·Different Attitudes Toward Human Nature | 第54-56页 |
| Chapter Five Idiom Codes Theory----the Chinese Codes and the British Codes | 第56-66页 |
| ·The Development of Speech Codes Theory | 第56-58页 |
| ·Idiom Codes Theory and the Cognition of an Idiom | 第58-61页 |
| ·The Chinese Codes and the British Codes | 第61-66页 |
| ·The Codes of Honor and Dignity | 第61-63页 |
| ·The Codes of Emotion and Discipline | 第63-64页 |
| ·The Codes of Intimacy and Distance | 第64-66页 |
| Chapter Six Conclusion | 第66-68页 |
| ·Summary of Major Findings | 第66页 |
| ·Limitations of the Present Study | 第66-67页 |
| ·Suggestions for Further Study | 第67-68页 |
| Bibliography | 第68-70页 |
