LINGUOCULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN IDIOMS WITHIN THE SEMANTIC FIELD "FOOD"

This study explores the linguocultural characteristics of English and Russian idioms within the semantic field “food”. Phraseological units are examined as culturally marked linguistic elements that reflect national worldview, cognitive patterns, and social values. The research is based on a comparative and linguocultural approach, incorporating contextual and componential analysis to identify similarities and differences between English and Russian idioms. The findings reveal that food-related idioms are grounded in universal human experience but demonstrate significant cultural specificity in their semantic structure and usage. The study also highlights the role of metaphor and cultural symbolism in shaping idiomatic meaning. Overall, the research confirms that phraseological units function as carriers of cultural knowledge and serve as an important tool for understanding intercultural communication.