The idiom ‘Break the bank’ and its transformations in american mass media (a corpora-based analysis)

Abstract

This paper explores the transformative nature of idioms in mass media, focusing on the frequently
encountered idiom “break the bank” and its transformed version “break the internet”. Examining the
idioms through a mixed-methods approach, the research employs quantitative analysis using corpora
from COCA, Google Book Ngram Viewer and dictionaries, along with qualitative methodologies such as
critical discourse analysis and semiotic analysis. The investigation seeks to answer key questions regarding the frequency transformation, emergence and social context of these idioms. The study contributes to
filling gaps in research on transformed idioms in mass media, offering insights into linguistic innovation
and digital communication patterns.
Furthermore, this paper examines the crucial principles that drive the transformation of idioms in
the digital-time period. By surveying the change from “break the bank”, traditionally linked to financial
ruin, to “break the internet”, which conveys online popularity, the study highlights how technological
improvement and social media advances linguistic creativity. The modified idiom produces big cultural
shifts, illustrating how the influence of Internet changes and reshapes language and communication
between people. This analysis is not only important in understanding the notion about the idiom evolution but also provides an understanding that the impact of mass media on everyday language can be
thoroughly examined and appreciated.
Key words: COCA, American English, idiom, transformed idioms, modification, corpus analysis.