ANIMAL-BASED IDIOMS IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH: A COGNITIVE AND LINGUOCULTURAL ANALYSIS

This article explores animal-based idioms in Uzbek and English from cognitive and linguacultural perspectives. Idioms containing animal imagery reflect culturally embedded conceptualizations and shared human experience grounded in metaphorical thinking. The study aims to identify similarities and differences in the use, meaning, and conceptual motivation of animal-based idioms in both languages. Using a comparative qualitative approach, idioms are analyzed based on their semantic fields, metaphorical mappings, and cultural associations. The findings reveal both universal cognitive patterns and culture-specific interpretations shaped by historical, environmental, and social factors.