Metaphors of Genitive Prepositions in Idioms of the Bosnian Language

This paper explores the semantic role of prepositions in idiomatic constructions, with a particular emphasis on genitive prepositions in the Bosnian language. When embedded in idioms, prepositions activate their full metaphorical potential, often shaping or intensifying the figurative meaning. Genitive prepositions—especially od (‘from’/‘of’)—are among the most semantically diverse in Bosnian, typically conceptualized as expressing detachment from a source. Despite their variety, these prepositions share a common conceptual base rooted in spatial separation. The study examines how idioms formed with genitive prepositions generate abstract meanings through conceptual metaphors. Examples include: odvajati od usta (‘to separate from the mouth’) as ablocation – ‘to save’; ne biti od jučer (‘to not be from yesterday’) as abtemporal – ‘to be experienced’; topiti se od miline (‘to melt from delight’) as abcausative – ‘to feel joy’; and od sveg srca (‘from the bottom of one’s heart’) as abmodal – ‘wholeheartedly’. In each case, the genitive noun is defocused and functions as a reference point rather than a spatial anchor. These idioms are metaphorically structured via the conceptual metaphor ABSTRACT IS CONCRETE, allowing abstract experiences to be mapped onto spatial schemas, thereby reinforcing the figurative power of language.