语言、文化和社会相互交织在一起，只有在特定社会和文化环境中，语言才有真正的意义。因而，了解社会文化形态对于学习语言是至关重要的。人文地理环境也影响人们说话的方式，在不同语言中，人们使用不同的文字形象，它们之间常有很大的差异。 如：

1 )汉英不同的言语形象

as poor as a church mouse 穷如乞丐

as mad as a March hare 有如叫春猫 

as mad as a wet hen 有如抱窝母鸡 

as cool as a cucumber 冷若冰霜 

as clean as a whistle 干净如雪 

as timid as a rabbit 胆小如鼠

as long as the hills 天长地久 

as blind as a bat 有如瞎猫 

as strong as a horse 壮如牛

to drink like a fish 牛饮 

as easy as ABC 易如反掌

2)汉英类似的言语形象

as beautiful as a spring flower 美如春花 

as changeable as the weather 易变如天气

as weak as a baby (a fish) 弱如婴儿 

as changeable as the moon 变幻如月

as light as a feather 轻如鸿毛

as cunning as a fox 狡猾如狐裡

as graceful as a swan 美若天鹅

as proud as a peacock 傲如孔雀

as quick as lightning 快如闪电

as tender as chicken 嫩如小鸡