English Idiom

An English Idiom is an english-language idiomatic expression that conveys non-compositional meaning through culturally-specific figurative language.

• AKA: English Idiom Unit, English Idiomatic Phrase, Idiom (English).
• Context:
  • It can typically express English Figurative Meaning that differs from english literal interpretation.
  • It can often embed English Cultural Knowledge within english linguistic structure.
  • It can frequently require English Native Speaker Competence for english semantic processing.
  • It can generally resist English Word-for-Word Translation into english target languages.
  • It can usually demonstrate English Syntactic Restrictions in english grammatical variation.
  • It can commonly occur in English Informal Register more than english formal register.
  • It can sometimes preserve English Historical Usage from english earlier periods.
  • It can range from being a Transparent English Idiom to being an Opaque English Idiom, depending on its english semantic analyzability.
  • It can range from being a Fixed English Idiom to being a Semi-Fixed English Idiom, depending on its english syntactic flexibility.
  • It can range from being a Colloquial English Idiom to being a Literary English Idiom, depending on its english usage domain.
  • It can range from being a Regional English Idiom to being a Universal English Idiom, depending on its english geographic distribution.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • English Verbal Idioms, such as:
    • DROPMEALINE English Idiom Lexeme for english contact request.
    • KICKTHEBUCKET English Idiom Lexeme for english death euphemism.
    • BREAKTHEICE English Idiom Lexeme for english social initiation.
    • SPILLTHEBEANS English Idiom Lexeme for english secret revelation.
  • English Nominal Idioms, such as:
    • PIECEOFCAKE English Idiom Lexeme for english ease expression.
    • CANARYINACOALMINE English Idiom Lexeme for english warning indicator.
    • ELEPHANTINTHEROOM English Idiom Lexeme for english obvious problem.
  • English Adjectival Idioms, such as:
    • UNDERTHEWEATHER English Idiom Lexeme for english illness state.
    • OVERTHEHILL English Idiom Lexeme for english age expression.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • English Collocation, which maintains compositional meaning like "strong coffee".
  • English Compound Word, which forms single lexical unit like "blackboard".
  • English Proverb, which expresses complete wisdom statement like "A stitch in time saves nine".
  • English Metaphor, which allows creative variation unlike fixed idiom.
• See: Idiomatic Expression, English Fixed Expression, English Phrasal Verb, English Verbal Idiom, English Nominal Idiom, English Warning Metaphor, English Communication Phrase, English Collocation, KICKTHEBUCKET, KEEPTABSON, Multiword Expression, Figurative Language, Formulaic Phrase.

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