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Glite Dictionary
set phrase

set phrase

5.7
A fixed group of words that mean something different from the words alone
  • noun
  • /sɛt freɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : expresión fija
  • The teacher explained that 'kick the bucket' is a set phrase meaning 'to die'.

Examples

  • In English, a common set phrase is 'piece of cake', which means something easy.

  • Learning the meanings of set phrases is essential for mastering idiomatic English.

  • Many set phrases add color and richness to the English language.

  • A set phrase often has a meaning that is not obvious.

  • Can you give me an example of a set phrase?

  • Understanding set phrases like 'break the ice' can help you communicate more effectively.

  • To speak fluently, it's important to learn various set phrases used in everyday conversations.

Synonyms

idiom
vsset phrase
7 4.2

A fixed phrase whose meaning is not clear from the words

is the fixed expression whose parts do not reveal its meaning
idiomatic expression
vsset phrase
1 6.0

A phrase whose meaning is not the same as its words

is the fixed form that cannot be understood from word meanings
phrasal idiom
vsset phrase
  • Specialized
8.9

A group of words that together mean something different from each word alone

is the general fixed phrase type not limited to multiword forms

Antonyms

ambiguous
68 6.3

Not clear because it can have more than one meaning

How Fixed

idiom
7 4.2
set phrase
  • Specialized
5.7
collocation
  • Specialized
1 5.9

Surface Forms

set phrase singular
set phrases plural

Morphology

set + phrase

The meaning is directly compositional: 'set' (fixed/established) + 'phrase' (group of words) yields 'a fixed or established phrase,' so the overall meaning follows transparently from the parts. This descriptive label is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Set phrase comes from the image of words that are set—fixed together like parts glued in place—so you cannot change the phrase easily. That's why a set phrase often has a meaning you cannot guess from each word and must be learned 'as a whole'.