phrasal idiom
- noun
- /ˈfreɪzəl ˈɪdiəm/
- Specialized
:
idioma fraseológico
- She explained that 'kick the bucket' is a phrasal idiom meaning 'to die.'
Examples
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Many English learners struggle to understand phrasal idioms such as 'break the ice.'
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The book contains a list of common phrasal idioms used in daily conversation.
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A phrasal idiom often confuses new learners.
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Understanding a phrasal idiom can be challenging.
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Many English learners struggle to understand phrasal idioms such as 'break the ice.'
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She explained that 'kick the bucket' is a phrasal idiom meaning 'to die.'
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The book contains a list of common phrasal idioms used in daily conversation.
Synonyms
7
4.2
A fixed phrase whose meaning is not clear from the words
1
6.0
A phrase whose meaning is not the same as its words
A fixed group of words that mean something different from the words alone
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'phrasal' (relating to a phrase) modifies 'idiom' (a fixed non-literal expression), yielding 'an idiom that takes the form of a phrase' which matches the provided definition. This modifier+noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistic composition and should be immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Phrasal idiom comes from the image of small words joining like puzzle pieces to create a new picture. So when words such as break and the ice join, they mean something different and cannot be guessed from the single words 'on their own'.