idiomatic phrase

collocation in English

meaningsofidiomaticandphrase

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withphrase.
idiomatic
adjective
uk
/ˌɪd.i.əˈmæt.ɪk/
us
/ˌɪd.i.əˈmæt̬.ɪk/
containing or consisting of ...
See more atidiomatic
phrase
noun[C]
uk
/freɪz/
us
/freɪz/
language
a group of words that is part of, rather than the whole of, ...
See more atphrase

(Definition ofidiomaticandphrasefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofidiomatic phrase

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Language learning for visual targets related to literal meanings of idiom constituent words than for targets related figuratively to the metaphoric interpretation of theidiomaticphrase.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Sometimes it is difficult to draw a distinction betweenidiomaticphraseand proverbial expression.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
English translations of "yojijukugo" include four-character compound, four-character idiom, four-characteridiomaticphrase, and four-character idiomatic compound.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Playing possum is anidiomaticphrasewhich means pretending to be dead.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Although proverb and saying are practically synonymous, the same can not be said aboutidiomaticphraseand four-character idiom.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Since the 1940s the term has been used as a slangidiomaticphrasedescribing contests that are futile or purposeless, especially if waged in a conspicuously aggressive manner.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Another similar construction is anidiomaticphrase.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The article reports problems with locating compound nouns, idiomatic phrases and the citation for m of past participles.
From theCambridge English Corpus
Lexicalization rules identify elements that must cohere in the speech: words, word fragments, and idiomatic phrases such as by the way.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The difference is that anidiomaticphraseinvolves figurative language in its components, while in a proverbial phrase the figurative meaning is the extension of its literal meaning.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The corner will occasionally throw in a white towel to signify a boxer's surrender (theidiomaticphrase to throw in the towel, meaning to give up, derives from this practice).
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Thisidiomaticphraseis applicable when a subject is emotionally charged; and the people who might have spoken up decide that it is probably best avoided.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
What idiomatic phrases are there?
From theCambridge English Corpus
The entirely new and often disconcerting experience of a totally alien physical and cultural environment produced a new set of lexical items, both single lexemes and idiomatic phrases.
From theCambridge English Corpus
The definition may also be extended to idiomatic phrases that behave as a unit with the same function, "eg" as well as, provided that.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Ifrah supports his thesis by quoting idiomatic phrases from languages across the entire world.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Other sources of difference are slang or vulgar terms (where frequent new coinage occurs) and idiomatic phrases, including phrasal verbs.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The sixth edition contains about 69,000 entries including characters, words and expressions, idiomatic phrases and idioms.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
They express themselves in brief idiomatic phrases, and the language has neither singular nor plural.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofidiomatic
Go to the definition ofphrase
See other collocations withphrase