set phrase

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set phrase

A student learns the set phrase "break the ice" in her English class.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A fixed, conventional expression: A "set phrase" is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words. It functions as a single unit of meaning.
Usage
  • A "set phrase" is used as a noun to label and refer to these fixed expressions. It is a term used in linguistics and language learning to categorize such idioms and conventional sayings.
  • Example: The term "set phrase" itself is often used to explain the nature of idioms like "kick the bucket."
Examples
  • Noun:
    • "Break a leg" is a set phrase used to wish someone good luck in the theater.
    • Language learners must memorize set phrases like "by and large" because their meanings are not literal.
    • The dictionary marks idioms and set phrases with a special symbol.
Advanced Usage
  • In linguistic analysis: The term "set phrase" is used to distinguish fixed expressions from free word combinations, focusing on their non-compositional semantics and syntactic frozenness.
  • In corpus linguistics: Researchers identify set phrases by analyzing frequency and collocation patterns in large text databases.
Variants and Related Words
  • Idiom (n): Often used synonymously with "set phrase," though some definitions restrict "idiom" to more vividly figurative expressions.
  • Fixed expression (n): A broader term encompassing set phrases, proverbs, and other formulaic language.
  • Collocation (n): A habitual combination of words that frequently go together (e.g., "heavy rain"), which may or may not be a non-compositional set phrase.
Synonyms
  • Idiomatic expression
  • Fixed phrase
  • Formulaic sequence
Related Phrases
  • Phrasal lexicon: The component of language knowledge that consists of memorized multi-word units like set phrases.
Notes
  • The concept of a "set phrase" is central to understanding that language is not always generated word-by-word but is also retrieved as pre-assembled chunks. Mastery of set phrases is crucial for achieving natural fluency.
set phrase

A student learns the set phrase "break the ice" in her English class.

Noun
  1. an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up

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