Phraseological units

And one more point: free word combinations can never be polysemantic, while there are polysemantic phraseological units, e.g.

     To be on the go 1. to be busy and active

                         2. to be leaving

                         3.to be tipsy

                        4.to be near one´s end

 have done with 1. Make an end of

                       2. give up

                       3. reach the end of

Two types of synonymy are typical of phraseological units:

1. Synonymy of phraseological units that do not contain any synonymous words and are based on different images, e.g.

To leave no stone unturned = to move heaven and earth

          To haul down colours=to ground arms

In free word combinations synonymy is based on the synonymy of particular words (an old man = elderly man).

2. Phraseological units have word synonyms:

To make up one’s mind = to decide

To haul down colours = to surrender

Sources

 

 

1. Akhmanva O. Lexicology: Theory and Method. MGU. 1972.
2. Арнольд И.В. Лексикология современного английского языка. Москва. 1973.
3. Дубинец Э.М. Курс лекций и планы семинарских занятий по лексикологии английского языка.
4. Ginzburg R.S. A course in modern English lexicology. Moscow. 1979.
5. Кунин А.В. Английская фразеология: Теоретический курс. Москва: Высшая школа. 1970
6. Orembovskaya, Gvarjaladze. English lexicology.