Article outline

• 1.The notion of idiom
  • 1.1The definition of idiom
  • 1.2Properties of an idiom
    • 1.2.1Idioms non-compositional in their signifier and/or in their syntactics
    • 1.2.2Semantically more or less transparent idioms
    • 1.2.3Syntactically discontinuous idioms
    • 1.2.4The part of speech of an idiom
    • 1.2.5Idioms and degenerate lexemes
    • 1.2.6Idioms and their “variants”
    • 1.2.7Idioms and their polysemy/homonymy
      • Idiom polysemy
      • Idiom homonymy
    • 1.2.8Idioms and their lexical functions
• 2.The three major classes of idioms
  • 2.1Strong idioms
    • Lexemoids
  • 2.2Semantic pivot; semi-idioms
  • 2.3Weak idioms
    • Irreversible binomials
  • 2.4Pseudo-lexemic idioms = Idiomatic compounds2
• 3.Three general problems concerning idioms
  • 3.1“Artistic” deformation of idioms in speech
  • 3.2Regular grammatical transformations of idioms in language
    • 3.2.1Passivization of a verbal idiom
    • 3.2.2Semantic inflection of an internal component of an idiom
      • The number of an internal noun
      • The degree of an internal adjective
    • 3.2.3Internal modification of an idiom’s nominal component
    • 3.2.4Changing word order in an idiom
  • 3.3Breaking down, or dissolution, of idioms; quasi-unilexemes
• 4.Lexicographic description of idioms
  • Internal syntactic modification
  • Word order constraints
  • Morphological indications
  • Prosodic indications
• Notes