IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does idiomatic expression mean? 

• IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION (noun)
  The noun IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION has 1 sense:

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

  Familiarity information: IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

idiom; idiomatic expression; phrasal idiom; phrase; set phrase

Hypernyms ("idiomatic expression" is a kind of...):

expression; locution; saying (a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations)

Domain member usage:

out of whack (out of balance or out of adjustment)

in the lurch (in a difficult or vulnerable position)

like clockwork (with regularity and precision)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "idiomatic expression"):

ruralism; rusticism (a rural idiom or expression)