Multi-word expressions

Some words are not independent lexical units, they form complex units with other words and such a complex unit has a single lexical meaning.

Collocations

Collocation = a habitual co-occurrence of or mutual selection of lexical items, basically two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". The knowledge of collocations is knowledge of what words are most likely to occur together.

Collocations take into account the NODE (key word) and the SPAN (lexical variety the node is linked to). Lexical items in collocations are to some degree mutually predictable (We commit a murder but not a homework. Completely satisfied (NOT downright satisfied), excruciating pain (NOT excruciating joy), lions roar (NOT lions shout), commit suicide (NOT undertake suicide), burst into tears (NOT blow up in tears)

POLICY: hard policy, follow a policy, official policy

DYNASTY: establish a dynasty, found a dynasty, unbroken dynasty

POSITION: hold a position, battle position, at a position

ROUTE: main route, bus route, introduce a new route

QUEUE: form a queue; wait in queue, checkout queue

Collocations in the noun phrase

She has blond hair not a blond car.  She has a beige car not a beige hair.

Collocations in the verb phrase

DO: some gardening, homework, your best, the shopping, the cooking, business with

MAKE: an agreement, a suggestion, a decision, a bed, a profit, love, a noise, a fun of, an effort

COME TO: an agreement, a conclusion, an end, to terms with, one’s senses

PUT: your foot down, two and two together, your mind to

SET: fire to, on fire, in her ways

  

Idioms

Idiom is an expression which is grammatically and lexically frozen and the meaning of which cannot be deducted by examining the meanings of constituents. Idioms show a low frequency, rather appear in fiction than in real conversation.

Many idioms are similar to expressions in other languages and can be easy for a learner to understand. Other idioms come from older phrases which have changed over time. We, as Czech speakers cannot translate idioms word by word. Even though many idioms have similar meaning in Czech language as well as in English, they are different in translation.

Adjectives and nouns

      bad blood – zlá krev/hádka

      old flame – stará vášeň

      dead drunk – opilý na mol

Pairs of adjectives

      alive and kicking – čiperný

      safe and sound – živý a zdravý

Pairs of nouns

      body and soul – tělem i duší

      give and take – kompromis, ústupky

      hustle and bustle – shon

Pairs of verbs

      do or die – buď anebo!

      live and let live – žít a nechat žít

      wait and see – počkej a uvidíš

      sink or swim – buď anebo

      wipe the floor with someone – nandat to někomu

Animals

      a busy bee – pilná včelička

      an early bird – ranní ptáče

      bug someone – otravovat někoho

      chicken out – zbaběle couvnout

      be no chicken – nebýt srab

      dog tired – zmožený jako kůň

      you can’t teach an old dog new tricks – starého psa novým kouskům nenaučíš

      barking dogs seldom bit – pes, který štěká, nekouše

      fly in the ointment – vada na kráse

      hold your horses – jen klid

Colours

      a black sheep – černá ovce

      blue blood – šlechtický původ

      be green – být ekologický

      be in the red – být zadlužený

      see red – rozzlobit se

Parts of body

      with open arms – vítat někoho s otevřenou náručí, nadšeně

      in cold blood - chladnokrevně

      new blood – nováček

      be all ears – napjatě poslouchat

      keep an eye on – bedlivě sledovat, nespustit z očí

      get one’s fingers burnt – spálit se (obrazně)

      by heart – nazpamět

      pull someone’s leg – dělat si legraci z někoho

      hold your tongue – buď zticha

      fight tooth and nail – bránit se zuby nehty

Comparisons

      as black as a coal – černý jako uhel

      as busy as a bee – pilný jako včelička  

      as mad a hatter – nemá překlad, Alice in Wonderland u nás není tak známá (šílený)

      fit like a glove – padne jako ulitá

      drink like a fish – pít jako duha

      fight like cats and dogs

      sleep like a log (kláda) – spát jako zabitý

  

Other types of multi-word expressions

Proverbs are short saying expressing a general belief, often using alliteration or rhyme. (A friend in need is a friend indeed. Curiosity killed a cat. The pen is mightier than the sword. Don't count your chicken before they hatch. Never judge a book by its cover. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. When the cat's away, the mice will play. One swallow doesn't make a summer. There is no smoke without fire. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. All that glitters is not gold.)

Saying is a bit similar to a proverb without didactic aim. (sb’s days are numbered, the coast is clear, what’s your poison?)

Phraseological units are recurring word chains that can usually be found in literature. (Bible: cast pearls before swine, an eye for an eye, wash one’s hands, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Classical mythology: Achilles’ heel, the Trojan horse. American literature: the call of the wild, the cold war.)

Catch phrase is a phrase of a certain origin, usually from books and film, which people adopt in everyday conversation because it is simply catchy. (Apollo13: Houston we have a problem. E.T.: Phone home. Sherlock Holmes: Elementary, my dear Watson. Terminator: Hasta la vista, baby.)

Slogan was originally a battle-cry of a Scottish clan. Linguistically, they are like proverbs - short with a strong rhythm. (Safety first.  Walls have ears. Beans means Heinz. Make love not war.)

Lexical bundle is a sequence of words which co-occur very frequently, especially in conversations. They are usually three of four words in a fixed order. (I don't know what...It is possible to...are likely to be...)