Set phrase
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A set phrase or fixed phrase is a phrase whose parts are fixed. In English, many set phrases are composed of an adjective and a noun, but this is not essential to the definition of the phenomenon. Set phrases may function as idioms (e.g. red herring) or as words with a unique referent (e.g. Red Sea).[1] There is no clear dividing line between a commonly used phrase and a set phrase. It is also not easy to draw a clear distinction between set phrases and compound words.[1]
In theoretical linguistics, two-word set phrases are said to arise during the generative formation
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of English nouns.[citation needed]
While compound words are often stressed on the first syllable, set phrases usually carry equal stress on each word.[1]
A certain stricter notion of set phrases
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, more in line with the concept of a lexical item, provides an important underpinning for the formulation of Meaning-Text Theory.
Examples of set phrases
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Spaces and containers
Base words that have spatial or container semantic content frequently combine as set phrases: room, office, box, bag.
- plant room
- conference room
- news room
- sewing room
- tax office
- lunch box
- sports bag
- retirement package ("package" here is a metaphorical container)
-ing action spaces
Action-based "ing" words when combined with nouns representing spaces and/or containers frequently create set phrases.
- running shoe
- starting line
- sewing machine
See also
