THE ENIGMATIC WORLD OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “INTEGRATION OF MODERN LINGUISTICS WITH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION: NEW APPROACHES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES”, DECEMBER 4, 2025 136 THE ENIGMATIC WORLD OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS Karimova Iroda Qutbiddin qizi The student of Navoi state university https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17801663 Abstract. Phraseological Units are stable word combinations with metaphorical meanings that function as single semantic units. Their defining features, such as stability and idiomaticity, distinguish them from ordinary word groups. These units are categorized into idioms, proverbs, and sayings, which enrich linguistic expression. Phrasal verbs represent a special category, whose status depends on their level of idiomaticity. Mastering these phraseological units is essential for achieving greater fluency and expressiveness in English. Keywords: phraseological units, idioms, proverbs, sayings, phrasal verbs, idiomaticity, stability, linguistic expression, english language, semantic unity. Аннотация. Фразеологические единицы — это устойчивые словосочетания с метафорическим значением, которые функционируют как единые семантические единицы. Их определяющие черты, такие как устойчивость и идиоматичность, отличают их от обычных словосочетаний. Эти единицы классифицируются на идиомы, пословицы и поговорки, которые обогащают языковое выражение. Фразовые глаголы представляют собой особую категорию, чей статус зависит от степени их идиоматичности. Владение этими фразеологическими единицами необходимо для достижения большей беглости и выразительности в английском языке. Ключевые слова: фразеологические единицы, идиомы, пословицы, поговорки, фразовые глаголы, идиоматичность, устойчивость, языковая выразительность, английский язык, семантическое единство. Phraseological units represent one of the most intricate and culturally embedded components of language structure. They are conventionally defined as stable word combinations whose global meaning cannot be directly inferred from the meanings of their constituent elements. In linguistic terms, phraseological units exhibit non-compositionality, stability, and institutionalization, which collectively distinguish them from free word combinations. Functionally, they serve as repositories of cultural knowledge and cognitive patterns, reflecting the historical, social, and psychological experience of a speech community. The property of stability refers to the fixedness of both lexical composition and syntactic structure within the unit. In idiomatic expressions such as spill the beans or kick the bucket, any lexical or grammatical modification leads to semantic distortion (pour the beans, for instance, would be unacceptable). The second key characteristic, idiomaticity, denotes the figurative or transferred nature of meaning, which often bears no direct connection to the literal interpretation of the individual words. Thus, kick the bucket metaphorically signifies ‘to die,’ rather than its literal actional sense. Phraseological units also exhibit reproducibility, meaning they are not spontaneously created in discourse but are stored and retrieved from linguistic memory as prefabricated, semantically unified expressions. Finally, they demonstrate semantic integrity, functioning as a single lexical entity rather than as a compositional sequence of elements. For instance, to kill two birds with one stone expresses a unified concept of achieving multiple goals through a single action. INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “INTEGRATION OF MODERN LINGUISTICS WITH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION: NEW APPROACHES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES”, DECEMBER 4, 2025 137 From a taxonomic perspective, several major categories of phraseological units are recognized. Idioms represent the most idiomatic and semantically opaque category (to let the cat out of the bag — ‘to reveal a secret’). Proverbs and sayings perform didactic and gnomic functions, encapsulating collective wisdom in formulaic linguistic form. For example, the English proverb A stitch in time saves nine conveys a pragmatic principle of timely action, while its Russian analogue Не имей сто рублей, а имей сто друзей emphasizes the primacy of social capital over material wealth. Phrasal verbs, another significant category, occupy an intermediate position in terms of idiomaticity. Fully idiomatic forms such as call off (‘to cancel’) are considered true phraseological units, whereas semi-transparent expressions like look into (‘to investigate’) retain a traceable metaphorical motivation. Literal combinations (sit down, go out) fall outside the scope of phraseology due to their compositional transparency. Feature English Explanation Russian Explanation (Пример) 1. Stability (Устойчивость) Their structure is fixed and resistant to lexical or grammatical changes. "Spill the beans" cannot become "pour the beans" or "spill the bean." Нельзя изменить на "вылить бобы". 2. Idiomaticity (Идиоматичность) The transferred/figurative meaning (переносное значение) of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. | "Kick the bucket" means 'to die,' not literally 'to strike a pail with one's foot.' Означает "умереть", а не ударить ведро ногой. 3. Reproducibility (Воспроизводимость) They are not created spontaneously in speech but are recalled and used as ready-made units. Speakers instantly recall "once in a blue moon" (раз в сто лет) when they mean 'rarely.' 4. Integrity of Meaning (Целостность Значения) The unit functions as a single, indivisible semantic entity (единая семантическая единица). "To kill two birds with one stone" (убить двух зайцев одним камнем/выстрелом) has the single meaning of 'achieving two goals with one effort.' | From a cognitive and sociolinguistic standpoint, phraseological competence is a critical indicator of advanced language proficiency. The appropriate selection and contextual use of phraseological units demonstrates mastery of stylistic register and pragmatic nuance. For instance, the idiom kick the bucket is stylistically informal and thus inappropriate in formal or INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND PRACTICAL CONFERENCE “INTEGRATION OF MODERN LINGUISTICS WITH SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND PRACTICE IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION: NEW APPROACHES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES”, DECEMBER 4, 2025 138 ceremonial discourse, where pass away would be preferred. This phenomenon illustrates the intersection of phraseology with sociolinguistic competence and register awareness. Phraseological units also contribute to communicative economy and expressive density, enabling speakers to encode complex conceptual content in concise and vivid forms. The expression a blessing in disguise, for example, encapsulates an evaluative narrative of adversity transforming into benefit within a compact semantic structure. Consequently, phraseological richness enhances both efficiency and aesthetic quality of discourse. In contrast, literal or wordfor-word translation of idioms often leads to semantic incongruity, a phenomenon referred to as phraseological interference or “phraseological blindness” among second-language learners. Ultimately, phraseological units are not merely lexical ornaments but fundamental cognitive and cultural constructs. They represent crystallized patterns of collective experience, embedding metaphorical and conceptual mappings that shape linguistic worldviews. The study of phraseological systems, therefore, provides essential insights into the interaction between language, thought, and culture—revealing how linguistic expression encodes the shared cognition and historical consciousness of its speakers. REFERENCES 1. Theoretical Foundation of English Phraseology. Kunin, A.V. (Кунин, А.В.) 1972, https://grnjournal.us/index.php/STEM/article/download/4614/4056/8168 2. "The Specific Features of Phraseological Units" (Kunin, 1972/1986, pp. 15-25 in various editions) in Chapter 1, Section 1.2. 3. Oxford Learner's Dictionary of English Idioms, 2006, p. viii. 4. Chapter 9, specifically section 9.4 "Idioms and Collocations" (Kreidler, 1998, pp. 76-80). 5. "The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms" by Christine Ammer pp.112. 6. Chapter 3, "The Role of the First Language" (Ellis, 1997, pp. 76-78). 7. Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language A. I. Molotkov, pages 7-21. 8. Fundamentals of Russian Phraseology, V. V. Vinogradov, the 1940s-1960s 9. English Phrasal Verbs in Use, Michael McCarthy and Felicity O'Dell, pages 4-8. 10. Phrasal Verbs and Idioms in English. A Linguistic and Didactic Approach, Dmitrij Dobrovol'skij (a prominent linguist bridging Western and Russian phraseology). 11. https://inlibrary.uz/index.php/arims/article/view/62112