Typology of ph.Us. (according to the degree of motivation):

• - unities, phraseological (q.v.);

• - combinations, phraseological (q.v.);

• - fusions, phraseological (q.v.).

decomposition of a set phrase is alike to pun (play upon words), it is the interplay between the literal meaning and the phraseological meaning (i.e. figurative):

• I'm eating my heart out.

• It's evidently a diet that agrees with you. You are growing fat on it. (Maugham)\

Types of decomposition: Shortening: I prefer a bird in the hand (the second part is ommited as it is rather understandable and without it) Expansion: He had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth which was rather curly and large (making the meaning more expressive) Insertion: It`s time to make political hay (making more precise) Substitution (changing the parts of the set phrase, preserving the structure and the meaning) – It`s raining elephants and whales Word order change (Ну тут понятно) Contextual change Do you have some words? – I do but I don`t want to use them (change of the semantic meaning of the expression) Complex change The crow is not so bad a bird after all. It never shows the white feather and never complains without caws (change of the meaning and the structure of the expression but preserving the reference to its primary meaning and structure – often the fusion of several set expressions)

Phraseological units, such as proverbs and sayings, as well as various kinds of allusions may be used for stylistic purpose.

A proverb is a brief, witty phrase of generalizing nature characterized by the completeness of the thought and generally expressing the wisdom of the people.

e.g. He laughs best who laughs last.

A saying is a common phrase differing from a proverb in that the thought is not completely expressed.

e.g. to kill two birds with one stone.

Proverbs and sayings are mostly used by writers in the direct speech of characters to individualize their speech, and also as laconic, expressive and emotional ready-made phrases, they are often used both in the speech of characters and the author’s narrative to clarify and conform the thought.

Epigrams are brief witty phrases resembling proverbs but created by men of letters. They are rhythmically arranged, sometimes rhymed and alliterated. Their aim is to convey some generalized idea in a laconic and expressive form.

Allusion is reference to well-known historical, literary or mythological sources. The stylistic effect of an allusion can be achieved only if the facts and personages alluded to are well known to the reader.