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There are different classifications of phraseological units or idioms  in the terminology of Western tradition.Phraseological units or idioms are classified according to such principles as degree of motivation or idiomaticity, structure and semantics, functioning in the language, type of context, origin, thematic principle.

Semantic classification
Russian scholar Vinogradov Vladimir Vladimirovich  offered semantic classification of phraseological units based on the motivation, or the relationship existing between the meaning of the whole word-group  and the meaning of its components. According to this principle Vinogradov  V. V. divided phraseological units into three groups: phraseological fusions, phraseological unities,phraseological combinations.

Phraseological fusions are units with the lowest degree of motivation. The meaning of the word-group is not connected with the meanings of the constituent parts. For instance: to kick the bucket means to die, red tape-bureaucratic methods, pull one’s leg- to deceive.

Phraseological unities are partially motivated expressions the whole meaning of which is based on the transferred meanings of the components. For example: to show one`s teeth- to be unfriendly, to stand to one`s guns- to refuse to change one`s opinion.

Phraseological combinations- are motivated expressions whose meaning can be easily deduced from the meanings of the component parts which have specific lexical valency. The variability of  the constituent parts is strictly limited. E.g: take a liking ( fancy), but not take hatred (disgust).*

British scholar Cowie A. P. divided idioms according to the degree of idiomaticity (motivation) into  pure idioms, figurative idioms and restricted collocations.

Pure idioms with completely transferred and hardly deducible meanings- «spill the beans» -to tell a secret too soon or to the wrong person’

Figurative are on the border of idioms, hardly allow any variation: «a clean sheet» -a good reputation.

Restricted collocations represent combinations consist of a constituent with a figurative sense not found outside that limited context, and a constituent which appears in a familiar, literal sense-to break one’s journey- to stop somewhere for a short time during a journey.

Structural classification
This classification was suggested by professor Smirnitsky Alexander Ivanovich who had an attempt to combine the semantic principle with structural peculiarities. According to semantic principle, phraseological units are divided into proper phraseological units and idioms.

Proper phraseological units are units with non-figurative meanings. For example: rough sketch-basic outline without a lot of detail

Idioms are units with transferred meanings which are based on a metaphor. As an example: to wash one`s dirty linen in public- make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret.

According to the structure phraseological units are classified into two groups: one-top phraseological units which have one meaningful constituent and are equivalent to derived words (consist of one root morpheme and affixes) and two-top phraseological units which include two or more meaningful constituents and are equivalent to compound words.

Each of these groups is subdivided into structural groups.

The one-top phraseological units include three structural groups:

1) verb-adverb phraseological units of the type “to give up”. For example: to try out, to look up, to break up, to drop in.

2) phraseological units of the type “to be tired”. For instance: to be surprised, to be up to

3) prepositional units. As an example: by heart, on the nose(exactly)

The two-top phraseological units are classified into:

1) attributive-nominal units which are noun equivalents. For example: brains trust, white elephant.

2) verb-nominal phrases are equivalent to verbs. As an example: to know the ropes, to take place.

3) phraseological repetitions are equivalents of adverbs or adjectives. For instance: ups and downs, rough and ready.

4) adverbial multi-top units( with more than two semantic centers). For example: every other day.

Functional classification
This classification, offered by professor Arnold Irina Vladimirovna is based on the grammatical unity of phraseological units and their functioning in the language as word equivalents. Accordingly all phraseological units are divided into:

1) noun equivalents which include such patterns as:

N + N (maiden name)

N`s + N (cat`s paw)

Ns`+ N (ladies` man)

N + prp + N (the arm of the law)

N + Adj. (knight errant)

N + and + N (all the world and his wife)

Adj. + N (green room)

N+subordinate clause (ships that pass in the night);

2) verb equivalents:

V + N (take advantage)

V + postpositive (to give up)

V + (one`s) + N + (prep) (to snap one`s fingers at)

V + and +V (pick and choose)

V + subordinate clause (see how the land lies);

3) adjective equivalents:

Adj. + and + Adj. (high and mighty)

(as) + Adj. +as + N (as old as the hills);

4) adverb equivalents:

N + N (tooth and nail)

prep + N (by heart)

adv + prep + Adj. + N (once in a blue moon)

prep + N + or + N (by hook or by crook)

conj + clause (before one can say Jack Robinson);

5) phraseological units which are  functioning  like prepositions: prep + N +prep (in consequence of);

6) phraseological units functioning  like interjections: Take your time!

There is also type of combinations which differ from all the types given above as these combinations are syntactically shaped like sentences: ''What makes someone (it) tick. The sky is the limit. That`s how the cookie crumbles.''

Contextual classification
Russian scholar Amosova Natalia Nicolaevna classifies phraseological units according to the type of context. Phraseological units are marked by fixed context characterized by a specific and unchanging sequence of certain lexical components and peculiar relationship between them. Units of fixed context are divided into: phrasemes and idioms.

Phrasemes consist of two components one of which has idiomatic meaning, the second serves as the distinguishing context. For example in «small hours- the early hours of the morning» the second component serves as the clue to this particular meaning of the first component.

Idioms are semantically and grammatically inseparable units whose meaning is created by the whole word-group and is not a combination of the meanings of the components. For instance: to let the cat out of the bag- to divulge a secret.

Structural-semantic classification
A detailed functional, semantic and structural classification was suggested by professor Kunin Alexander Vladimirovich. All phraseological units  are classified into four groups according to the function in communication determined by structural-semantic characteristics: nominative, nominative-communicative, interjectional, communicative.

Nominative phraseological units are represented by word-groups which include the ones with one meaningful word, and coordinative phrases of the type wear and tear, well and good; a bull in a china shop- a rough or clumsy person who says or does something to anger others or upset plans.

Nominative-communicative- are verbal word-groups which are transformed into a sentence when the verb is used in the Passive Voice:e.g. to cross the Rubicon-the Rubicon is crossed.

Interjectional phraseological units include interjectional word-groups. As an example: ''a pretty (nice) kettle of fish! For crying out loud!''

Communicative are represented by proverbs and sayings. For instance: ''Still waters run deep. The world is a small place.''

Etymological classification
Phraseological units are classified according to origin into two groups: native and borrowed.

There are different sources of native and borrowed phraseological units.

The main sources of native phraseological units are:

1) terminological and professional lexics. For example: physics: center of gravity, specific weight

2) British literature- «green-eyed monster» means jealousy (W.Shakespeare)

3) British traditions and customs-«baker's dozen» -a group of thirteen. In the past British merchants of bread received from bakers thirteen loaves instead of twelve and the thirteenth loaf was merchants' profit.

4) superstitions and legends- «a black sheep» means a less successful or more immoral person in a family or a group. People believed that a black sheep was marked by the devil.

5) historical facts and events-«to do a Thatcher»-to stay in power as prime minister for three consecutive terms (from the former Conservative prime minister Margaret Thatcher)

6) phenomena and facts of everyday life-«carry coals to Newcastle» means to take something to a place where there is plenty of it available. Newcastle is a town in Northern England where a lot of coal was produced.

The main sources of borrowed phraseological units are:

1) the Holy Script-«the kiss of Judas» - any display of affection whose purpose is to conceal any act of treachery (Matthew XXVI: 49)

2) ancient legends and myths which belong to different religious of cultural traditions-«a Procrustean bed»-a harsh, inhumane system into which the individual is fitted by force, regardless of his own needs and wishes(from Greek Mythology Procrustes - a robber who forced travelers to lie on a bed and made them fit by stretching their limbs or cutting off the appropriate length of leg)

3) facts and events of the world history-«to meet one's Waterloo» - be faced with, especially after previous success, a final defeat, a difficulty or obstacle one cannot overcome (from the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo 1815)

4) variants of the English language-«a hole card»-a secret advantage that is ready to use when you need it (American)

5) other languages (classical and modern)-«second to none»- equal with any other and better than most (from Latin: nulli secundus)

«for smb's fair eyes»- because of personal sympathy, not be worth one's desires, services, for nothing (from French: pour les beaux yeux de qn.);

let the cat out of the bag-reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake-(from German: die Katze aus dem Sack lassen);

tilt at windmills-to waste time trying to deal with enemies or problems that do no exist (from Spanish: acometer molinos de viento);

every dog is a lion at home-to feel significant in the familiar surrounding-(from Italian: ogni cane è leone a casa sua).

Thematic principle of classification
An American scholar Smith Logan Pearsall classifies idioms according to the source of origin referring to the particular sphere of human activity, natural phenomena. Smith L.P. points out groups of idioms associated with domestic and wild animals and birds, agriculture and cooking, hunting, art, literature, sport.For example: to sell like hot dogs, to fall between two stools, as fit as a fiddle.