Si muove, ma non tropo

an inquiry into the non-metaphorical status of idioms and phrases

pp. 89-98

in: Michael Herzfeld, Margot D. Lenhart, Semiotics 1980, Berlin, Springer, 1982

Abstract

Idioms and phrases are commonly presented and described as metaphorical or figurative lexical units, although not systematically. Throw up the sponge bears the indication fig in the Concise Oxford, with the meaning of abandoning contest, owning oneself beaten, while pass the sponge does not. This labelling is not restricted to entries considered as idioms. Devour, when the object is a book, is indicated as fig in Longman's, but not in the Concise. While of common use in French dictionaries, this sort of rhetoricosemantic labelling does not seem to be much in favour among American lexicographers.