set phrase

listen to the pronunciation of set phrase
English - English
A common expression whose words cannot be replaced by synonymous words without compromising the meaning

If it proves clearly unfeasible to make the audience laugh at a thin and far-fetched joke, it is always better to change the way the joke works . . . for instance, a pun based on the speaker's taking literally some set phrase or metaphor with a pun based on phonetic similarity.

A common expression whose wording is not subject to variation

Bally remarks in passing, as Hall does not, that the inversion in toujours est-il que is part of a set phrase and hence invariable.

set phrases
plural form of set phrase
set phrase

    Hyphenation

    SET phrase

    Turkish pronunciation

    set freyz

    Pronunciation

    /ˈset ˈfrāz/ /ˈsɛt ˈfreɪz/

    Etymology

    [ 'set ] (verb.) before 12th century. Middle English setten, from Old English settan; akin to Old High German sezzen to set, Old English sittan to sit.
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