Taking into consideration mainly the degree of idiomaticity phraseological units may be classified into three big groups. This classification was first suggested by Acad. V. V. Vinogradov. These groups are:
- phraseological fusions (сращения),
- phraseological unities (единства),
- phraseological collocations (словосочетания), or habitual collocations.
Phraseological fusions are completely non-motivated word-groups. The
meaning of the components has no connection at least synchronically with the meaning of the whole group. Idiomaticity is combined with complete stability of the lexical components and the grammatical structure of the fusion,
E.g.:to kick the bucket - умирать,
at sixes and sevens - в беспорядке,
to see the elephant — узнать жизнь,
to go for a song - продать за бесценок,
ball and chain - законная жена,
a mare's nest - вздор,
to talk through one's hat•— говорить вздор,
white elephant - обуза, никчемный предмет.
Phraseological unities are partially non-motivated word-groups as their meaning can usually be understood through (deduced from)the metaphoric meaning of the whole phraseological unit,
e.g.rto skate on thin ice — рисковать,
to wash one's dirty linen in public - выносить сор из избы,
to turn over a new leaf—начать новую жизнь,
to be in smb's shoes - быть на чьем-либо месте,
as busy as a bee - очень занятый,
as cool as a cucumber - хладнокровный,
green light - зеленая улица.
Phraseological unities are usually marked by a comparatively high degree of stability of the lexical components and grammatical structure. Phraseological unities can have homonymous free phrases, used in direct meanings.
E.g.:to skate on thin ice— to skate on thin ice (to risk);
to wash one's hands off dirt - to wash one's hands off (to withdraw from participance);
to play the first role in the theatre - to play the first role (to dominate).
There must be not less than two notional wordsin metaphorical meanings.
Phraseological collocations are partially motivated but they are made up of words having special lexical valency which is marked by a certain degree of stability in such word-groups. In phraseological collocations variability of components is strictly limited. They differ from phraseological unities by the
fact that one of the components in them is used in its direct meaning, the other - in indirect meaning, and the meaning of the whole group dominates over the meaning of its components. As figurativeness is expressed only in one component of the phrase it is hardly felt.
E.g.:to pay a visit, tribute, attention, respect;
to break a promise, a rule, news, silence;
to meet demands, requirement, necessity;
to set free; to set at liberty;
to make money, journey;
to fall ill.
The structure V + N (дополнение) is the largest group of phraseological collocations.