An idiom's a phrase whose meaning can't be determined by the literal definition of the phrase itself, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that's known only through common use. In linguistics, idioms are widely assumed to be figures of speech that contradict the principle of compositionality; however, this has shown to be a subject of debate. John Saeed defines an idiom as words collocated together happen to become fossilized, becoming fixed over time. This collocation -- words commonly u… (More on Idiom)