idiomatic expression

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

idiomatic expression - an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase, idiom locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression" ruralism, rusticism - a rural idiom or expression in the lurch - in a difficult or vulnerable position; "he resigned and left me in the lurch" like clockwork - with regularity and precision; "the rocket launch went off like clockwork"