idiom

idiom (idiom / fast uttrykk): a set expression which has a different meaning from what one might expect from the meaning of each word individually. E.g. kick the bucket (='die'), raise the eyebrows (='express surprise'), lend an ear (='pay attention'), play down (='minimize'). Idioms need not be very frequent, but are considered to be typical of native language use (hence the word ‘idiomatic’ = ‘natural and correct in grammar and style’).