Phraseological units can be classifi ed according to the degree of motivation of their meaning. This classifi cation was suggested by Academician V.V. Vinogradov for Russian phraseological units. He pointed out three types of phraseological units: phraseological combinations, phraseological unities, phraseological fusions.

Phraseological combinations are word-groups with a partially changed meaning. They may be said to be clearly motivated, i.e. the meaning of the unit can be easily deduced from the meaning of its constituents. E.g.: to have a bite, to be a good hand at smth, bitter truth, swam neck, dog’s life, to skate on thin ice (to take risks) etc.

Phraseological unities are word-groups with a completely changed meaning i.e. meaning of the unit does not correspond to meanings of its constituent parts. They are motivated units, where the meaning of the whole unit can be guessed from the meanings of its components, but it is transferred (metaphorical or metonymical). E.g.: to play the fi rst fi ddle (to be a leader in something), to stick to one’s word (to promise), old salt (experienced sailor), to lose one’s heart to smb (to fall in love). Collocations where words are combined in their original meaning but their combinations are different in different languages, e.g. cash and carry – (self-service shop), in a big way (in great degree) etc.

Phraseological fusions are word-groups with completely changed meanings, they are not motivated units, we cannot guess the meaning of the whole from the meanings of its components. These phrases are highly idiomatic and cannot be translated word for word into other languages. E.g.: a white feather, to cut somebody dead means (to rudely ignore somebody, to pretend not to know or recognize him); raining cat and dogs (raining very heavily); a skeleton in the cupboard (a shameful or dangerous family secret); to come a cropper (to come to a disaster); red tape (bureaucratic methods: offi cial rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly). The origin is from the custom of tying up offi cial documents with red or pink tape.