ABSTRACT
In general, studies of fixed expressions-idioms, formulae such as proverbs and catchphrases, and anomalous or ill-formed collocations-concentrate on their typological and syntagmatic properties. Attention is given to such things as the degree of their lexical and syntactic frozenness, or their transformation potential; and even the primary characteristic of idioms, their non-compositionality as lexical units, may be seen as a matter of the interpretation of a syntagm. However, it is their paradigmatic properties which are of importance in relation to interaction. Fixed expressions represent meaningful choices on the part of the speaker/writer. They are single choices (see Sinclair 1987b: 321 and passim), and, as with other kinds of lexical item, their precise values and force should be considered in terms of the paradigm operating at each slot or choice. By taking into account paradigmatic as well as syntagmatic aspects, it is possible to assess the way in which fixed expressions contribute to the content, structure and development of a text.
