The use of set expression

Cliche

An expression that has become tried (стертый).

Ex: to be unable to see the wood for the trees (не увидеть лес за деревьями) to let bygones be bygones (что ушло, то ушло) to have an ace tooth up one's sleeve (что-то скрывать)

Proverbs and saying

A peculiar mode of utterance which is mainly characterized by its brevity. The utterance itself present a pattern which can be successfully used for other utterances. Almost every writer will make use of language idioms and proverbs. Proverbs and saying are usually didactic (поучительный) and image-bearing.

Ex: to cut one's coat according to one's cloth (по одежке протягивай ножки)

Brevity in proverbs manifests itself in the omission of connectives.

Ex: first come, first serve out of sight, out of mind

Many of proverbs have verse-like shape.

Ex: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

There are some ways of decomposition of proverbs.

Ex: come,- he said, - milk's spilled. You know which side law is buttered (his bread is buttered on both sides). Proof of the pudding (is in the eating) Take care of the sense (pens) and sounds (pounds) will take care of themselves.

Epigrams

Stylistic devices similar to proverbs. The only difference is that epigrams are coined by individuals whose name we know while proverbs are the coinage of the people. Brevity is the essential quality of epigrams.

Ex: A God that can be understood is no God.

Quotations

Are a repetition of a phrase or a statement from a book, speech and the like used by way of authority illustration proof for further speculations. Q are usually marked off in the text by inverted commas, dashes, italics or other graphical means. The stylistic value of a quotation lies mainly in the fact that it comprises 2 meanings. The primary meaning that is the one which it has in its original surroundings and the applicative meaning that is the one which it acquires in the context.

Q unlike epigrams needn't necessary be short. A whole paragraph or a long passage may be quoted if it suits the purpose.

Allusions

Are indirect reference by a word/phrase to a historical, literary, mythological, biblical fact or to a fact of everyday life made in the course of speaking/writing. As a rule, no indication of the source is given - that is the difference between quotations and A's. Another difference is of a structural character - a Q must repeat the exact words of the original, the A - is only a mention of a word/phrase which may be regarded as the key word of the utterance. A's sometimes need some commentaries before they are understood.

Ex: Pie in the sky for railman. (pie in the sky when you die)

Decomposition of set phrases

Linguistic fusions are set phrases the meaning of which is understood only from the combination as a whole.

Ex: to pull one's leg to have smth in one's finger tips

In the sentence "It was raining cats and dogs and two kittens and a puppy landed on my windowsill" - is freshened by the introduction, which changes their unmotivated combination into metaphor which is sustained.