Feel like sth

[nyggus]

Is "feel like sth" an idiom? I haven't found it in any idiom databases.

Best,
Nyggus

[Tdol]

I hadn't thought of it as one- it could be described as idiomatic because of the change of meaning of 'feel', but I'm not sure I'd go as far as to say an idiom.

[1364]

Hi;

"feel like" means "want" ,
e.g:she was blue and felt like crying.
But How can we categorize it? is it an idiom


Thanks in advance

[Tdol]

There is a grey area in between words taken at their face value and idioms, IMO. To be classified as an idiom, I think that there needs to be not only a departure from the plain definition, but also a general recognition that the phrase, or even word, has done so. With 'feel like', I'm not sure that it has made the full journey, because there is often an association between feeling and wanting:
I feel hungry- it's not a huge leap from this to wanting to eat.
I think that, therefore, the meaning of 'feel like' is not far enough from many everyday use of 'feel' for many speakers to think of it as an idiom. If I had to categorise it, I would call it idiomatic, but not an idiom- it's moving away from the plain definition, but not far enough for me.