[Idiom] The meaning of an idiom or is it not an idiom?

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RonBee

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Q: What does "How many hairs make a beard?" mean?
A: Context please.

:)
 

yarkoni

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1. English idioms take different forms and are unclear in meaning on the surface structure. As I know, they consist of the following types:

  • Phrasal verbs, as in Look for.
  • Prepositional phrases, as in from time to time.
  • Idioms with verbs as key words, as in come in handy.
  • Idioms with nouns as key words, as in child's play.
  • Idioms with adjectives as key words, as in cold comfort.
  • Idiomatic pairs, as in safe and sound.
2. I think that is a proverb.:?:
 

bhaisahab

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Q: What does "How many hairs make a beard?" mean?
A: Context please.

:)

It looks like it's in the same category as "how many beans make five?" and "how long is a piece of string?".;-)
 
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RonBee

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How long is a piece of string, eh? I'll have to think about that one.
;-)
 
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