What term describes chunks whose parts never change, such as 'Let's face it' or 'Merry Christmas'?

What term describes chunks whose parts never change, such as 'Let's face it' or 'Merry Christmas'?

• A. Fixed Expression
• B. Semi-Fixed Expression
• C. Collocation
• D. Register

Answer: (A)

Chunks whose parts never change are fixed expressions, a unit built from words that stay together in everyday use. The phrases given show an exact sequence of words that listeners recognize as a single unit; you wouldn’t normally swap words or reorder them without losing the familiar meaning or sounding odd. That immutability—the exact wording and order—defines a fixed expression, which is why it’s the best label here. A semi-fixed expression would allow small changes, a collocation is about habitual word pairings that aren’t necessarily a single fixed string, and register relates to formality or style rather than the fixed form of the chunk.

Chunks whose parts never change are fixed expressions, a unit built from words that stay together in everyday use. The phrases given show an exact sequence of words that listeners recognize as a single unit; you wouldn’t normally swap words or reorder them without losing the familiar meaning or sounding odd. That immutability—the exact wording and order—defines a fixed expression, which is why it’s the best label here. A semi-fixed expression would allow small changes, a collocation is about habitual word pairings that aren’t necessarily a single fixed string, and register relates to formality or style rather than the fixed form of the chunk.