IDIOMATIC PHRASEOLOGY IN ENGLISH BUSINESS DISCOURSE: A STRUCTURAL AND PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Idiomatic phraseology constitutes a significant yet often underexplored component of English business discourse. This study investigates the structural patterns, semantic properties, and pragmatic functions of idiomatic expressions in contemporary business communication. Drawing on a corpus of authentic materials, including corporate websites, business emails, and marketing texts, the research identifies the most frequent types of idioms and analyzes their communicative roles. The findings reveal that idioms in business discourse function not merely as stylistic embellishments but as strategic linguistic tools that facilitate persuasion, mitigate directness, enhance interpersonal relations, and simplify complex concepts. Structurally, verb-based idioms and phrasal constructions dominate the corpus, while semantically, metaphorical domains such as movement, competition, and finance are most productive. Pragmatically, idioms play a crucial role in tone management and audience engagement, contributing to both clarity and expressiveness. The study also highlights the pedagogical implications of idiomatic competence in EFL contexts and underscores the importance of incorporating authentic idiomatic usage into business English instruction