Collocational Phrasemes Adj comme SN as Ways to Demean Someone

Abstract

In this study, we propose a corpus-based research aimed at highlighting the axiological valorisation and the functioning of certain collocational phrasemes that follow the syntactic scheme “Adj as NP”. These appear particularly conducive to expressing, in addition to the intensity of the property, a negative evaluation of the appearance or behaviour of the person that the speaker is talking about (cf. maigre comme un clou, laid comme un crapaud, con comme la lune, avare comme un Écossais, etc.). Both the (re)use of canonical phrasemes and the use of creative phrasemes with modified standard paragons (cf. maquillé comme une Rolls Royce volée) or with entirely inventive paragons (cf. maigre comme un rouleau de papier cadeaux) result from a deliberate act by the speaker, who intends to reveal unfavourable judgments about others. These judgments fall within the domains of aesthetics, psychology, intellect, ethics, or economics.