Qu’est-ce qu’une unité phraséologique?

Abstract : What is a phraseological unit? Such ontological questions are usually either avoided altogether or answered away by resorting to an endless recess of ever smaller constituents organised by logical rules, thus unwittingly paving the way for the metaphysics of Universals and Laws of Nature. We offer a third way, based on reference. We argue that phraseological units do not have a separate existence between single words and open choice sentences. Rather, we consider them as variable referential denominators which are able to refer in their own specific way.