Improvement of phrase descriptions in English–Japanese dictionaries for learners – with a focus on idiom variants.

The article focuses on improving phrase descriptions, particularly idiom variants (IVs), in English–Japanese dictionaries for learners (EJDLs). It highlights that while EJDLs have evolved with corpus-based research for many phraseological units, idiom entries have remained largely unchanged due to the assumption that idioms are morphologically and semantically invariant. Using large-scale corpora, the study identifies and analyzes IVs—variations of idioms formed through processes such as lexical replacement, blending, and analogy—across domains like sailing, anger, and card games, demonstrating that idioms do change systematically. The paper proposes that incorporating these findings into EJDLs, along with clearer, separate phrase sections and user guidance, would better reflect contemporary English usage and reduce learner burden. This research contributes to lexicography by offering a methodical approach to describing idiom variants, aiming to enhance the usability and accuracy of learner dictionaries.