Home › Glossary › Letter F

Fixed expression

Device
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A set phrase or wording used consistently across poetic traditions

Detailed Definition
A fixed expression is a phrase or wording widely recognized and used unchanged across multiple works, often contributing to rhythm or familiarity. In poetry, it can provide a traditional anchor but may require creative framing to avoid cliché.
Example
Example in poetry:
Using “bright as the sun” as a set simile; A recurring poetic phrase like “time’s eternal river”; A common expression appearing unchanged in multiple poems; Fixed metaphors familiar to readers.
Additional Notes
Fixed expression is a culturally embedded phrase (e.g., “once upon a time”) used for rhythmic or mnemonic effect. Related to stock phrase and conventional device. Effective in oral or folk verse—use to establish familiarity before introducing variation.
Also Known As
Formulaic phrase Set expression Established phrase Standardized wording Formulaic
Skip to main content