@article { , title = {Not just 'small potatoes': knowledge of the idiomatic meanings of collocations}, abstract = {This study investigated learner knowledge of the figurative meanings of 30 collocations that can be both literal and figurative. One hundred and seven Chilean Spanish-speaking university students of English were asked to complete a meaning-recall collocation test in which the target items were embedded in non-defining sentences. Results showed limited collocation knowledge, with a mean score of 33\% correct. The study also examined the effects of frequency, semantic transparency, year at university, and everyday engagement with the second language (L2) outside the classroom on this collocation knowledge. Mixed-effects modelling indicated that there was no relationship between frequency and semantic transparency and the knowledge of the figurative meanings. However, a positive relationship was found between this knowledge and year at university, time spent in an English-speaking country, and time spent reading.}, doi = {10.1177/1362168816645957}, issn = {1362-1688}, issue = {3}, note = {eStaffProfile Description: , eStaffProfile Brief Description of Type: No embargo}, pages = {321-340}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {SAGE Publications (UK and US)}, url = {https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1126816}, volume = {21}, year = {2017}, author = {Macis, Marijana and Schmitt, Norbert} }