本书首先对习语的形成及其特性作了共时和历时的描述，进而对处理习语的不同方法和模式展开评述，最后从总体整合的视角集中探讨了以概念结构为依据的习语处理方法即整合处理法。

Chapter One Introduction

 1.1 Background of the Present Study

 1.2 Objective of the Present Study

 1.3 Data Collection of the Present Study

 1.4 Organization of the Present Study

Chapter Two Description and Characterization of Idioms

 2.1 Describing Idioms

2.1.1 Formation of Idioms

2.1.2 Types of Idiom Collections

2.1.3 Relationship : Idioms & Words

2.1.4 Relationships : Idioms & Other Fixed Expressions

 2.2 Characterizing Idioms

2.2.1 Distinct Properties

2.2.2 General Delineation

Chapter Three Idiom Studies: Different Approaches

 3.1 Formal Approaches

3.1.1 Brace Fraser (1970)

3.1.2 Adam Makkai (1972)

3.1.3 Rosamund Moon (1998)

 3.2 Functional Approaches

3.2.1 Jury Strassler (1982)

3.2.2 Cristina Cacciari & Sam Glucksberg(1991, 1993)

3.2.3 Chitra Fernando (1996)

3.2.4 Rachel Giora (1997)

3.2.5 Rosa Elena Vega-Moreno (2001)

 3.3 Psycholinguistic Approaches

3.3.1 S. Bobrow&S. Bell (1973)

3.3.2 D. A. Swinney & A. Cutler (1979)

3.3.3 Raymond W. Gibbs, Jr. (1980)

3.3.4 C. Cacciari & P. Tabossi (1988)

3.3.5 R.W. Gibbs, Jr. &N. P. Nayak (1989)

3.3.6 R. W. Gibbs, Jr. et al. (1990-1995)

Chapter Four Flexibility & Productivity of Idioms

 4.1 Lexical Flexibility

4.1.1 Structural Variety

4.1.2 Variation Generation

4.1.3 Variation Patterns

 4.1.3.1 Verb Variation

 4.1.3.2 Noun Variation

 4.1.3.3 Modifier Variation

 4.1.3.4 Miscellaneous Variation

 4.1.3.5 Variation between American andBritish English

 4.1.3.6 False Variation

4.1.4 Regularity of Variation

4.1.5 Variation Constraint & Comprehension

4.1.6 Case Study : Relevance-Driven Variation Comprehension

 4.2 Syntactic Versatility

4.2.1 Nominalization

4.2.2 Pronominalization

4.2.3 Passivization

4.2.4 Topicalization

4.2.5 Modification by Relative Clauses

4.2.6 There Construction

4.2.7 Comparative Construction

4.2.8 Other Transformations

4.2.9 Nonce Uses of Idioms

Chapter Five A Holistic Approach to English Idioms

 5.1 Developing Pragmatic Competence

 5.2 Developing Figurative Competence

 5.3 Developing Sociocultural Competence

 5.4 Integrating Processing Strategies

Chapter Six Conclusions

 6.1 Representation of Idioms

 6.2 Enlightenment from Previous Studies

 6.3 Compositionality and Flexibility

 6.4 Pedagogical Implications

 6.5 Suggestions for Further Exploration

References

Appendix Ⅰ List of Dictionaries Consulted

Appendix Ⅱ Tentative Classification of Fixed Expressions in English Lexicon

Appendix Ⅲ Figurative Patterns Underlying Current English Idioms

Appendix Ⅳ English Idioms with Respect to Fraser's Frozen Hierarchy

Appendix Ⅴ Makkai's Categorization of Idioms

Appendix Ⅶ Femando's Categorization of English Idioms

Appendix Ⅷ Representative Examples of Conceptual Metaphors