[...] The units which do are the least wordlike of any of the types we shall discuss. The best approach to these units, which we shall call ‘idioms’, is via examples in some other language.
- Hockett (1958), a pag.171

A composite form in another language cannot be called an idiom merely because its meaning seems queer to us. The test must be applied within the language.
- Hockett (1958), a pag.172

Idioms are unwordlike especially in that they can be much larger than a single word: ‘Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party.’ Yet some idioms are smaller than words.
- Hockett (1958), a pag.173