The paper presents a cognitive model of 'actual' meaning of idioms. It
is shown that the actual meaning of idioms can be described as derive
d from specific cognitive structures, i.e. frames and scripts. In the
process of semantic derivation of actual meaning many conceptual opera
tions take part. The typology of such operations is outlined in the pa
per. In opposition to the traditional theory of semantic derivation, t
he cognitive model of meaning is based not on the literal meaning of w
ords forming the idiom, but on the corresponding cognitive structure:
on the frame of a typical situation or the script of a typical action.
Therefore an adequate metalanguage for semantic description of idioms
ought to be considered within the framework of cognitive paradigm.