PHRASEOLOGICAL ANTONYMS: WAYS OF FORMING PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS WITH ANTONYMIC COMPONENTS

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of phraseological antonyms and investigates the primary methods of forming phraseological units with antonymic components in English and Uzbek. Drawing from both linguistic theory and cross-cultural comparison, the study outlines semantic, structural, and pragmatic dimensions of antonymic phraseology. The role of antonymy in phraseology is examined not only as a lexical-semantic phenomenon but also as a stylistic device that enhances expressiveness, contrast, and rhetorical force. The paper integrates the theoretical perspectives of scholars such as Sh. Rahmatullayev, L.A. Novikov, D.A. Cruse, and M.L. Murphy, and offers an expanded typology of formation methods. The findings contribute to comparative linguistics by highlighting universal and language-specific features of phraseological antonyms.