语言是社会的产物。任何语言都在随着社会的发展而发展。其中一个突出的倾向，就是简化。例如英语有些惯用语中的小小成分就可以省略不用，趋向于较简单的形式。

以下便是些惯用语某些成分可以被合法省略的例子:

⒈定冠词 the 的省略，如：

● pull the strings→pull strings：通过人事用其影响力

● the long and the short of……→the long and short of……：总而言之

● if the worst comes to the worst→if worst comes to worst ：大不了

● to go through the proper channels→to go through proper channels：通过正常渠道

⒉不定冠词的省略，如：

● in a great measure→in great measure：在很大程度上

● at a breakneck speed→at breakneck speed：以惊险速度

⒊名词复数符号的省略，如：

● to rack one’s brains→to rack one’s brain：绞尽脑汁

● in the interests of……→in the interest of：为了……利益起见

⒋所有格代名词的省略，如：

● to save one’s face→to save face：保存面子

● to take one’s leave of→to take leave：请假

⒌返身代词的省略，如：

● to stand oneself aloof from→to stand aloof from：远离

● to adapt oneself to→to adapt to：适应

⒍形容词的省略，如：

● to make both ends meet→to make ends meet：收支平衡

● to take one’s own life→to take one’s life ：牺牲自己

● to hit the right nail on the head→to hit the nail on the head：做对、答对

● at long last→at last：终于

⒎介词的省略，如：

● to take to flight→to take flight：逃之夭夭

● at full length→full length：详细地

⒏副词的省略，如：

● to have too many irons in the fire→to have many irons in the fire：要做的事太多

● to put out to sea→to put to sea：启航

⒐“As”及其他词语的省略，如：

● as regular as clockwork→regular as clockwork：很准时地

● as blind as a bat→blind as a bat：视力不良

● his word is as good as his bond→His word is his bond：重视诺言