This article focuses on the semantic and linguacultural analysis of phraseological units that verbalize binary oppositions in English folk tales. In folklore, fundamental worldview dichotomies such as “wisdom/ foolishness”, “goodness/evil” and “wealth/poverty” are deeply rooted within the text, with idioms acting as key cognitive tools. The purpose of this study is to explain how British cultural values, such as pragmatism, experience and common sense, influence the imagery of idiomatic expressions. By analyzing set phrases within narratives, the study demonstrates how these linguistic tools serve as a cognitive framework for world-categorization and reflect the pragmatic national identity of the English speech community.