The use and behavior of phraseological units often poses a series of difficulties in the SFL classroom due to the creative manipulations carried out by native speakers of a language. In this context, the phenomenon of phraseological deautomatisation by means of semantic modifications arises because of the interplay between figurative and literal reading in specific contexts. On the other hand, the approach of university students to literature can also take place through creative practice. In this sense, creative writing can be an activity of great pedagogical interest since it offers the possibility of artistic expression through language. In response to this interest, the aim of this study is to explore the creative possibilities of language in phraseology. In addition, this study aims to examine a sample of creative writing in phraseological contexts aimed at Russian university students of SFL. For this purpose, a case study methodology is used by analyzing verbal locutions in phraseological deautomatisation contexts. Based on the deautomatisation of phraseology, the aim is to bring students closer to the practice of literary creation, which stimulates language creativity and develops written competence in the production of texts in the target language. © The Author(s), 2023.