Essentially, idioms are groups of words whose meanings differ from the literal, but they are also defined as phrases typical to a region, period, or group. Like the original from 1999, the second edition of this dictionary is both current and retrospective in covering these intriguing phrases. Containing over 5000 such sayings and proverbs (350 of them are new to this edition and over 500 are ...
Tampilkan ulasan lengkap » revised), it attempts to cover idioms from the entire English-speaking world. Each entry provides a full definition; explanatory notes on background and details about the origin, history, and usage; and illustrative quotations from a wide variety of sources such as newspapers, novels, travel guides, and teen magazines. As needed, the geography of the idiom is identified as "North American Slang" or "Australia and New Zealand," etc. The dictionary was updated using the findings of the English Reading Program, the ongoing research program of the Oxford English Dictionary. Bottom Line Attractive, highly perusable, and logically arranged, the dictionary is recommended for libraries serving teachers and students of all stripes, especially those in ESL programs. Anyone who is addicted to the richness of the English language or simply intrigued by the origin and meaning of an idiom like "teach your grandmother to suck eggs" will also relish this work. For a reference on American idioms only, The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms is still a good choice.-Paul D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., ME |