The most comprehensive reference for understanding and using the contemporary idioms of American English—with more than 1,000 entries. Mastering the use of idiomatic language is an essential step toward achieving fluency in any language. Webster's New World: American Idioms Handbook is the ideal guide to the slang, sayings, expressions, jargon, and colloquialisms of American English—covering more than 1,000 entries. Emphasizing acquisition and application, this book explains their meanings as well as when, where, why, and how to use them. A wealth of examples helps readers understand each idiom’s connotation and identify its appropriate context. An extensive index allows for quick and easy reference.

Learn the language of Nebraska . . .and 49 other states With more entries than any other reference of its kind,McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs shows you how American English is spoken today. You will find commonly used phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions, proverbial expressions, and clichés. The dictionary contains more than 24,000 entries, each defined and followed by one or two example sentences. It also includes a Phrase-Finder Index with more than 60,000 entries.

A multicultural book that teaches English idioms about food. Includes popular idioms, idiom meanings, example sentences, and colorful illustrations of characters and settings from around the world. This book also provides an English audio recording and links to teaching resources. This is a great resource for diverse classrooms!

Whether you want to sound more like a native speaker or just know more about the strange expressions you're always hearing, this dictionary is the best way to learn about the English language's most colorful phrases. This book contains over 1000 commonly encountered English idioms and phrases with an explanation of their meaning and sample usage. This Dictionary of phrases explores the meanings and origins of terms that may not make literal sense but play an important role in the English language. It is designed to be a reference for those studying English, or anyone who enjoys learning its many wonderful quirks and expressions. Whether you're looking for cliché's, idioms, jargon, proverbs or colloquial sayings, you'll find them here with an explanation. This edition also features a Thematic Index that cross-references expressions by standard terms and subjects. We also publish editions of this book with the explanations of the terms in Spanish, French, German, Italian and other languages. Check our website for availability.

An introduction to American colloquialisms through the use of explanatory dialogue or narrative.

English Idioms in use Advanced is a vocabulary book for advanced level learners. It is primarily designed as a self-study reference and practice text but it can also be used for classroom work.

Did you know that 'flavour of the month' originated in a marketing campaign in American ice-cream parlours in the 1940s, when a particular flavour would be specially promoted for a month at a time? And did you know that 'off the cuff' refers to the rather messy practice of writing impromptu notes on one's shirt cuff before speaking in public? These and many more idioms are explained and put into context in this second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms. This vastly entertaining dictionary takes a fresh look at the idiomatic phrases and sayings that make English such a rich and intriguing language. A major new edition, it contains entries for over 5000 idioms, including 350 new entries and over 500 new quotations. The text has been updated to include many new idioms using the findings of the Oxford English Reading Programme, the biggest language research programme in the world. The entries are supported by a wealth of illustrative quotations from a wide range of sources and periods. For example: 'Rowling has not been asleep at the wheel in the three years since the last Potter novel, and I am pleased to report that she has not confused sheer length with inspiration.' - Guardian, 2003. 'I made the speech of a lifetime. I had them tearing up the seats and rolling in the aisles.' - P.G. Woodhouse, 1940. Many entries include boxed features which give more detailed background on the idiom in question. For example, did you know that 'taken aback' was adopted from nautical terminology, and described a ship unable to move forward because of a strong headwind pressing its sails back against the mast? The text has been entirely redesigned so that it is both elegant and easy to use. Anyone interested in the quirky side of the English language will have hours of fun browsing through this fascinating and informative volume.