Brewer's Dictionary of Modern Phrase & Fable (Brewer's S.) [Hardcover]

Adrian Room (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001 | Series: Brewer's S.

Includes more than 7500 words, idioms, catchphrases, slogans, names, nicknames, 'named' events and book, film and TV-programme titles - all defined and fully explained Includes definitions and etymologies of new words and phrases, including the language of computer technology Blends scholarly authority with a generous helping of sheer serendipitous fun

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Fables and commonplace phrases originate from the need to articulate concepts and circumstances that defy conventional phraseology. Evolving from both written and spoken sources (though more commonly from the latter), they bring together words, names, and expressions that have cultural resonance. These volumes provide ample documentation of such terms in the English language, citing both origin and common usage. Beyond simple definitions, the works also include quotations from classical and modern literature. Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable, first issued in 1870, has flourished for over 100 years and has been updated frequently. (See LJ 7/00 for a review of the 16th edition.) The current work, ably edited by prolific lexicographer Room, who also worked on the 16th edition, borrows the style and approach of the original dictionary but focuses on material from the late 20th to the 21st centuries. Arranged alphabetically, this approachable work contains more than 8000 entries. Vastly more comprehensive, The Oxford Dictionary references some 20,000 citations. Knowles, managing editor of the Oxford quotations dictionaries, draws upon Oxford's unrivaled bank of language lore and literary tradition to span a vast array of topics, including classical mythology, religion, folk custom, history, science, and technology. The entries, whether brief citations or longer discussions boasting colorful details and lucid text, are distinguished by unparalleled research. Illustrative quotations and thousands of biographies are also included. Both of these volumes are vital reference tools required by all meaningful reference collections. Richard K. Burns, MSLS, Hatboro, PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In this work, Room, editor of the sixteenth edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable [RBB O 15 00], focuses not only on phrases and terms that have come into the English language during the past 100 years but also on other aspects of modern society. The result is an eclectic mixture of entries that includes colloquialisms, idioms, catchphrases, slang expressions, acronyms, trade names, organizations, events, fictional characters, and titles of films, plays, novels, television programs, and works of art.

Approximately 8,000 entries are alphabetically arranged. Standard entries, which range in length from several lines to a column, treat such diverse topics as Falun Gong, Inspector Morse, Jaws of Life, My Fair Lady, Never a dull moment, Pooper scooper, and URL. In addition, the volume features a variety of theme entries, including Advertising slogans of the 20th century, First lines of novels, and Rock group names, which often extend to multiple pages. Accompanying many entries are illustrative quotations, most often garnered from British newspapers and periodicals. The work's British origins are evident in other ways as well. For instance, the entry for What's My Line? contains no mention of the U.S. version of the game show. Inevitably, one questions some of the editor's choices. Garfield and Starsky and Hutch are here, but where are The Far Side and Hill Street Blues?

Though at first glance this work would appear to be a revision of Brewer's Dictionary of Twentieth Century Phrase and Fable (Houghton, 1992), its scope is much broader, and about three-fourths of its entries were not in the earlier dictionary. There is some duplication between this volume and the sixteenth edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable; however, the overlap is not significant enough to be of concern.

In spite of its British slant and its somewhat erratic selectivity, this entertaining compendium serves as a valuable record of twentieth-century words, expressions, and cultural allusions. It will be a useful addition to high-school, public, and academic libraries. REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Cassell (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304353817
• ISBN-13: 978-0304353811
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,397,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)