Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings: Second Edition [Paperback]

Gregory Titelman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 18, 2000

Arranged in an A to Z format for ease of use, this collection of proverbs and everyday expressions is newly revised with new entries and updated citations. Comprehensive and entertaining, it includes both biblical proverbs and everyday expressions used in America today, with historical usage and up-to-the-minute examples from the media. This treasure trove of language includes sayings from "Let sleeping dogs lie" (Chaucer's Troilus and Chriseyde, c. 1374) to "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" (Vanderbilt University football coach Red Sanders, 1953), and many others that have enjoyed popular use in America over the centuries.

Over 1,500 proverbs and 10,000 illustrative citations--including 200
     sayings new to this edition

Cross-referencing to all relative proverbs and sayings

Extensive subject index for easy reference

Thorough bibliography of proverb collections and works cited in the book

Cross-referencing to all relative proverbs and sayings

Extensive subject index for easy reference

Thorough bibliography of proverb collections and works cited in the book

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" begins the Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings, but the book means no harm. It just wants you to understand where this phrase comes from and what it actually denotes: "give up all hope, you that enter Hell," from Dante's Divine Comedy). The entry then explains the context for the quote, and lists various other literary examples and derivatives, such as Kurt Vonnegut's "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Don't Wear Green Shirts!" And so it goes for the other 1,600 phrases and their 10,000 examples, covering centuries of proverbs and usage.

The dictionary is handily organized in alphabetical format, so you can look up "Pyrrhic victory" when you come across it in your reading and once again can't remember what it means. Likewise, when you're writing about caution and vaguely recall that there's some appropriate phrase about cats, you can flip open to the Cs and find "The cat in gloves catches no mice."

What other advantages does this proverb reference have? It's a remarkable elucidator of American idiom for people learning English; it's a fine source of evocative phrases for students, journalists, and speech writers; and etymology enthusiasts can check out the origins of "enough is enough" and "even a worm will turn." Furthermore, this volume is unsurpassable as a browser. While stuck on hold with the phone company, or waiting nervously for your blind date to arrive, you can fill the odd idle moments with the wisdom of the ages. "Give me your tired, your poor," said Emma Lazarus. "Give me where to stand, and I will move the earth," said Archimedes. "Give him enough rope and he'll hang himself," said Thomas Fuller. Or "Give me a break!" as said by just about everyone. If "wisdom is better than rubies," and "knowledge is power," then the Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings is priceless. --Stephanie Gold

From the Inside Flap

Arranged in an A to Z format for ease of use, this collection of proverbs and everyday expressions is newly revised with new entries and updated citations. Comprehensive and entertaining, it includes both biblical proverbs and everyday expressions used in America today, with historical usage and up-to-the-minute examples from the media. This treasure trove of language includes sayings from "Let sleeping dogs lie" (Chaucer's Troilus and Chriseyde, c. 1374) to "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" (Vanderbilt University football coach Red Sanders, 1953), and many others that have enjoyed popular use in America over the centuries.

Over 1,500 proverbs and 10,000 illustrative citations--including 200
     sayings new to this edition

Cross-referencing to all relative proverbs and sayings

Extensive subject index for easy reference

Thorough bibliography of proverb collections and works cited in the book

Cross-referencing to all relative proverbs and sayings

Extensive subject index for easy reference

Thorough bibliography of proverb collections and works cited in the book

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference; 2 Sub edition (April 18, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375705848
• ISBN-13: 978-0375705847
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #633,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most useful proverbs and sayings book in the market. May 13, 2000

By Padunkiaet

Format:Paperback

Includes all of the essential and modern American Proverbs and Sayings. Having rating stars for freqent ones. Ample example of sentence usages from true various sources. Crystally clear explanations and very easy to understand. Readable formats and great price. Suitable for everyone who wants to improve his or her delicious sayings.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but not a lot of detail... February 21, 2007

By Mikebike

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are many interesting sayings in this book but some that I commonly hear are not in the book. Also, the descriptions are not the best. They typically give more historical information about the saying than definitions. Overall it's good, but not great.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Heart" of the English Language as spoken by Americans July 26, 2007

By J. Golden

Format:Hardcover

Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings 2nd Edition printed in 2000, great refference book. Mandatory any public speakers library. Also very useful for anyone trying to learn English.