McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs [Paperback]

Richard Spears (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0071469346 | ISBN-13: 978-0071469340 | Publication Date: January 17, 2006 | Edition: 1

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.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The most comprehensive, in-depth guide to common American idioms and phraseology available

The hardest part of getting the hang of a language is making sense of its idioms. From proverbial expressions such as "a stitch in time saves nine," to idioms such as "dead ringer," to such common verbal phrases as "put out" and "take on," these colorful constructions, so abundant in American English, seem to serve no other purpose than to frustrate and confuse. But don't despair! Thanks to the efforts of noted lexicographer Richard A. Spears, mastering American English idioms has never been easier.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs covers the full breadth and scope of idiomatic American English, making it an essential companion to standard desk dictionaries. An invaluable resource for ESL students, as well as writers, scholars, and public speakers, this reference combines in one volume the two most perplexing aspects of American English phraseology--idioms and phrasal verbs--providing ready access to the complete meanings and varying usages of thousands of common terms and verb constructs.

Outstanding features include:

• More than 24,000 entries and 27,000 senses
• Idiomatic phrases, proverbial expressions, and cliches
• Concise definitions, plus one or more example sentences for each phrase
• Sources (e.g., the Bible, Shakespeare, etc.) and origins (e.g., Rural, Nautical)
• Guidance on the correct tone and social context
• Uniquely thorough treatment of variation (e.g., to get, to have, or to give the low-down)
• A comprehensive Phrase-Finder Index of more than 60,000 entries--let's you locate phrases by key words, including common particles in two-part verbs

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Richard A. Spears, Ph.D., was a professor of linguistics at Northwestern University before he turned to editorial work. He has authored more than 150 books and articles on various aspects of language. His main interest is in phrasal dictionaries and references designed for language learners.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1098 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (January 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071469346
• ISBN-13: 978-0071469340
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure of Idioms, But Not Origins, November 17, 2007

By 

mziemba3 (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs (Paperback)

Standard dictionaries are great for understanding words, but not for comprehending the perplexing kind of phrase known as the idiom. This specialized dictionary provides a generous list of American idioms in an accessible format, but sacrifices phrase origins and portability in the process.

The dictionary's comprehensive nature suits students of English as a second language, as well as communications professionals. With over 24,000 entries, it offers over twice the number of listings in the popular "American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms" and four times the number of listings in the "Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms" and the "Oxford Dictionary of Idioms." ESL students can understand the language better and communicate more effectively. Writers and editors are more likely to be able to track down needed phrases.

It's easy to use, too. Phrases are listed alphabetically by the first keyword, allowing the reader to look up the phrase by its familiar form. An explanation follows, and usage examples are provided for each entry to enhance understanding. If the exact phrase is not known, the handy index provides phrases grouped by an alphabetical listing of keywords.

Unfortunately, phrase origins are mostly lacking, apparently by design. The editor's explanation for this is that reliable linguistic evidence for the origin of idioms is rare. The few origins that are offered are thoughtfully placed and seem to be well-researched, however.

This hefty, textbook-size dictionary may be a drawback for those looking for a handy reference. Shorter idiom dictionaries have the advantage here.

This idiom dictionary best serves ESL students and communications professionals needing a reliable reference to confirm the spelling, form and meaning of American English idioms. The pages are printed on heavier, acid-free paper, so the book should hold up well. Those intersted in phrase origins or a more convenient book size should consider other idiom dictionaries.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful Reference for Improving Language Skills, January 3, 2007

By 

H. D. Espinosa "The Onlooker" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs (Paperback)

This book is one of the most comprehensive I've ever seen when it comes to Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. It gives not only the explanation about the listed terms, but also includes usage examples. At the end of the book, there is a reference index which helps to find any expression contained in there. If you know at least one word from the phrase you are looking for, then you may find it listed and then you just go to the proper page for the necessary details. If you are a language learner or simply a language lover, it is a book that you should have on your shelf.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Catch!, September 19, 2006

By 

A. J. Baltes (TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs (Paperback)

Petite enough to fit in purse or pocket, it gives more than 3,000 American-English idioms with their meanings. "Cold as Ice" and many other American idioms are composed of simple words. A cool reference guide for ESL students, foreign travelers in the US, and anybody else. They are listed alphabetically, ID'd according to their part of speech, and categorized as formal, informal, slang, or literary. Every expression is defined and supplemented with an illustrative sentence.