Customer Reviews

The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang (Oxford Paperback Reference)

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I purchased this book with the hopes of improving the dialog of contemporary characters in my writing. Unfortunately, most of the slang words included in this book is not very 'modern' and seem to come from the 20's-60's and earlier. This would be fine if you are writing a story about gangsters, gun molls or flower children.

Unfortunately, I really don't see my characters using words like 'far-out,' 'drongo,' or 'face-fungus.'

Overall, a disappointing purchase. Perhaps useful if you are writing historic fiction.

In reference to LadyNaava's complaint that this volume doesn't actually contain current or recent slang. I fear that's impossible. At least for a bound reference. In the time it takes to print a book, let alone compile a dictionary, current slang changes, changes back, disappears and is replaced.

That said, the warning that this volume may not be up to date with many of the better "regular" dictionaries (which have recently added Homer's D'oh! after only twenty years) is appreciated.

Beware: contrary to the item description above, this volume is not organized thematically; it does not contain any section.