The Thesaurus of Slang [Hardcover]

Esther Lewin (Author), Albert E. Lewin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1997 | ISBN-10: 0816028982 | ISBN-13: 978-0816028986 | Edition: Rev Exp Su

This work translates standard English words into slang. It offers over 200 colloquial synonyms for the word drunk, such as "pickled" and "three sheets to the wind". It is ordered alphabetically, and provides over 12,000 standard words with their slang counterparts.

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

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

After the dictionary and standard thesaurus, a slang thesaurus is probably the most important reference book for any writer or student to have readily accessible on the reference shelf, and most likely the one that isn't there. This edition, revised in 1994 and containing more than 165,000 uncensored contemporary slang terms, idioms, and colloquialisms, is the most comprehensive, up-to-date such tome available. Looking for an alternative to "comic?" Try "boffo, campy, flaky, for grins, loony, screwy, goofus, Mickey Mouse." Need a substitute for "good-looking?" It's handy to choose from a string of descriptives such as "stud muffin, wukka, beddy, triple burger with cheese, and dyno."

An idiom dictionary allows you to get the definition of an idiom, but what you want is a different but equally colorful synonymous phrase. No longer must you write such lousy, pukey, grody prose. Instead of reading like pablum, deadsville, dull as dishwater, your formerly cheesy, nowhere, gasser, downer, descriptions can be transformed into text that's killer, sensaysh, wiggy, and real gone. It'll make your teacher or editor yawp, holler, and beller like all get out, and just browsing reignites the joy of playing with language. --Stephanie Gold

From School Library Journal

YA-More than 15,000 additions, deletions, and changes update this resource that provides slang synonyms for standard English. Large print and lots of white space make the pages easy to read. Although the part of speech is identified, there is no pronounciation guide. See-references are available where appropriate. A great resource for creative writers.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File; Rev Exp Su edition (August 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816028982
• ISBN-13: 978-0816028986
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,452,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for writers, November 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Thesaurus of Slang (Paperback)

The best dictionary of slang out there because it is arranged by the word you're most likely to know instead of the slang word you're not likely to know.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference tool, April 13, 2003

By 

E. Hagan (NE Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thesaurus of Slang (Wordsworth Collection) (Paperback)

All the other slang dictionaries, even those online are organized to define the slang terms themselves. As an older writer I'm not particularly knowledgeable about slang much past my own generation. It is a great help in creating more realistic youthful dialog to be able to look up a "regular" word to find the various slang synonyms.

Even for a 1995 edition, mine appears to be very current and comprehensive. I hope the editors keep this handy writer's tool up to date with new editions.

Somebody really needs to develop an online slang database, searcheable by words on either side of the index. This is really the only way to compile something as changeable as a dictionary of slang. I'd pay to subscribe to one kept up to date.

4.0 out of 5 stars Dictionary of Slang, August 8, 2010

By 

Richard F. Flewelling (So Cal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Thesaurus of Slang (Hardcover)

Out of words on your great american novel? A good book to have to refresh your memory. OR teach you some new ones.