The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

~ John Ayto (Editor), John Simpson (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Incorporating slang newly emerged or otherwise evolved since the 1996 edition, Ayto (Twentieth Century Words) and Simpson (chief editor, OED) have expanded the compilation to over 6000 words and phrases harvested from the Oxford English Dictionary database. Each paragraph-long entry presents an abbreviated etymological provenance, its connotative meaning—whether derogatory or unobjectionably humorous—and employs the word in a sentence to ensure thorough understanding of usage. Recommended for contemporary English literature and cultural studies collections.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

`a fount of digressive amusement ... There's a primitive delight in randomly discovering boong, choom, gongoozler, molly-dook, pinko, schlong, upter, vidiot, whanger, and zatch.' TLS

`a fount of digressive amusement ... There's a primitive delight in randomly discovering boong, choom, gongoozler, molly-dook, pinko, schlong, upter, vidiot, whanger, and zatch.' TLS

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 23, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192800078
• ISBN-13: 978-0192800077
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,445,817 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Oxford Dictionary of not-so-modern Slang, February 18, 2004

By	SereneNight (California, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Time to look up "Modern", January 31, 2005

By	Michael C. Jacobs "miguelito_cin" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not true to description!, February 20, 2006

By	M. S. Velde "msvelde" (California, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

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