Dictionary of American Idioms (Paperback)

by Adam Makkai (Author), Maxine Tull Boatner (Author), J. E. Gates (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Indicates the variant forms, parts of speech, definitions, and usage of the illustrative sentences for more than four thousand commonly used idioms, including proverbs, cliches, and slang expressions.

From the Back Cover
[back cover]


More than 8,000 idiomatic words and phrases specific to American-style English are presented in the new, fourth edition of this A-to-Z dictionary. Definitions and sample sentences are given with each entry. Especially useful for TOEFL test-takers and other students for whom English is a second language, this book explains and clarifies many of the similes and metaphors that newcomers to American English find mystifying. It is also useful to native-born Americans who are sometimes confused by regionalisms encountered in reading or on TV. Idioms undergo constant change in every living language, some falling out of use while new words and phrases become part of the standard vocabulary. This new edition takes account of the latest idiomatic changes and presents a solid background to informal American English. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 455 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 3rd edition (March 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812012488
• ISBN-13: 978-0812012484
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,196,924 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very good reference for non-native English speakers, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

I thought I knew English pretty well. But when I came to Canada and had a chance to talk to people whose first language was English, I realized that sometimes I just can't get what they mean. When someone says "I'm off the hook" what does he really mean, was he "hanging" from a hook!! After realizing that I went to a bookstore and started searching for something which would help me in this regard. Then I came across this book and after a glance, I decided to buy it. It's been more than two years and I'm still happy that I bought this dictionary. Even though I know a lot many idioms now, I still refer to this book almost daily. And it has never disappointed me!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book to learn the way Americans speak, February 27, 2002

By	Cuban Bee Gees Fan "qbanbgfan" (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

Idioms are always difficult. For people learning English as second language this is even harder. This book offers a detail list of idioms that people often use, with their meanings and examples. Using this book along with the "NTC's Dictionary of American Slang" helps to develop your skills in understand the way American speaks that not always is taught in school. The book is clear, perfect. I'm happy to have it in my bookcase.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Dictionary of American Idioms , March 8, 2006

By	A. A. Lin (Torrance, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Dictionary of American Idioms (Paperback)

I bought the dictionary for my son who's a 4th grader and been in the process of learning and using idioms. While the book covers a wide range of idioms, it does seem to have some gaping holes in terms of the completeness of its listings. We oftentimes have to use the Internet to complement the search. This is a disappointment, seems we could simply just use the Internet instead.