Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms PDF Author: Gordon Jarvie
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408124920
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 450

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Book Description
From credit crunch to golden parachute, barking up the wrong tree to storm in a tea cup in this book, Gordon Jarvie explains all you need to know about these and 3,000 other common English idioms. Packed with nuggets of fascinating information, the Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms traces the origins of these phrases, explains meanings and gives examples of up-to-date usage. Ideal for word buffs and English students alike, this book will help all users of English to mind their (linguistic) ps and qs.

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms PDF Author: Gordon Jarvie
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408124920
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 450

Get Book

Book Description
From credit crunch to golden parachute, barking up the wrong tree to storm in a tea cup in this book, Gordon Jarvie explains all you need to know about these and 3,000 other common English idioms. Packed with nuggets of fascinating information, the Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms traces the origins of these phrases, explains meanings and gives examples of up-to-date usage. Ideal for word buffs and English students alike, this book will help all users of English to mind their (linguistic) ps and qs.

Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

Oxford Dictionary of Idioms PDF Author: John Ayto
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192584383
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Book Description
What is it to 'cock a snook', where is the land of Nod, and who was first to go the extra mile? Find the answers to these questions (and many more!) in the new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms. This dictionary uncovers the meanings of myriad phrases and sayings that are used daily in the English language, encompassing more than 10,000 figurative expressions, similes, sayings, and proverbs. More than 400 idioms have been added to this new edition, and comprise recently coined and common sayings alike. New additions include 'back of the net', 'drag and drop', 'go it alone', 'how come?', 'if you ask me', 'make your skin crawl', and 'woe betide'. Illustrative quotations sourced from the Oxford corpora give contextual examples of the idioms and their standard usage, and many entries include background information on the origins of the idiom in question. An updated thematic index makes for easy navigation, and anyone who is interested in the origins and diversity of English vernacular will have hours of fun browsing this fascinating dictionary.

Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms

Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms PDF Author: John Ayto
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 019954378X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 419

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Book Description
Offers entries for over six thousand idioms, including seven hundred new to this edition, and provides background information, additional cross-references, and national variants.

Dictionary of Word Origins

Dictionary of Word Origins PDF Author: John Ayto
Publisher: Arcade
ISBN: 9781611450538
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 592

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Book Description
Uncover the hidden and often surprising connection between words. Written in a clear and informative style, the more than 8,000 articles reveal the origins of and links between some of the most common English-language words. What is the link between map and apron, acrobat and oxygen, zeal and jealousy, flour and pollen, secret and crime? Did you know that crimson originally comes from the name of tiny scale insects, the kermes, from whose dried bodies a red dyestuff is made? That Yankee began as a nickname for Dutchmen? That omelette evolved from amulette, “a thin sheet of metal,” and is a not-too-distant cousin of the word laminate? That jeans find their antecedent in jean fustian, meaning “a cotton fabric from Genoa”? They also contain an extensive selection of words whose life histories are intrinsically fascinating or instructive. This dictionary shows how modern English has developed from its Indo-European roots and how the various influences on the language—from migration and invasion to exploration, trade, technology, and scholarship—have intermingled. It is an invaluable addition to any English or linguistics library.

The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms PDF Author: Judith Siefring
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 019157953X
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 720

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Book Description
Did you know that 'flavour of the month' originated in a marketing campaign in American ice-cream parlours in the 1940s, when a particular flavour would be specially promoted for a month at a time? And did you know that 'off the cuff' refers to the rather messy practice of writing impromptu notes on one's shirt cuff before speaking in public? These and many more idioms are explained and put into context in this second edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms. This vastly entertaining dictionary takes a fresh look at the idiomatic phrases and sayings that make English such a rich and intriguing language. A major new edition, it contains entries for over 5000 idioms, including 350 new entries and over 500 new quotations. The text has been updated to include many new idioms using the findings of the Oxford English Reading Programme, the biggest language research programme in the world. The entries are supported by a wealth of illustrative quotations from a wide range of sources and periods. For example: 'Rowling has not been asleep at the wheel in the three years since the last Potter novel, and I am pleased to report that she has not confused sheer length with inspiration.' - Guardian, 2003. 'I made the speech of a lifetime. I had them tearing up the seats and rolling in the aisles.' - P.G. Woodhouse, 1940. Many entries include boxed features which give more detailed background on the idiom in question. For example, did you know that 'taken aback' was adopted from nautical terminology, and described a ship unable to move forward because of a strong headwind pressing its sails back against the mast? The text has been entirely redesigned so that it is both elegant and easy to use. Anyone interested in the quirky side of the English language will have hours of fun browsing through this fascinating and informative volume.

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Phrase & Allusion

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Phrase & Allusion PDF Author: Nigel Rees
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN: 9780747512172
Category : Allusions
Languages : en
Pages : 358

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Book Description
With more than 5000 entries, from Abandon hope all ye who enter here to Led Zeppelin, this book explores the origins and meanings of allusions, words, names and phrases from the worlds of literature, politics and popular culture. The entries include contemporary references as well as information on classical mythology, saints' names, acronyms, collective nouns and pseudonyms.

Bloomsbury Idioms

Bloomsbury Idioms PDF Author: Gordon Jarvie
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780747527008
Category : English language
Languages : en
Pages : 278

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Book Description
Containing 3000 English idioms, this book traces origins, explains meanings and gives up-to-date examples of usage. There are special features on grammatical terms and figures of speech, such as dyads, catch phrases and hyperbole. Gordon Jarvie is the author of Grammar Guide.

Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

Oxford Dictionary of Idioms PDF Author: John Ayto
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198845621
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
This major new edition contains entries for over 6,000 idioms, including 700 entirely new entries, based on Oxford's language monitoring and the ongoing third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Phrase & Allusion

Bloomsbury Dictionary of Phrase & Allusion PDF Author: Nigel Rees
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780747507895
Category : Allusions
Languages : en
Pages : 358

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Book Description
This guide explores the meanings of words, names and phrases which are used in literature and popular culture but which come from many sources such as books, films, the Bible, Shakespeare, television, and the theatre. It also contains information on classical mythology, acronyms and pseudonyms.

CONCISE DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH COMBINED (IDIOMS, PHRASES, PROBERBS, SIMILIES)

CONCISE DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH COMBINED (IDIOMS, PHRASES, PROBERBS, SIMILIES) PDF Author: EDITORIAL BOARD
Publisher: V&S Publishers
ISBN: 9352150503
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 429

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Book Description
This authoritative dictionary is designed to help readers expand vocabulary and language skills to reach appreciative levels and then exceed that! Hence, pick up the various ways to explain the meaning of idioms, phrases and proverbs, besides interpreting figurative language, such as metaphors and similes.The volume is composed of four separate sections:1. Idioms, 2.Phrases, 3.Proverbs and 4.Metaphors and Similes Key Featureso Sentences focussed on figurative language and sayingso Includes common idioms, popular phrases, witty proverbs, metaphors and similes.o Contains hyperbole and adages at appropriate placeso Organized into A-Z format with sentences at easy and moderate levelso Allows readers to develop and then apply new skills of expressiono Aligns to the English and Foreign words currently in popular useBenefitso Produces a complete understanding of common idiomso Provides recognizing the meaning of popular phraseso Encourages readers to understand and relate to witty proverbso Develops the ability to use metaphors and simileso Introduces adage and hyperboleo Improves vocabulary and enhances knowledge of word meaningso Polishes persuasive, descriptive and narrative writing skills