Synopses & Reviews
Packed with sayings and expressions you can use every day!
The real key to mastering any language, beyond having a good grasp of grammar and vocabulary, is knowing how to use idioms and idiomatic expressions. Now you can start speaking American English like a nativewith the help of this complete guide to over 3,500 American idioms.
Much more than just a listing of terms and expressions, this practical, user-friendly resource provides clear explanations of each idiom, extensive notes on grammar and usage, and a wealth of examples so that youll know when, where, why, and how to use idioms effectively. The idioms are organized by common themes and concepts so that they are easy to find, and an extensive index offers fast access to exactly what you need when youre at a loss for words.
From slang expressions (Hows it going?) and common sayings (Better safe than sorry) to verb phrases (take up with), nouns (tightwad, baby boomer), adjectives (bummed, above board), and more, the Handbook equips you with idioms for virtually every situation, including:
- Home, school, and work
- Health, eating, and sleeping
- Sports, entertainment, and travel
- Romance, money, and lifestyle
- Thoughts and feelings
- Behavior and personality
So why wait? Get up and running right now by putting a wealth of American idioms at your fingertipswith Websters New World American Idioms Handbook.
Synopsis
The Webster's New World brand includes: - Dictionaries, thesauri, and other desk references for home and office- Students' and children's dictionaries as well as student handbooks- Pocket references for people on the go- Specialized references on topics ranging from medicine to crossword puzzles
Synopsis
The most comprehensive reference for understanding and applying American idioms
The largest barrier to fluency in English is the ability to understand and use idiomatic language. Webster's New World American Idioms Handbook walks readers through learning and using American idioms, with complete explanations for over 1,000 idioms. Emphasizing acquisition, application, and understanding, this book offers all the information readers need to know about when, where, why, and how to use them. It includes a wealth of examples to provide users with context-and the thorough explanations help readers identify which idioms are appropriate for which situations. An extensive index allows easy, helpful access to individual idioms so that they can be found quickly.
Gail Brenner (Santa Cruz, CA) is an Intensive English Language Program course developer and instructor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Brenner has worked in the public schools, specialized language programs, private business, and the university-where she now teaches Advanced Grammar, TOEFL Preparation, and Pronunciation. She is the author of the upcoming Ingl?s Para Dummies (0-7645-5427-1).
Synopsis
Fifteen years after the publication of the first edition of the American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms, author Christine Ammer has extensively updated and expanded her original text, making over 1500 revisions and adding hundreds of new entries (such as couch potato, elephant in the room, senior moment, and think outside the box) to keep up with the rapidly changing English language.
Synopsis
Senior moment. Think outside the box. Idioms like these can't be understood just from the words that make them up. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms explores the meanings of idioms, including phrasal verbs such as kick back, proverbs such as too many cooks spoil the broth, interjections such as tough beans, and figures of speech such as elephant in the room. Since the publication of the first edition 15 years ago, author Christine Ammer has made extensive revisions that reflect new historical scholarship and changes in the English language. This second edition defines over 10,000 idiomatic expressions in greater detail than any other dictionary available today. English language learners will find this dictionary especially useful.
About the Author
Christine Ammer is the author of more than three dozen reference books, on subjects ranging from classical music to women's health. Her books on words and phrases include Facts on File Dictionary of Clichés; Seeing Red or Tickled Pink; Fighting Words from War, Rebellion, and Other Combative Capers; Southpaws and Sunday Punches; Cool Cats and Top Dogs; and Fruitcakes and Couch Potatoes. She lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Table of Contents
Preface.
Introduction.
PART I: Introduction.
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Idioms.
PART II: Idioms for Everyday Activities and Occasions.
Chapter 2: Family Matters: Family, Home, and Life Stages.
Chapter 3: Caring for the Body: Eating, Sleeping, and Grooming.
Chapter 4: Health Matters: Good Health, Illness, and Addiction.
Chapter 5: Nose to the Grindstone: School and Work.
Chapter 6: Peanuts and Dough: Money.
Chapter 7: Taking It Easy: Entertainment, Leisure, and Travel.
Chapter 8: Love Makes the World Go Round: Romance.
Chapter 9: Common American Phrases and Slang Expressions.
PART III: Idioms for Expressing Emotion, Character, Success, and Failure.
Chapter 10: Emotions.
Chapter 11: Character Traits.
Chapter 12: Success, Failure, and Luck.
PART IV: Idioms by Key Words.
Chapter 13: Body Idioms.
Chapter 14: Color Idioms.
Chapter 15: Number Idioms.
Chapter 16: Negative Word Idioms.
Chapter 17: Question Word Idioms.
PART V: Phrasal Verbs.
Chapter 18: Using Phrasal Verbs.
Chapter 19: Two-Word Phrasal Verbs.
Chapter 20: Three-Word Phrasal Verbs.
Appendix I: Expressions with Do, Fix, Have, Make, and Take.
Appendix II: Differences between American Idioms and British Idioms.
Index.