McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs [Hardcover]

The most in-depth, comprehensive book of common idioms and phraseology available

From proverbial expressions ("the best things in life are free") to idiomatic expressions ("the best of both worlds") to the all-too-familiar clichAndeacute;s ("the best-case scenario"), idioms are not only embedded in our language, but they are also a colorful reflection of our American culture. McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms embraces the fullest breadth of these idioms in one comprehensive reference that is a must-have for both ESL learners and native speakers.

Providing the most comprehensive treatment of American phraseology available, particularly in the area of verbal expressions, McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms features:

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• More than 24,000 entries.
• Concise definitions of each entry and sense, followed by one or two example sentences.
• Idiomatic phrases, proverbial expressions, and cliches.
• Guidance on the tone appropriate for a select phrase as well as its origin.
• Thorough treatment of variation, of particular help to ESL learners.
• A comprehensive Phrase-Finder Index

The most comprehensive, in-depth guide to common American idioms and phraseology available

The hardest part of getting the hang of a language is making sense of its idioms. From proverbial expressions such as "a stitch in time saves nine," to idioms such as "dead ringer," to such common verbal phrases as "put out" and "take on," these colorful constructions, so abundant in American English, seem to serve no other purpose than to frustrate and confuse. But don't despair! Thanks to the efforts of noted lexicographer Richard A. Spears, mastering American English idioms has never been easier.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs covers the full breadth and scope of idiomatic American English, making it an essential companion to standard desk dictionaries. An invaluable resource for ESL students, as well as writers, scholars, and public speakers, this reference combines in one volume the two most perplexing aspects of American English phraseology--idioms and phrasal verbs--providing ready access to the complete meanings and varying usages of thousands of common terms and verb constructs.

Outstanding features include:

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• More than 24,000 entries and 27,000 senses .
• Idiomatic phrases, proverbial expressions, and cliches .
• Concise definitions, plus one or more example sentences for each phrase .
• Sources (e.g., the Bible, Shakespeare, etc.) and origins (e.g., Rural, Nautical) .
• Guidance on the correct tone and social context .
• Uniquely thorough treatment of variation (e.g., to get, to have, or to give the low-down) .
• A comprehensive Phrase-Finder Index of more than 60,000 entries--let's you locate phrases by key words, including common particles in two-part verbs .