Ever wonder where expressions such as mind your p's and q's, chip on his shoulder, living high on the hog, or the whole nine yards exactly mean? This Dictionary of Phrases will help you stop wondering. This dictionary is a collection of expressions that are currently in use. After going through the book, you would know that phrases add to liveliness in conversations.What is a phrase in the first place? A phrase is a sequence of two or more words that form a meaningful combination in a sentence; and is preceded and followed by pauses. Of course, we also use the word phrase to refer to a short group of words that have a particular meaning when they are used together, such as rain cats and dogs, play for time, or a square meal. This type of phrase is often referred to as an idiom.How are phrases useful? They are handy when stuck for an alternative turn of phrase that you haven't already used? This Dictionary of Phrases unblocks you with ideas to choose from. Suppose you are writing about 'air, you might look for phrases on 'air'. Who would benefit reading this dictionary? School and college students besides many journalists, copywriters, and songwriters will find it an invaluable resource when looking for that elusive turn of phrase. Speakers and writers can polish their works to make presentation livelier.

If you believe idioms are a "e;tough nut to crack,"e; this Dictionary of Idioms will help you dispel that belief; you would surely abandon your opinion of idioms being a bunch of insignificant words to that of a lively one to use to attract attention of readers and listeners. You will discover 'idioms' can add beauty, remove unwanted seriousness and bring life to any conversation - written or spoken. Rightly and scientifically designed, this dictionary contains hundreds of common idioms, sayings, and expressions. Use of everyday idioms bring colour to any writing and speech. Since they don't really mean, word by word, what they say, idioms can stump even regular writers and speakers. When and where to uidioms becomes 'as easy as pie' with this Dictionary of Idioms. Alphabetical listing makes searching idioms a 'piece of cake.'Whether you are fluent in English or just a learner, this dictionary can help you read, write and speak with new understanding and a lot more fun!Special features:o Widely used and popular idioms given with meaningso Inclusion of foreign idioms currently in use in English languageo Arranged Alphabetically: A - Zo Useful grammatical information given as AppendicesAn authoritative dictionary to spice up written and oral communication for students, writers, speakers and interested readers!

This dictionary offers coverage of English as an international language, the defining style is straightforward and non-technical, and thousands of examples illustrate idiomatic usage.

The Scots language, like its people, has survived years of influence and change. This volume captures something of the spirit of Scotland with a broad selection of Scots words and phrases that are most likely still to be in use today.

Authoritative and up-to-date, this fourth edition of the Concise English-Chinese Chinese-English Dictionary covers over 90,000 words and phrases, and over 130,000 translations of contemporary Chinese and English, with brand-new words in each language. More than just a dictionary, this handy reference book also includes a brand new section on communication giving you the tools you need to communicate effectively and understand aspects of another culture. The communication supplement gives help with all types of correspondence, including example letters, and emails to improve writing skills. It also includes a 'useful phrases' section to help you when travelling. This dictionary is ideal for English and Chinese learners alike, with Chinese simplified and traditional characters as well as pinyin romanization used throughout. You can quickly find the character you need with look up in pinyin or by using the radical index. Mandarin pronunciations are provided in pinyin. The new edition of the Concise English-Chinese Chinese-English Dictionary is the perfect reference for student and adult learners needing an affordable, portable dictionary.

Buon giorno! From ordering calamari in Venice to making new friends in Tuscan hill towns, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel guides to Europe, offers well-tested phrases and key words to cover every situation a traveler is likely to encounter. This handy guide provides key phrases for use in everyday circumstances, complete with phonetic spelling, an English-Italian and Italian-English dictionary, the latest information on European currency and rail transportation, and even a tear-out cheat sheet for continued language practice as you wait in line at the Sistine Chapel. Informative, concise, and practical, Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book and Dictionary is an essential item for any traveler's zainetto.

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary is one of the most popular choices in Oxford's renowned dictionary line. This Luxury Edition is perfect for anyone looking to invest in a reliable resource for home, school, or office. It includes unique features such as cut thumb tabs, printed endpapers, ribbon marker, with coloured head and tailbands making it a centerpiece for all bookshelves. This centenary edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary Luxury Edition presents the most accurate picture of English today. It contains over 240,000 words, phrases, and definitions, providing superb coverage of contemporary English, including rare, historical, and archaic terms, scientific and technical vocabulary, and English from around the world. The dictionary has been updated with hundreds of new words--including sub-prime, social networking, and carbon footprint--all based on the latest research from the Oxford English Corpus. In addition, the dictionary features an engaging new center section, with quick-reference word lists (containing, for example, lists of Fascinating Words and Onomatopoeic Words), and a revised and updated English Uncovered supplement, which examines interesting facts about the English language. Sprinkled throughout the text are intriguing Word Histories, detailing the origins and development of numerous words. The volume also retains such popular features as the hundreds of usage notes which give advice on tricky vocabulary and pointers to help you improve your use of English. Finally, the dictionary contains full appendices on topics such as alphabets, currencies, electronic English, and the registers of language (from formal to slang), plus a useful Guide to Good English with advice on grammar, punctuation, and spelling. This Luxury Edition also includes 12 months' of access to Oxford Dictionaries Online at oxforddictionaries.com.