The Macmillan Dictionary of English Colloquial Idioms Book

The revised, updated and expanded edition of this dictionary provides a guide to current written and spoken English. Some 3000 headwords are listed alphabetically - from "ace" to "zombie" - and each entry includes a full definition, a clear indication of usage, and a sentence illustrating conversational use. There is guidance on pronunciation, where there might be any doubt, and notes on grammar, where relevant. Many entries also include a note of their derivation and origin. Examples include the difference between "look over one's shoulder" and "look over someone's shoulder"; entries on "good", "good at", "good grief", "good innings" and other "goods"; and explanations of all those perculiarly English conversation-fillers, such as "just what the doctor ordered", "hear! hear!", "heavens!" and "pardon my French". This dictionary provides a reference for everyone learning English as a second language, and it also offers a comprehensive guide to this aspect of current everyday English usage.Read More