Word wise: A dictionary of English idioms

by John O.E. Clark

A dictionary of English idioms A continuing headache for learners and users of English is caused by idioms - those illogical constructions that test a person's depth of knowledge of a language.Correctly used, idioms are a sign of an accomplished and confident English speaker. Incorrectly applied, they are more revealing of an inadequacy than are grammatical slips or errors in vocabulary or usage.This companion volume to WORD PERFECT, A dictionary of current English usage, is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide listing over 3,000 key words that index more than 10,000 idioms. Each idiom is defined with an example of its use in context and a note of its origin. A full cross- referencing scheme enables the reader to find an idiom by way of any of its main component words.

592 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 1988