books tagged “Phrases”

-- Ideal for home, school, and office -- Portable, compact, authoritative -- Learn to speak and write more effectively -- Enlarge your vocabulary -- Use the word with your precise shade of meaning Only in THE CONCISE ROGET'S INTERNATIONAL THESAURUS "RM" will you find 43 ways to say overjoyed and 39 ways to say dejected, 32 ways to be astonished, 59 ways to laugh and 23 ways to weep -- and even 58 words to describe the color yellow. [via]

The Devil's Dictionary is often considered Ambrose Bierce's most famous work. Portions of it were published in the San Francisco Wasp as a weekly column and in The Cynic's Word Book of 1906. Finally published in its entirety in 1911, the definitions found therein are as apt today as they were nearly a century ago. An example: "HOMICIDE, n. The slaying of one human being by another. There are four kinds of homicide: felonious, excusable, justifiable, and praiseworthy, but it makes no great difference to the person slain whether he fell by one kind or another -- the classification is for advantage of the lawyers." [via]

Este diccionario tambien puede recortarse por terminos y ser leido a modo de entretenimeinto familiar, o armar un juego de loteria con el mismo. [via]

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases. [via]

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases. [via]

"The best kind of reference book--one that amuses as it instructs. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker."
CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALERR
IN A NUTSHELL, here's a terrific A TO Z listing of the meanings and origins of over 2,000 common or particularly interesting cliches for everyone who delights in the pleasure of words.


From the Paperback edition. [via]

Explains the origins of the familiar and unfamiliar in phrase and fable. [via]

This 16th edition of the book, first published in 1855, has been expanded to include more than 20,000 quotations and more than 340 new authors both historical and contemporary - from Russell Baker, The Doors, Elvis, Nadine Gordimer, Stephen Hawking, Primo Levi, Norman Mailer, Salman Rushdie, the Talmud, Alice Walker and Elie Wiesel. This edition has been revised and edited by Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Justin Kaplan. [via]

Does the continual influx of foreign words and phrases into the English language make you feel like a dummkopf? Does the proliferation of Greek and Latin leave you completely non compos mentis? Ça ne fait rien. Slough off that angst and stop that kvetching--this is no casus belli. With the assistance of Le Mot Juste, soon you, too, will be spewing mots justes ad hoc and sans souci. All it takes is a little chutzpah. Nota bene: next time you meet someone with a lapsus memoriae for sounds foreign, refrain from schadenfreude. We can't all be so au courant. --Jane Steinberg [via]

Have you ever wondered how a camel can go through the eye of a needle? How the four men got their paralytic friend through the roof to Jesus? What it means to greet one another with a holy kiss? This book answers these questions and others. In it, you will learn who the magi were, how lots were used, and what it means to be engraved on the palm of God's hand. This valuable resource goes book by book through the Bible, explaining many customs practiced in Bible times. Not only is it easy to understand, but it is also filled with many helpful illustrations. This useful tool will greatly aid anyone wanting to understand more about the Bible. [via]

Have you ever wondered how a camel can go through the eye of a needle? How the four men got their paralytic friend through the roof to Jesus? What it means to greet one another with a holy kiss? This book answers these questions and others. In it, you will learn who the magi were, how lots were used, and what it means to be engraved on the palm of God's hand. This valuable resource goes book by book through the Bible, explaining many customs practiced in Bible times. Not only is it easy to understand, but it is also filled with many helpful illustrations. This useful tool will greatly aid anyone wanting to understand more about the Bible. [via]

This etymological dictionary gives the origins of some 20,000 items from the modern English vocabulary, discussing them in groups that make clear the connections between words derived by a variety of routes from originally common stock.

As well as giving the answers to questions about the derivation of individual words, it is a fascinating book to browse through, and includes extensive lists of prefixes, suffixes, and elements used in the creation of new vocabulary.

English workbook [via]

Probably the most comprehensive thesaurus on the market. For virtually any word search, it is guaranteed that you can find the most appropriate word with the utmost assurance because of its succinct definition. [via]

Combining scholarly authority with a new  awareness of today's communication demands,  Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus is the simple,  reliable way to find the perfect word for your  needs. It features as easy-to-use dictionary format  plus a revolutionary concept index that arranges  words by idea, thus enhancing the user's process of  association, and leading scores of additional  selections. The inclusion of a wide spectrum of words  and phrases with each entry -- from sophisticated  choices to completely new vocabulary in the  language -- brings the user an exceptional number of  alternatives to fit any variation of style and tone.  Created by a leading expert in linguists and  lexicography with today's communication needs in mind.  More word choices than any other thesaurus -- Over  1 million words! Concise definitions for each main  entry. A revolutionary concept index -- arranged  by idea, it mirrors the way we actually think! No  obsolete terms -- all synonyms reflect modern  usage. [via]

Combining scholarly authority with a new  awareness of today's communication demands,  Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus is the simple,  reliable way to find the perfect word for your  needs. It features as easy-to-use dictionary format  plus a revolutionary concept index that arranges  words by idea, thus enhancing the user's process of  association, and leading scores of additional  selections. The inclusion of a wide spectrum of words  and phrases with each entry -- from sophisticated  choices to completely new vocabulary in the  language -- brings the user an exceptional number of  alternatives to fit any variation of style and tone.  Created by a leading expert in linguists and  lexicography with today's communication needs in mind.  More word choices than any other thesaurus -- Over  1 million words! Concise definitions for each main  entry. A revolutionary concept index -- arranged  by idea, it mirrors the way we actually think! No  obsolete terms -- all synonyms reflect modern  usage. [via]

Combining scholarly authority with a new  awareness of today's communication demands,  Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus is the simple,  reliable way to find the perfect word for your  needs. It features as easy-to-use dictionary format  plus a revolutionary concept index that arranges  words by idea, thus enhancing the user's process of  association, and leading scores of additional  selections. The inclusion of a wide spectrum of words  and phrases with each entry -- from sophisticated  choices to completely new vocabulary in the  language -- brings the user an exceptional number of  alternatives to fit any variation of style and tone.  Created by a leading expert in linguists and  lexicography with today's communication needs in mind.  More word choices than any other thesaurus -- Over  1 million words! Concise definitions for each main  entry. A revolutionary concept index -- arranged  by idea, it mirrors the way we actually think! No  obsolete terms -- all synonyms reflect modern  usage. [via]

Combining scholarly authority with an awareness of todays communication demands, Rogets 21st Century Thesaurus is the simple, reliable way to find the perfect word for your needs. It features an easy-to-use dictionary format plus a revolutionary Concept Index that arranges words by idea, thus enhancing the users process of association and leading to scores of additional selections. The inclusion of a wide spectrum of words and phrases with each entry(from sophisticated choices to completely new vocabulary in the language(brings users an exceptional number of alternatives to fit any variation of style and tone.

"Created by the highly respected Princeton Language Institute
"More word choices than any other thesaurus (OVER 1 MILLION WORDS!)
"Concise definitions for each main entry
"A revolutionary Concept Index (arranged by idea, it mirrors the way we actually think!)
"No obsolete terms (all synonyms and antonyms reflect modern usage) [via]

Only in Roget's International Thesaurus will you find 43 ways to say overjoyed and 39 ways to say dejected, 32 ways to be astonished, 59 ways to laugh and 23 ways to weep -- and even 58 words to describe the color yellow. [via]

A classic reference book that has been used by millions all over the world, Roget's International Thesaurus is the product of more than a century and a half of continuous expansion, reorganization, and improvement. Today, this book is not only the most time-tested and bestselling thesaurus ever, but, newly revised, it is also the most up-to-dateand comprehensive reflection of theEnglish language as it is currently used.

The revolutionary achievement of Dr. Peter Mark Roget's first edition in 1852 was the development of a brand-new principle: the arrangement of words and phrases according to their meanings. Dr. Roget's system brings together in one place all the terms associated with a single thought or concept; it allows a wide-ranging survey of language within a book of relatively modest size, without the space-consuming repetitions that so severely limit the scope of thesauruses arranged in a dictionary format with A-to-Z entries. This brilliant organization makes Roget's International Thesaurus both the most efficient word finder and a cutting-edge aid in stimulating thought, organizing ideas, and writing and speaking more clearly and effectively.

This revised and updated sixth edition features thousands of new words and phrases, including the newest slang words and expressions that color and inform everyday language. At the same time, it retains all of the hallmarks that have made Roget's international Thesaurus an enduring classic:

• More than 330,000 words and phrases organized into 1,075 categories.

• A pinpoint reference system that directs the user quickly from a comprehensive index to the numbered category of the right word. Thousands of cross-references throughout lead to other helpful categories.

• Hundreds of supplemental word lists that supply the names of things which have no synonyms (measurements, wines, weapons, animals, state mottoes, and more) as well as hundreds of quotations that amplify the meanings of selected words.

Generations of students, writers, editors, and speakers have made Roget's the most popular word reference book next to the dictionary. Continuing a legacy that dates back more than 150 years, Roget's International Thesaurus is an indispensable work for everyone who wants to use the English language with clarity and precision.

An updated edition of this reference work which reflects the huge changes that language has undergone over the last decade. The original structure of the book is maintained, giving access to not only synonyms but related thoughts, feelings and topics. Originally published in 1852. [via]

The standard reference tool for students, teachers, writers, editors, and anyone who needs to find just the right word is available in an up-to-date, redesigned edition at a sale price. [via]

The standard reference tool for students, teachers, writers, editors, and anyone who needs to find just the right word is available in an up-to-date, redesigned edition at a sale price. [via]

The standard reference tool for students, teachers, writers, editors, and anyone who needs to find just the right word is available in an up-to-date, redesigned edition at a sale price. [via]

this little volume contains hundreds of heartfelt and humorous as well as homespun phrases to make your pages in your scrapbook tests for heart and tickle the funny bone. [via]

Who needs Sherlock Holmes when you've got a word detective? Evan Morris, whose Web site and syndicated column solve more mysteries than even Scotland Yard could manage, has assembled a book of entertaining questions and answers that will amuse, educate, and resolve arguments all at once. From "amok" to "zarf", the definitions and origins of words are explained with a delightful combination of wit and research that will leave curious readers delighted.

Each entry begins with the original question asked of Morris, complete with the writer's misspellings and misinformation, and a few of these may result in cringes from the serious wordsmiths out there. One query incorrectly remembers the metaphor "hair of the dog that bit you" as "Something like bite the dog's tail or the dog that bit you last night," and Morris makes plenty of entertaining suggestions regarding these incorrect versions before finally explaining that the phrase have been around since about 1546, and specifically refers to a hangover remedy. The author is in especially fine form while explaining the phrase "passing the bar"--who knew that it dates back to a requirement that lawyers wrestle a grizzly "bar" before entering into practice? The correct explanation follows Morris's whimsical tale, but 16th-century England just doesn't have quite the same entertainment value. Several special sections cover larger topics, such as food- and animal-based phrases (easy as pie, dog days), onomatopoeia, euphemisms, diner slang, and Yiddish expressions. While not as detailed as the alphabetical entries, words like "wreck", "mensch," and "throb" are given satisfying, if short, descriptions. --Jill Lightner [via]