Small enough to fit in purse or pocket, this dictionary presents approximately 2,500 American-English idiomatic words and expressions with their meanings. "In one's element" ... "nail down" ... "off base" and most other American idioms are composed of simple words that somehow take on brand-new meanings when they are combined. Here's a handy reference guide to them all for ESL students, foreign travelers in North America, and anybody with an interest...

Senior moment. Think outside the box. Idioms like these can't be understood just from the words that make them up. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms explores the meanings of idioms, including phrasal verbs such as kick back, proverbs such as too many cooks spoil the broth, interjections such as tough beans, and figures of speech such as elephant in the room. Since the publication of the first edition 15 years ago, author Christine Ammer...

"In this new edition of Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts, noted lexicographer Richard A. Spears shares with you 1,900 of the most common phrases and colloquial expressions used in contemporary American English. Here you will discover the greetings, good-byes, and everyday small talk that Americans use daily. All entries have been selected with the special needs of you, the nonnative speaker of English, in mind!"--Publisher description....

Overview: Learn more than 3,000 English expressions and speak and understand the language easily. As a new speaker of English, you may hear some expressions in your daily conversations that you do not understand-yet. McGraw-Hill's Conversational American English will help you learn these expressions, so not only do you know what a person is saying to you, but that you can use the expression yourself! More than 3,000 expressions are organized by theme,...

Written as a guide for people who already have a basic understanding of English and want to improve their ability to speak it the way it is spoken in the United States.