Oxford Contemporary English Idioms Dictionary

Author: A.P. Koey
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1994-10-01
Features:
General English dictionaries and many specialized English idioms dictionaries often provide only simple explanations for idioms, along with one or two fabricated examples, which frequently fail to address the special difficulties in learning and using idioms. The Oxford Contemporary English Idioms Dictionary is the most rigorously sourced, detailed, and extensively illustrated English idioms dictionary published in Britain to date. This book is specifically designed for non-native speakers, not only teaching the correct understanding of idioms but also teaching their appropriate usage. The entire book is divided into two volumes, containing over 15,000 idioms in current use in English since the end of World War II.
The first volume includes phrases formed by verbs plus prepositions or minor words (adverbs), totaling approximately 8,000 idioms. The second volume includes idioms formed by general phrases, clauses, and full sentences, totaling approximately 7,000 idioms. In summary, the book features the following:
(1) Explanations of idioms' meanings in simple language;
(2) Use of concise codes and pattern tables to illustrate idioms' usage;
(3) Listing of common collocations and specific words for each idiom;
(4) Annotation of register and field (context of usage), highlighting the rhetorical color of each idiom;
(5) Rich examples to demonstrate practical usage; examples include those created by the editors as well as numerous instances drawn from novels, dramas, biographies, periodicals, broadcasts, and television published between 1948 and 1983; all citations are sourced;
(6) Detailed cross-references, allowing related entries (synonyms, antonyms, derivatives, etc.) between the first and second volumes and within each volume to be easily accessed;
(7) Separate entries for homonymous idioms with different meanings;
(8) Additional grammar and usage notes for certain idioms, with reminders for easily misused idioms;
(9) A detailed index at the end of the book, enabling any idiom included to be found by any of its real words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.);
(10) An appendix listing various variants and derived forms of idioms.
One can say that this book is indeed a key to unlocking the treasure trove of English idioms, as nearly all questions about understanding and using English idioms can be found within its pages.
Due to the lengthy discussions on the characteristics and classification of English idioms at the beginning of each volume, the meticulous cross-references for related entries, and the detailed index at the end of the book, this book is not only convenient for quick reference but also an excellent resource for systematic study and research on idioms. In summary, the book features the following:
(1) Explanations of idioms' meanings in simple language;
(2) Use of concise codes and pattern tables to illustrate idioms' usage;
(3) Listing of common collocations and specific words for each idiom;
(4) Annotation of register and field (context of usage), highlighting the rhetorical color of each idiom;
(5) Rich examples to demonstrate practical usage; examples include those created by the editors as well as numerous instances drawn from novels, dramas, biographies, periodicals, broadcasts, and television published between 1948-1983; all citations are sourced;
(6) Detailed cross-references, allowing related entries (synonyms, antonyms, derivatives, etc.) between the first and second volumes and within each volume to be easily accessed;
(7) Separate entries for homonymous idioms with different meanings;
(8) Additional grammar and usage notes for certain idioms, with reminders for easily misused idioms;
(9) A detailed index at the end of the book, enabling any idiom included to be found by any of its real words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.);
(10) An appendix listing various variants and derived forms of idioms.