American Idioms Dictionary: Vivid Expressions

Author: Zhu Maolin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-09-01
Features: Vivid expression is the seasoning of language. Without it, language will become impoverished, dull, and lifeless, and its expressiveness will be greatly weakened. Expressing ideas, describing characters and events clearly and distinctly is fundamental, but this is not enough. To make it more persuasive, more authentic, richer, and more lifelike, vivid expression plays a significant role. British English contains a vast number of vocabulary and idioms that enhance vivid expression. This is partly due to its rich vocabulary, but more importantly, Americans have an open attitude toward language use. They do not adhere to conventions, are not afraid of new changes, and are very fond of using such visual-style words. These words are vivid, humorous, ironic, imaginative, candid yet playful, and though sometimes vulgar, they are frequently seen in newspapers and magazines. Exaggeration, a casual remark, a well-chosen simile or metaphor, or even mere repetition or imitation of sounds can achieve a special effect like painting a dragon with a dot of ink. The "American Idioms Dictionary of Vivid Expression" we compiled references a large number of reference books and includes nearly ten thousand idioms rich in expressive power. They are categorized into twelve major groups and nearly seven hundred subgroups based on their nature, and most entries come with example sentences.