The Penguin Dictionary of English Idioms

Power napping, the Oprah effect, girl power - these are just some of the recent figures of speech to have entered our language. The perfect guide to the idiosyncrasies of the English language, this best-selling dictionary has been completely revised for its second edition and includes hundreds of new idioms. It provide clear and concise definitions and explains how the idioms should be used. At the same time the dictionary's thematic arrangement makes it possible not only to study and compare all the idioms in a given subject area, but to match the right one to the right occasion.

* Gives full explanations of some 4,000 phrases
* Entries are grouped according to theme: for example, colours (white as a sheet), elements (air-kissing), life and death (as pale as death), clothes (verbal handbagging), war and peace (eco-warrior)
* Offers a clear example of usage for each idiom, using everyday speech
* Provides background information on the origins of certain expressions, such as like the measles, nutty as a fruitcake and malapropisms and spoonerisms