McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

I'm an E.S.L. tutor in Canada. I coach clients on cultural aspects. This book is a valuable reference for my clients on idiom. With it, they still need the english language practice as well. But this provides an independent reference that they can check language usage when I'm not around.

Not enough being so complete with more than 24.000 entries, the phrasal verbs and idioms are very well organized. Information is also precise and well presented, with plenty of real usage examples. The Phrase Finder, at the end, is very useful for a more complete and objective search. The printing, the paper and the cover are very good also, making this book a good choice for people willing to expand vocabulary and comprehension of contemporary American English.

Standard dictionaries are great for understanding words, but not for comprehending the perplexing kind of phrase known as the idiom. This specialized dictionary provides a generous list of American idioms in an accessible format, but sacrifices phrase origins and portability in the process.

The dictionary's comprehensive nature suits students of English as a second language, as well as communications professionals. With over 24,000 entries, it offers over twice the number of listings in the popular "American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms" and four times the number of listings in the "Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms" and the "Oxford Dictionary of Idioms." ESL students can understand the language better and communicate more effectively. Writers and editors are more likely to be able to track down needed phrases.

It's easy to use, too. Phrases are listed alphabetically by the first keyword, allowing the reader to look up the phrase by its familiar form. An explanation follows, and usage examples are provided for each entry to enhance understanding. If the exact phrase is not known, the handy index provides phrases grouped by an alphabetical listing of keywords.

Unfortunately, phrase origins are mostly lacking, apparently by design. The editor's explanation for this is that reliable linguistic evidence for the origin of idioms is rare. The few origins that are offered are thoughtfully placed and seem to be well-researched, however.

This hefty, textbook-size dictionary may be a drawback for those looking for a handy reference. Shorter idiom dictionaries have the advantage here.

This idiom dictionary best serves ESL students and communications professionals needing a reliable reference to confirm the spelling, form and meaning of American English idioms. The pages are printed on heavier, acid-free paper, so the book should hold up well. Those intersted in phrase origins or a more convenient book size should consider other idiom dictionaries.

When I got this dictionary, I thought... This is one of the most important thinks that I have bought in Amazon: Cheap and Excellent Quality. I'm very pleased with this deal.

The book is a comprehensive collection of idioms and phrasal verbs.
The "Download Description" section above is actually for "The Oxford Companion to the English Language", a completely different 1000-page reference on the English language. The two books deal with quite different aspects of English.