Slang is language with its sleeves rolled up, colorful, pointed, brash, bristling with humor and sometimes with hostility. Now, in Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang, John Ayto and John Simpson have gathered together a vibrant collection of over 6,000 slang terms, drawn from the vast OxfordEnglish Dictionary database. The volume is organized thematically, under such general headings as the body and its functions; people and society; animals; sustenance and intoxication; money, commerce, and employment; and time and tide. Within each section the words are listed chronologically, starting with the earliest words and progressing right through to the present, thus illuminating the development of slang and colloquial language over the years. Each entry contains the headword, part of speech, and definition, and most also have illustrative examples of the term in context. Many entries contain labels indicating the social group or discipline from which a word derives--such as theatrical, military, or nautical--as well as the place where it originated. In addition, when the term has had more than one meaning, the various senses are listed chronologically.

Oxford Japanese Grammar and Verbs is designed for users at all levels as a learning tool or as a revision aid. It can be used to support any Japanese language course and is ideal for use with Oxford's Take off in Japanese and other audio language learning packs. The guide features:

* Brand-new text providing clear and simple explanations * Comprehensive coverage of all the key points of Japanese grammar * Thousands of examples show how the language works * Clear and attractive layout for maximum accessibility * All grammatical terms explained in a glossary * Provides detailed tables of Japanese verbs in an easy-to-use format

A lively, authoritative, and up-to-date look at the world of rhyming slang, from its origins in London's 19th-century underworld to the buzzwords of 21st-century popney. Arranged by topic, including Crime, Food and Drink, Illness, Money, Sex, and Sport, this highly readable collection is at once an informative source to the story behind some of our most lively expressions and a browser's delight.

Did you know that coconut derives from the Spanish and Portuguese coco for 'grinning face'? Or that giraffes used to be called camelopards? Or that walrus has its origin in Dutch, meaning 'whale horse'. The Little Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins includes 1,000 word histories arranged across 100 wide-ranging themes, from food to phobias, from the universe to love. Featuring words with interesting or surprising origins, it is an irresistible collection of word histories, including dates of origin and an authoritative account of each word's derivation. Beautifully produced and attractively designed, this fascinating volume is a pleasure to browse. It also features a useful index so you can quickly find just the word you are looking for. It is the perfect gift for word lovers and for anyone with an interest in the English language.

This is the reissued Oxford Italian Mini Dictionary - now in an attractive new format.
This small dictionary offers the most accurate and up-to-date coverage of essential, everyday vocabulary with over 40,000 words and phrases and 60,000 translations. Easy-to-use colour design and a centre section of useful words and expressions listed by topic make this dictionary ideal for travel and quick reference.
Discover more on oxforddictionaries.com, Oxford's hub for dictionaries and language reference.

The Oxford American Large Print Dictionary is a brand new large print dictionary, offering to visually impaired readers an Oxford-quality dictionary in a large, clear font.
In addition to solid coverage of the core English vocabulary, including new words and senses, with definitions that are concise and easy-to-understand, theOxford American Large Print Dictionary also includes thousands of difficult and literary words that are most often looked up. It also includes short, accessible notes on difficult spellings, confusable words, and tricky areas of usage.
The book's clear page layout, designed in association with Lighthouse International, offers enlarged fonts, larger margins, generous linespacing, and good quality paper, ensuring that there is a minimum of glare and show-through.
All Oxford American dictionaries use an easy-to-use respelling system to show how entries are pronounced. It uses simple, familiar markings to represent common American English sounds.

Did you know that 'flavour of the month' originated in a marketing campaign in American ice-cream parlours in the 1940s, when a particular flavour would be specially promoted for a month at a time? And did you know that 'off the cuff' refers to the rather messy practice of writing impromptu notes on one's shirt cuff before speaking in public? These and many more idioms are explained and put into context in this third edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. The volume takes a fresh look at the idiomatic phrases and sayings that make English the rich and intriguing language that it is. This major new edition contains entries for over 6,000 idioms, including 700 entirely new entries, based on Oxford's language monitoring and the ongoing third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. These include a range of recently established idioms such as 'the elephant in the corner', 'go figure', 'like a rat up a drainpipe', 'sex on legs', 'step up to the plate', 'too posh to push', 'a walk in the park', 'win ugly'. This edition also features a greatly increased number of cross-references, making it ideal for quick reference. Many entries include additional features which give more detailed background on the idiom in question. For example, did you know that 'taken aback' was adopted from nautical terminology that described a ship unable to move forward because of a strong headwind pressing its sails back against the mast? Anyone interested in the colourful side of the English language will get hours of fun browsing from this fascinating and informative volume.

Compiled by expert teams of Spanish and English lexicographers, the Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary provides rich, contemporary coverage of Spanish from around the world.
Drawing on Oxford's English and Spanish Language Reading Programs, which use sophisticated methods to search for new terminology and ensure that the latest vocabulary from world-wide Spanish and English is covered, this brand new edition contains over 175,000 words and phrases, and 240,000 translations, including numerous new words that have entered both languages in recent years. Not only does it provide remarkable coverage of the general, scientific, literary, and technical vocabulary of contemporary Spanish and English, the Concise Oxford Spanish Dictionary is also easy to use, with an ultra-clear layout featuring a two-color text design and printed thumb tabs for quick reference. The Dictionary also provides extensive help with tricky issues of grammar and word usage. And in addition to providing a wealth of information on both languages, it also includes a thoroughly revised center section, featuring a correspondence guide with sample letters, emails, and CVs, plus a guide to telephoning and text messaging. The book also contains fun and informative culture notes on life and living in the Spanish-speaking world, plus new sections on Spanish as used around the world, false friends (similar words that mean very different things (una decepcion is a disappointment, not a deception), and Spanglish. Also new to this edition is an internet supplement, covering online shopping, banking and booking tickets, plus social networking.
A comprehensive English-Spanish and Spanish-English dictionary with new words andphrases based on findings from Oxford's famed reading programs, here is the ideal reference for both English and Spanish speakers who need a high quality intermediate dictionary covering both languages.

This new edition of the Oxford Japanese Mini Dictionary offers up-to-date coverage of essential day-to-day vocabulary for both Japanese and English, with over 15,000 words and phrases, and 20,000 translations. Now with a brand-new phrasefinder, this dictionary is the ideal companion for travel and quick reference. The latest words in each language have been added, reflecting all aspects of life today. A new easy-to-use phrasefinder gives you superfast access to the words and expressions you need for everyday situations: shopping, travelling, asking for directions, or finding a place to stay. The conversion charts for distance, weights and measures, and clothing and shoe sizes make travelling abroad easier than ever before. This is a compact and portable dictionary ideal for holiday makers, and travellers, learners, and business people.

This new edition of the Oxford Spanish Mini Dictionary offers up-to-date coverage of all the essential day-to-day vocabulary with over 40,000 words and phrases, and 60,000 translations. Now in attractive two-colour design, this robust and portable dictionary is easy to use and ideal for travel and quick reference. The latest words in each language have been added, reflecting all aspects of life today. A handy phrasefinder gives you fast access to key words and expressions you need for everyday situations, from common road signs to expressions you are likely to hear or need at the hairdresser's or dentist's. The conversion charts for distance, weights and measures, and clothing and shoe sizes give you confidence to use the language while travelling abroad. This compact mini dictionary is ideal for holiday-makers and travellers, as well as general users and business people. This dictionary includes 3 months' access* to Oxford's premium Spanish / English online dictionary service, Oxford Language Dictionaries Online, so you can find accurate translations and extra resources wherever you are. The site is regularly updated with the latest new words and meanings from Oxford's modern languages research programme, the Oxford Languages Tracker. You can also hear audio pronunciations and improve your language skills with online cultural notes, guides to writing, and much more. *Available in selected markets (UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, and South Africa). Terms and conditions apply; please see www.oxforddictionaries.com/access for information

This edition of the Oxford Colour Italian Dictionary Plus is an effective and practical reference tool for students, adult learners, or travellers. It is especially user-friendly, with a colourful design that makes it easy to find the word you are looking for quickly. It also has usage notes, giving you help with tricky and frequently occurring words, verb lists and grammar notes. This edition also has a completely refreshed and up-to-date centre section. The main focus of this section is to help you build your vocabulary. We have identified the Italian words you most need to know, and they are laid out clearly for you here; you will also find them marked with a handy key symbol in the A-Z text of the dictionary. We also include word games so that you can practise your dictionary skills and learn vocabulary while having fun. The centre section also contains a calendar of holidays and festivals and a brand new A-Z guide to Italian life and culture - ideal for the traveller and those learning about life in Italy.

What is a ham-and-egger? What are Anglo-Saxon attitudes? Who or what is liable to jump the shark? Who first tried to nail jelly to the wall? The answers to these and many more questions are in this fascinating book. Here in one volume you can track down the stories behind the names and sayings you meet, whether in classic literature or today's news. Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled bank of reference and language online resources, this dictionary covers classical and other mythologies, history, religion, folk customs, superstitions, science and technology, philosophy, and popular culture. Extensive cross referencing makes it easy to trace specific information, while every page points to further paths to explore. It is a fascinating slice of cultural history, and a browser's delight from start to finish. What is the fog of war? Who first wanted to spend more time with one's family? When was the Dreamtime? How long since the first cry of Women and children first? Where might you find dark matter? Would you want the Midas touch? Should you worry about grey goo?

The New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors is the essential A-Z guide for everyone who works with words. Drawing on the expertise of the Oxford Dictionaries department, it provides authoritative advice on those words and names which raise questions time after time because of spelling, capitalization, hyphenation, or cultural or historical context. As well as lexical terms, there are many proper names included: from place names and personal names to names of institutions, literary references, and books of the Bible. Entries give full coverage of recommended spellings, variant forms, confusable words, hyphenation, capitalization, foreign and specialist terms, proper names, and abbreviations. The New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors follows in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessor The Authors' and Printers' Dictionary, published in 1905, and later called Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors; for the centenary year, the entries have been reselected, and the text has been entirely rewritten. The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors has long been an indispensable part of any editor's reference shelf; now, the text is even more useful than before, and appears in a new handbook size. It is an essential tool for writers, editors, publishers, journalists, and web editors, and together with New Hart's Rules and the New Oxford Spelling Dictionary forms the complete editorial reference set.

Containing over 8,000 entries, this fascinating dictionary is the authoritative guide to foreign words and phrases used in contemporary British and American English. Drawn from over 40 languages, entries provide details of the history of each word or phrase, including language of origin, spelling variants, and its sense and use in English. From expressions such as ab origine, a cappella, and nouvelle cuisine, to futon, pot-pourri, and tamagotchi, this is the ideal reference book for anyone wanting to tap into the wider resources of modern English.

The making of the Oxford English Dictionary was a remarkable achievement, the story of which has been aching to be told. Who better to take on the challenge than the talented story-teller Simon Winchester? With his characteristic gift for bringing history alive, in The Meaning of Everything Simon Winchester charts the fascinating life of the OED leading up to the appointment of the first editor, James Murray, in 1879, through to the OED's triumphant publication in 1928 and beyond. The Meaning of Everything is a must for anyone with an interest in language and words.

This is the electronic edition of the highly acclaimed Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary, containing the latest vocabulary from all areas of life today. User-friendly full text and advanced search features, and a clear, simple interface give you the power and flexibility to make the most of
this huge translation resource, which covers over 360,000 words and phrases, and more than 550,000 translations.
And the dictionary now talks as well. High-quality pronunciation software enables you to click, type, or cut and paste single words, phrases, or even whole paragraphs into a dialogue box and hear them spoken back to you in French. The perfect way to boost your spoken French skills.
You can open the dictionary from any Windows document with a single click; jump directly from one side of the dictionary to the other to check your translations; filter your searches to get exactly what you are looking for; and link to cultural notes, grammar and usage help, and comprehensive verb
tables.
This electronic edition also includes sample letters, CVs, and emails for you to use as templates for your own correspondence -you can cut and paste sections or whole letters as required to ensure your letters and job applications look properly authentic.

This CD-ROM version of the newly updated edition of The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary enables users to perform fast and comprehensive searches of more than half a million definitions, augmented with thousands of new words and meanings. Furnished with a new design, this electronic version
of the Shorter OED provides extensive coverage of world English as well as comprehensive coverage of scientific and technical English. Advanced search options allow users to carry out flexible searches for headwords, abbreviations, derivatives, phrases, references, and other words forms, or to
filter searches by part of speech, label, or date. Other features include:
*83,000 illustrative quotations from 7,000 authors
*Entries with meanings listed chronologically and dates for first use of each
*All major words in English used after 1700, as well as the vocabulary of Shakespeare, Milton, Spenser, and the King James Bible
*Details of rare and obsolete words
With an easy-to-use interface and clear functionality, The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary CD-ROM is the ideal reference.
System requirements: PC with minimum 166 MHz Pentium-class processor; 32MB RAM; min 30MB hard disk space; 16-speed CD-ROM drive; SVGA monitor; Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT 4.0, or XP.
For technical support:
Call: 1-877-773-4325
Fax: 914-747-3590
Email: [email protected]

This dictionary provides definitions and common usage with numerous example sentences and phrases.

This dictionary is the first comprehensive description of Shakespearean original pronunication (OP), enabling practitioners to deal with any queries about the pronunciation of individual words. It includes all the words in the First Folio, transcribed using IPA, and the accompanying website hosts sound files as a further aid to pronunciation. It also includes the main sources of evidence in the texts, notably all spelling variants (along with a frequency count for each variant) and all rhymes (including those occurring elsewhere in the canon, such as the Sonnets and long poems). An extensive introduction provides a full account of the aims, evidence, history, and current use of OP in relation to Shakespeare productions, as well as indicating the wider use of OP in relation to other Elizabethan and Jacobean writers, composers from the period, the King James Bible, and those involved in reconstructing heritage centres. It will be an invaluable resource for producers, directors, actors, and others wishing to mount a Shakespeare production or present Shakespeare's poetry in original pronunciation, as well as for students and academics in the fields of literary criticism and Shakespeare studies more generally.

The only full-colour, illustrated first bilingual dictionaries in a range of South African languages.

The untold story of the complex word battles fought by the creators of the first Oxford English Dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) holds a cherished position in English literary culture. The story behind the creation of what is indisputably the greatest dictionary in the language has become a popular fascination. This book looks at the history of the great first edition of 1928, and at the men (and occasionally women) who distilled words and usages from centuries of English writing and "through an act of intellectual alchemy captured the spirit of a civilization." The task of the dictionary was to bear full and impartial witness to the language it recorded. But behind the immaculate typography of the finished text, the proofs tell a very different story. This vast archive, unexamined until now, reveals the arguments and controversies over meanings, definitions, and pronunciation, and which words and senses were acceptable-and which were not. Lost for Words examinesthe hidden history by which the great dictionary came into being, tracing-through letters and archives-the personal battles involved in charting a constantly changing language. Then as now, lexicographers reveal themselves vulnerable to the prejudices of their own linguistic preferences and to the influence of contemporary social history.

The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar is a straightforward and accessible A-Z guide to the diverse and often complex terminology of English grammar. It contains over 1,600 entries with clear and concise definitions, enhanced by numerous example sentences, as well as relevant quotations from the scholarly literature of the field. This second edition is written and edited by Professor Bas Aarts of University College London, writer of the acclaimed Oxford Modern English Grammar. It has been fully revised and updated, with particular attention paid to refreshing the example sentences included within the text. There are over 150 new entries that cover current terminology which has arisen since the publication of the first edition, and there are also new entries on the most important English grammars published since the start of the 20th century. Hundreds of new cross-references enhance the user-friendly nature of the text, and the list of works cited has been thoroughly updated to reflect the current state of the field. A short appendix of web links has been added. All in all, this Dictionary is an invaluable guide to English grammar for all students and teachers of the subject, as well as all those with an informed interest in the English language.