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Subject:Re: Good slang/idiom dictionary? From:MAGGIE SECARA <SECARAM -at- MAINSAVER -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 30 Jun 1999 11:19:50 -0700
It has its drawbacks, but try Eric Partridge's _A Dictionary of Slang and
Unconventional English_, 8th ed. (Paul Beale, ed., New York, Macmillan
Publishing Co., 1984). I have a rather older edition on my desk.
Be wary of a lot of those books and desk calendars that purport to tell you
where odd words and expressions come from. A lot of that stuff is folk
etymology at best and sloppy scholarship in any case.
Cheers!
Maggie Secara
secaram -at- mainsaver -dot- com
The English Renaissance is alive at http://ren.dm.net
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rebecca Merck [mailto:Rebecca -dot- Merck -at- ONESOFT -dot- COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 9:25 AM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Good slang/idiom dictionary?
>
>
> I've been struggling over this for a couple of days, and then
> it occurs to
> me that you guys might have good information.
>
> I'm looking for a decent slang/idiom dictionary that gives
> the etymology of
> unusual and slang words and phrases. I've found one so far in a local
> bookstore -- it gives the meaning, but not where the phrase
> or term comes
> from, which is what I'm after here.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions?
>
> Signed,
>
> Desperate.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Rebecca J. Merck
> Technical Communications Manager
> OneSoft Corporation
> Rebecca -dot- Merck -at- onesoft -dot- com
>
>
> ==============================================================
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