The Penguin Dictionary of English Idioms (Properly Bookmarked in Detail)

The English language is full of pitfalls for the foreign student - but the most common problem lies in understanding and using the very vast array of idioms. This book is uniquely designed to stimulate understanding and familiarity by explaining the meanings and origins of idioms and giving examples of typical usage Cover Preface How to Use the Index Categories 1. Colours colours red blue green yellow white white and black black brown grey purple scarlet pink golden silver 2. Elements element air water fire flame earth mud 3. Weather weather rain snow ice chill shivers flood fog ray cloud squalls wind storm thunder lightning 4. Time time year,years season seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter months: April, May days of the wekk: Monday, Friday and Sunday day daylight yesterday night hour moment age date clock by-gones 5. Life and Death life live death die dead spirit heaven god angel, angels hell devil 6. Trees and Flowers flowers rose other flowers the garden thorn the farm hay straw cud and seed clover grass, reeds and weeds roots trees bush and hedge wood log and branch stick leaf 7. Animals animal creature beast pet dog poodle pup cat kitten pussy horse mare, ass, mule and donkey cow, bull and calf sheep and lamb goat pig and guinea-pig sow, swine and hog rat and lemming rabbit and hare fox wolf stag beaver, badger, ferret and weasel opossum hedgehog and mole bat frog snake turtle whale dragon crocodile rhinoceros and elephant camel kangaroo monkey and ape lynx and leopard lion tiger bear 8. Birds bird, birds feather and wing nest robin, lark and swallow jay, magpie and cuckoo crow pigeon and dove hen cock chicken duck goose turkey swan, stormy petrel, coot and albatross kingfisher parrot peacock, phoenix and dodo owl hawk and eagle vulture ostrich 9. Fish fish mackerel herring eel sardines fry caviare oyster whelk crab shark 10. Insects worm spider fly, butterfly and moth bee, drone and wasp bug flea, nit and leech snail limpet and cricket locust 11. Body head hair face eye eyelid eyebrow nose ear mouth jaw whisker lip tooth teeth tongue throat cheek chin neck shoulder arm elbow wrist hand palm fist thumb finger quick knuckle chest breast bosom belly lap back bottom hip leg knee foot feet heel toe brain nerve vein flesh skin bone skeleton marrow sinew limb muscle blood heart stomach gall bile spleen gut kidney liver body figure 12. Mind mind mental wit, wits reason conscience moral, err and fault character purpose, desire, willing, will wise, wiser courage, bold and virtue kindness, kindly, generous proud, pride cruel, mercies, pity grace patience, faith and charity happy, humour, bored fancy and dream love hate and fury shame, crying, doubt fear, afraid, scare sorrow, grief and misery suffer and woe dumps and damper joy and hope feelings 13. Illnesses and Ailments blind deaf dumb lameness fever and colds infections other afflictions aches pains sores madness illness medicine and health 14. Relations relations family marriage kindred wife father daddy mother child baby son daughter brother twin cousin grandmother aunt uncle bachelor widow 15. Town and Around town street road dead end way lane river bridge avenue tower exhibition museum public house market hill track path pitch transport and traffic 16. The House house home wall stone brick roof tile chimney, gutter, drain and pipe pillar and pedestal corner door hinge key bell window and shutter floor corridor and stairs gate and fence rooms hall kitchen cellar 17. Furniture and Household Articles furniture bed pillow and bolster blanket table chair and armchair seat stool bench desk cupboard shelf drawer curtain carpet rug picture and frame candle cup and mug bottle and crystal plate, dish and saucer knife and fork spoon sieve pot pan grill poker bucket broom and brush sink and basin tap sponge and soap peg handle 18. Food milk cream cheese eggs butter fat bread loaf sandwich toast crumb honey and syrup jam sugar and sweets cake, pancake, bun and biscuit pie pudding porridge spaghetti meat soup, sauce and gravy salt pepper and mustard pickle ginger fruit orange and lemon apple banana gooseberry raspberry grape plum, cherry and peach prune fig vegetables bean pea other vegetables nut and peanut tea wine beer meal and picnic bite and eat taste 19. Clothes shoe boot sock stocking dress skirt frock petticoat frills apron pants trousers shirt suit jacket tie collar cuff brace belt cloak gown coat glove gauntlet hat cap bonnet veil wig bloomer sleeve button pocket purse bag suticase rag cloth silk linen cotton and wool patch and sew thread 20. Ships ship boat sail beam board other parts of the ship berth, tack and leeway coast and sea canoe, barge and ark wreck 21. The World and Its Places world place, places in London in England in Scotland in Ireland in Belgium in Italy other countries in Europe in the East imaginary places 22. Languages and Nationalities language English Welsh Dutch other nationalities 23. Names name boys' names: Jack John, Roger, Peter, Paul and other boys' names girls' names biblical names classical and mythical names names from literature political and historical names Jones 24. Monarchy and Parliament king kingdom queen prince lord royal knight throne crown court ceremony the upper class parliament 25. War and Peace war battle, fight peace 26. Weapons weapon gun powder, lock, stock, barrel sword and lance dagger, knife and stiletto sabre, steel and hilt arms shot and trigger bullet and bomb arrow, bolt, bow other weapons 27. Tools tools screw nail hammer and tongs spade and rake other tools trowel wedge tacks 28. Numbers number, numbers single quarter half one first once two second double three third four, fourth five, fifth six, sixth seven, seventh eight nine ten, tenth eleven, eleventh twelve, dozen and teen thirteen seventeen nineteen twenty, twenty-one and twenty-two thirty and forty fifty and sixty ninety hundred one thousand million 29. School and Education school class lesson answers reading and writing sums geometry circle square history geography art slate copybook marks sneak and egg on rules and punishments boy 30. Work and Occupations work job profession occupations: the church the law medicine the navy and air force the army the police other occupations beggar, thief, hewers and carriers customer shop trade business at work the music shop vocal and dance music the press the book trade 31. Money and Valuables money cash change coin mint cheque penny shilling dollar gold silver diamond 32. Games and Sports game sport to play football and other ball games cricket golf kite boxing skating rowing archery shooting hunting angling cycling riding swimming and diving jumping skipping running leaping climbing chess cribbage games of cards board dicing the fairground 33. The Theatre show scene stage part play, piece and role act some more from the theatre tricks the circus 34. Word and Words word words Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Back Cover This dictionary of idioms is designed to stimulate understanding and familiarity by explaining their meanings and origins and giving examples of typical usage. The basis of the author's approach is the grouping of phrases around a limited number of key words from which idioms are derived.