Idioms and Slang Dictionary 5.0

The Idioms and Slang Dictionary by Farlex provides precise definitions and compelling examples from reputable sources such as McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin. With over 61,000 terms, including idioms, slang terms, verbal phrases, abbreviations, proverbs, clichés, regionalisms, colloquialisms, expressions, and sayings, this dictionary offers a comprehensive resource.

Discover the origins of commonly used idioms in the US and throughout the English-speaking world. While you might use these phrases in your everyday conversations, do you know their fascinating history? This dictionary lets you explore the background behind each idiom.

Features:

• Effortlessly search by keyword or full phrase to quickly find what you're looking for.
• Explore multiple example sentences to understand how idioms are used in everyday speech.
• Delve into the history of each idiom to uncover its origin and usage over time.
• Utilize native voice search for convenient lookup by simply speaking a word or phrase (supported devices required).
• Listen to over 13,000 audio pronunciations of keywords by both American and British speakers in online mode.
• If you're learning English, mastering idioms is essential to sound like a native speaker! Enhance your conversational English skills with this invaluable free resource.
• Create unlimited bookmarks to build your vocabulary effectively.
• Access your recent searches effortlessly for quick reference.
• Benefit from search suggestions as you type for enhanced usability.
• Perform advanced searches including "Starts with," "Ends with," "Contains," and "Wildcard" for precise results.
• Share your favorite phrases easily via social networks, email, and text (supported devices required).
• This app provides immediate access to all content without any locked or trial versions. No subscriptions are required upon opening the app!
• Designed to be user-friendly, comprehensive, and authoritative, this is the perfect free Idioms and Slang Dictionary for new English speakers or anyone curious about the richness of the English language!

Take a sneak peek at examples found in the dictionary:

• Let the cat out of the bag: Reveal a secret. For example, "Mom let the cat out of the bag and told us Karen was engaged." This expression stems from a dishonest practice where a merchant substituted a worthless cat for a valuable pig, only discovered when the buyer reached home and opened the bag. (Mid-1700s)
• Silver lining: An element of hope or redeeming quality in an otherwise unfavorable situation. For instance, "The rally had a disappointing turnout, but the silver lining was that those who came pledged a great deal of money." This metaphorical term is derived from "Every cloud has a silver lining," originating from John Milton's Comus (1634): "A sable cloud turns forth its silver lining on the night."
• A picture is worth a thousand words: A graphic illustration conveys a stronger message than words alone. For example, "The book jacket is a big selling point—one picture is worth a thousand words." This saying was coined by an advertising executive named Fred R. Barnard. In 1921, he placed an ad in Printer's Ink with the headline "One Look Is Worth a Thousand Words," originally attributing it to an ancient Japanese philosopher. Six years later, he altered it to "Chinese Proverb: One Picture Is Worth Ten Thousand Words," accompanied by Chinese characters. The attribution was fabricated to add credibility to the phrase.

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