The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198661770 ISBN 13: 9780198661771

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1992

Synopsis

What does "A rising tide lifts all the boats" mean? Where did the saying, "Garbage in, garbage out" come from? And when did "A watched pot never boils" first occur? The answers to these questions are among the many that can be found in the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, the only dictionary to record and describe the modern proverb.
This authoritative reference lists over 2,000 traditional sayings, weeding out ones that have fallen into disuse and including over 100 new proverbs--old sayings that have reappeared in recent times, and newly created ones--known in the twentieth century. Entries include illustrative quotations that show the context of a proverb's use, its history and origins (including Greek, Latin, and French antecedents), and an extensive cross-referencing system for easy access. The editors have added notes to clarify the meaning of a proverb or mention points of interest. They discuss, for example, the legal implications of "Every dog is allowed one bite," and pair contradictory proverbs such as "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" and "Out of sight, out of mind". New proverbs in this edition include "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," "Different strokes for different folks," and "Less is more," among many others.
An entertaining and informative guide to the sayings that have consistently added spice to the English language, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs is an indispensable source for all language lovers.

Praise for the First Edition:
"Scholarly, meticulous, and authoritative"--The Washington Post Book World. "A rich and absorbing collection....Simpson's introduction is succinct and helpful...[and his] system of cross-referencing is exemplary"--The Times Literary Supplement [London].

About this title

About the Author

About the Editors:
John Simpson is Co-Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Jennifer Speake is editor of many reference works, including A Dictionary of the Renaissance.

Reviews

Grade 9-12-- This new edition of the 1982 title contains over 1000 proverbs commonly used in 20th-century Britain, with 100 entries new to this edition. Arranged alphabetically by the first significant word, each one includes illustrative quotations, beginning with the earliest known use. Some entries include short explanatory notes or definitions of words as they were originally used. Cross references provide additional access as does the topical index, a new feature in this edition. The dictionary's value for American students may be limited by its scope, which requires that the proverb be used in modern Britain. American proverbs are included, however, when they have current British use, and, of course, a great many have crossed the Atlantic, if not in spoken American English then at least in literature classes. Inclusion of computer-related phrases that are not likely to be in older reference sources make this especially valuable. An effective tool for students and language lovers.
- Danita Nichols, New York Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198661770
• ISBN 13: 9780198661771
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 330
• Editor: Simpson John, Speake Jennifer