Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings: Second Edition - Softcover

Titelman, Gregory

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0375705848 ISBN 13: 9780375705847

Publisher: Random House Reference, 2000

Synopsis

Arranged in an A to Z format for ease of use, this collection of proverbs and everyday expressions is newly revised with new entries and updated citations. Comprehensive and entertaining, it includes both biblical proverbs and everyday expressions used in America today, with historical usage and up-to-the-minute examples from the media. This treasure trove of language includes sayings from "Let sleeping dogs lie" (Chaucer's Troilus and Chriseyde, c. 1374) to "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" (Vanderbilt University football coach Red Sanders, 1953), and many others that have enjoyed popular use in America over the centuries.

Over 1,500 proverbs and 10,000 illustrative citations--including 200
     sayings new to this edition

Cross-referencing to all relative proverbs and sayings

Extensive subject index for easy reference

Thorough bibliography of proverb collections and works cited in the book

Cross-referencing to all relative proverbs and sayings

Extensive subject index for easy reference

Thorough bibliography of proverb collections and works cited in the book

About this title

Review

"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" begins the Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings, but the book means no harm. It just wants you to understand where this phrase comes from and what it actually denotes: "give up all hope, you that enter Hell," from Dante's Divine Comedy). The entry then explains the context for the quote, and lists various other literary examples and derivatives, such as Kurt Vonnegut's "Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Don't Wear Green Shirts!" And so it goes for the other 1,600 phrases and their 10,000 examples, covering centuries of proverbs and usage.

The dictionary is handily organized in alphabetical format, so you can look up "Pyrrhic victory" when you come across it in your reading and once again can't remember what it means. Likewise, when you're writing about caution and vaguely recall that there's some appropriate phrase about cats, you can flip open to the Cs and find "The cat in gloves catches no mice."

What other advantages does this proverb reference have? It's a remarkable elucidator of American idiom for people learning English; it's a fine source of evocative phrases for students, journalists, and speech writers; and etymology enthusiasts can check out the origins of "enough is enough" and "even a worm will turn." Furthermore, this volume is unsurpassable as a browser. While stuck on hold with the phone company, or waiting nervously for your blind date to arrive, you can fill the odd idle moments with the wisdom of the ages. "Give me your tired, your poor," said Emma Lazarus. "Give me where to stand, and I will move the earth," said Archimedes. "Give him enough rope and he'll hang himself," said Thomas Fuller. Or "Give me a break!" as said by just about everyone. If "wisdom is better than rubies," and "knowledge is power," then the Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings is priceless. --Stephanie Gold

About the Author

Gregory Titelman, a native of Ukraine, has lived in America since 1977. He has taught English as a second language in the New York City school system and at Yeshiva University.

Edition details

• Publisher: Random House Reference
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0375705848
• ISBN 13: 9780375705847
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 496