A.P. Cowie

English level: Advanced Description A comprehensive dictionary dealing with general idiomatic expressions in current English. Key features Over 14,000 references recorded and described. Example sentences taken from a wide range of contemporary sources. Explanations of unusual features of grammar and usage. Simple grammar scheme showing sentence patterns. A detailed index of all nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs used in the idioms. A thorough cross-reference system both to other entries in the dictionary and to relevant entries in its companion volume, the Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

Semantics looks at what words are and how they have multiple meanings and forms. It discusses groupings of lexical items, approaches to analysing the semantic structure of words, and the relationship of meanings to syntactic structure. How can it be used? As a reference book and as a text on linguistics courses Who is it for? Teachers, linguistics students, or lay readers * A short, accessible introduction to this key area of language study by a respected expert in the field. * Describes some of the creative processes by which new senses develop for words and phrases. * Informs the reader about current thinking and acts as a guide for further enquiry.

Reflecting idiomatic English of the 1990s on phrasal verbs and fixed verbal expressions. Simple grammatical codes demonstrate the typical sentence patterns for each verb. The examples of usage are drawn from a wide range of contemporary sources.