Richard A. Spears

TO THE USER Every language has phrases or sentences that cannot be understood literally. Even if you know the meanings of all the words in a phrase and understand the grammar completely, the meaning of the phrase may still be confusing. Many clichés, proverbs, slang phrases, phrasal verbs, and...

TO THE USER Why a Dictionary of This Type? Within the last thirty years, the restrictions on the kinds of vocabulary, visual imagery, and subject matter that can be presented to the public have been reduced considerably. Films, television (especially cable television), the stage, print media,...

TO THE USER Every language has phrases that cannot be understood literally. Even if you know the meanings of all the words in such a phrase and you understand the grammar completely, the total meaning of the phrase may still be confusing. English has many thousands of such idiomatic expressions....

THE LANGUAGE OF THE PEOPLE Etiquette has in the past tended to discourage the uttering, writing and studying of certain prohibited words and subjects- usually associated with sex and the bodily functions. For this reason, dictionaries of the standard language have for the most part been careful to...