A compendium of American proverbs, expressions, slang, colloquialisms; British-US glossary; abbreviations and acronyms and other various odds and ends. Widely used by non-native speakers and translators.

Everything the formal dictionaries don't tell about the odds and ends of the greatest language in the world-- American English

More than just a reference book, containing five dictionaries in one, this Compendium tells the story of American English in an enlightening and entertaining way. It will help you gain a whole new perspective on and a much deeper understanding of the most popular language in today's world. What are the most common American expressions? What's the difference between "tabling a motion" in the U.S. and in the U.K.? Can you distinguish between a tortilla and a tostada? If someone calls you a "Philadelphia lawyer," should you take it as a compliment? These are but a few examples of what this Compendium helps you figure out. Picking up where the common dictionaries leave off, it provides a quick reference to the American language.

A compendium of American proverbs, expressions, slang, colloquialisms; British-US glossary; abbreviations and acronyms; and other various odds and ends. Widely used by non-native speakers and translators.

The American English Compendium is a fun way to explore the nuances of the English language—learn that a group of lions is called a pride; a group of whales, a pod; and a group of owls, a parliament. Distinguish between a quack and a shyster. Learn that “tabling a motion” in a U.S. court has an opposite meaning from the same term in England. This book picks up where other language dictionaries leave off: it includes common proverbs, a sampling of American English versus British English, popular American expressions and slang, acronyms, and varied information on everything from wildlife to currency. In this new edition, the staples have been updated and fresh chapters have been added, with information on pronunciation, oddball English words, and even some of the new Internet terminology, including Twitterspeak.

Peter Martin recounts the patriotic fervor in the early American republic to produce a definitive national dictionary that would rival Samuel Johnson's 1755 Dictionary of the English Language. But what began as a cultural war of independence from Britain devolved into a battle among lexicographers, authors, scholars, and publishers, all vying for dictionary supremacy and shattering forever the dream of a unified American language.

Previously published as: 21st century American English compendium, 3rd ed., 2006.