A Dictionary of Allusions

by Penelope Stock, Andrew Delahunty, Penny Stock, et al.

Book Overview

Allusions are a colorful extension of the English Language, drawing on our collective knowledge of literature, mythology, and The Bible give us a literary shorthand for describing people, places, and events.
This completely new reference work explains the meanings of the allusions in use in modern English, from Abaddon to Zorro, Tartarus to Tarzan, and Rubens to Rambo. It is based on an extensive reading program that has identified the most commonly-used...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198606826
• ISBN13: 9780198606826
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 468 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.6" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

waking our language

The day the Oxford Dictionary of Allusions arrived, I unwrapped it, poured a cup of coffee, and took it and my cup of coffee out to the patio where I opened it randomly. The first entry I saw was Worzel Gummidge. Now, I can use that. I am working on a character sketch of a locally known celeb of sorts, and have been searching for just the right word... the picture to put in the reader's mind. And there it is. Perfect. Never heard of it before. Another entry that caught my eye as I flipped through the pages was Mrs. Malaprop. I have been teased for years. "Turn off the cat and put out the light", I said once when the family was going out the door. Nobody ever told me I was making malapropisms. I love our language, but sometimes it gets stale, repetitious . We become lazy, use the same old expressions, and forget the countless colorful idioms that can dance in our imaginations. You cannot put this book down. You will find old favorite words you've forgotten and many new ones you may never have known. Your heart will be happier, your conversations more inspiring. I'm going to get another cup of coffee and go back to painting the Forth Bridge. If you want to know what that means, buy this book and look it up.

Limited

The Oxford Dictionary of Allusions is limited in content. I would have preferred something more complete.