Shape up your English with thousands of idioms

Whether you are a learner of English who is having difficulty understanding expressions in everyday speech or a native speaker who wants to expand your written or spoken range, you need a comprehensive reference for idioms, common phrases, and sayings of American English. McGraw-Hill's American Idioms Dictionary shows you the ropes of English and helps you:

• Expand your English-speaking abilities with these 14,000-plus expressions, proverbs, and common sayings, listed alphabetically
• Use American idioms correctly by following the many helpful examples
• Easily find the right phrase by one of its key words

Some examples of the colorful English language, as spoken by Americans:

at peace relaxed and happy

every trick in the book every deceptive method known

Johnny-on-the-spot someone who is in the right place at the right time

make a killing to have a great success, especially in making money

nine-to-five job a job with normal daytime hours

scream bloody murder to complain bitterly

take a powder to leave; to leave town