Overview : The most in-depth, comprehensive book of common idioms and phraseology available From proverbial expressions ("the best things in life are free") to idiomatic expressions ("the best of both worlds") to the all-too-familiar clichйs ("the best-case scenario"), idioms are not only embedded in our language, but they are also a colorful reflection of our American culture. McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms embraces the fullest breadth of these idioms in one comprehensive reference that is a must-have for both ESL learners and native speakers. Providing the most comprehensive treatment of American phraseology available, particularly in the area of verbal expressions, McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms features: * More than 24,000 entries * Concise definitions of each entry and sense, followed by one or two example sentences * Idiomatic phrases, proverbial expressions, and cliches * Guidance on the tone appropriate for a select phrase as well as its origin * Thorough treatment of variation, of particular help to ESL learners * A comprehensive Phrase-Finder Index