Speak English Like an American (Book & Audio CD set)

Book Description

If you already speak English, but now would like to start speaking even better, then Speak English Like an American is for you. This book and CD set is designed to help native speakers of any language speak better English. Over 300 of the most-used American English idioms and phrases are presented in engaging dialogue, with plenty of usage examples, illustrations, and lots of exercises -- with convenient answer key -- to help you learn the material. The audio CD includes all of the dialogues. Ideal for self-study. A fun and effective way to improve your conversational English!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent choice and explanation of idioms.......2007-06-01

Being a non-native speaker who has lived in US for over 10 years, I've heard of many of the idioms in this book at work, on TV and in every day conversations. I didn't know what some of the idioms mean exactly until I read them in this book. I think the book is very useful for immigrants like me or simply anybody who would like to learn American English.

Homeowner.......2007-02-21

Excellent with a great many up-to-date expressions and words. CDs let you listen while doing other things. The book allows one to read what is on the CDs.

Unexpectable.......2007-01-10

I didn't expect i would have a great book to improve my English.
I'm in my home country now so I've got going on studying since one an half month . It has 25 lessons and I'm on 12th. I can't wait to skip for the next one because I wonder what's going to happen in subject. But I know I need to consume each lesson. The fiction is really set successfully.
I listen to its CD and my pronunciation has already improved.
I appreciate the edition and the author.
Nesibe
PS: sorry about my English if I've done something wrong:)

Speak English Like an American.......2007-01-10

One of the best idiom books out there, and I've tried quite a few. The stories are entertaining and most of the idioms are very common.

Excellent.......2006-06-02

I am really amazed of how much idioms and colloquial expressions you can learn just by listening to the CD. And guess what - these are idioms and phrases you REALLY hear everyday on the street, used by most people in everyday situations. Before, my English sounded a bit "artificial" and somehow forced. Now, the more I used the idioms I learnt here, the more natural and even friendly I sound to the native speakers.
Buy it, it's totally cheap for what it does!

The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & Idioms

Average customer rating:

Popular and practical
Very Good
Are you tired of speaking in childish English?!!
This book is WAY COOL!
A wonderful book for learning current American slang!

The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & Idioms
David Burke
Manufacturer: Slangman Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 2
The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 3 (Slangman Guide to)
The Slangman Guide to Biz Speak 1 (Slangman Guides to Biz Speak)
The Slangman Guide to Dirty English (Slangman Guide to)
The Slangman Guide to Biz Speak 2 (Slangman Guides to Biz Speak) (Slangman Guides to Biz Speak)

ASIN: 1891888080

Book Description

Have fun and learn "real" American conversational English!

Our books contain the most common slang and idioms used every day by Americans. Look at this example:

English taught in schools: "I dislike this. It is very difficult."

Real American English: "What a pain!"

Both of them mean the same thing, but "Real English" is the way Americans speak. With our books, you will learn American English conversation using slang and idioms naturally through dialogues, pictures, quizzes, games, etc. You'll be talking like a native "in no time" (very quickly)!

This book is full of slang and idioms used every day by Americans - and it is very easy to use. You will be more confidant and have fun using English.

This book includes expressions dealing with: Parties, Shopping, Movies, the Airport, Restaurants, Health, and more.

See why so many ESL students around the world love The Slangman Guide to Street Speak series!

This book was written by American native and slang expert Slangman David Burke, author of more than 24 books on slang and idioms.

There are no "dirty" or impolite expressions in this book. For the best results, purchase the audio CDs or cassettes.

Customer Reviews:

Popular and practical.......2007-05-22

This series fills a vital niche in the ESL world where too many teachers and professors continue to act as if English were a static language stuck in the past. I've had several young college students, often in IEP programs, approach me for advice on how to learn "real" slang and modern idioms. The Slangman Guide works - although it will not help students on TOEFL exams or academic essays.
Yet we, and I speak as an ESL instructor at a private university, need to recognize the diverse desires and needs of our students. While I would never use this book as a textbook for a wide variety of reasons, the casual and hip tone encourages, even cajoles, many young students into studying more and living better inside the English language. Better for the 15-25 year old crowd than the older adult population, David Burke deserves far more respect than he has been given in the ESL world.
Good job!

Very Good.......2006-03-21

It's a very good book.It teach you not only the words but it teach you how to use words. You can learn the correct grammar, the accent and most important the context.
Advice: Buy also the CDs( not included with the book) or you have to order again !!!!!!

Are you tired of speaking in childish English?!! .......2004-08-25

I would like thank Slangman David Burke for his wonderful books. Actually, this series helped me a lot to understand American culture and daily conversations , especially with its comical pictures.May be the main attracting feature of this book which also has differentiated it from other similar idiom books is its nice division of slangs into some daily topics with pictorial format.
Now when I listen to radio or watch TV, I feel like hearing something new I couldn't have heard before.

Ali
Montreal,Canada

This book is WAY COOL!.......2004-08-16

I recommend this book "BIG TIME"!! It's the most useful book I have found on American slang and idioms. I have spent a lot of money of other books to learn how Americans REALLY speak (what they teach us in school is not the real language). They are more like dictionaries, and use old terms that Americans don't use any more. David Burke, who calls himself "Slangman," has created a series of books that are really great for ESL students who are
trying to learn American English. I showed Street Speak 1 to an American friend and he said that the words in the books are very popular. In the book, Slangman gives many examples of the everyday slang words and expressions using dialogues in context. One of the BEST things about it is that he also shows you the dialogue on the next page rewritten as it would actually be spoken by a native!! This is so important because American pronunciation is very strange to non-native speakers. For example, instead of "We are going to have a blast at the party," the rewritten dialogue shows "W'r gonna have a blast 'it the pardy!" The audio CD follows the books exactly which I thought was really important. It's the only way to speak like a native. The exercises in the book were also very useful. It only takes about an hour to finish a chapter and after doing the exercises in the book, you really remember everything. The exercises were really fun too and the illustrations are very funny. They help you to remember the words. It's just a really fun book. I'm "HAVING A BLAST!"

A wonderful book for learning current American slang!.......2000-04-27

I purchased this book so that I could help one of my high-intermediate students understand American slang. I have been nothing but pleased with this book and have used it with several of my students. THE GOOD: Each chapter has about 10 new slang words (or phrases) to really concentrate on. The pictures are hilarious and help the students to relax and have fun as they get started on each chapter. After introducing the words, the book then incorporates them into a delightful dialogue. Each chapter also has a section entitled "A closer look at 'real speak'." This is my favorite feature and helps students to understand how American slang is really produced. For example, it explains when a "T" is really pronounced like a "D" (or flapped). The rest of the chapter then has TONS of practice for the students in all four skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. THE BAD: There really isn't too much to say here. If anything I would say that the book doesn't cover a lot of slang words. There are only 10 chapters, so students really only learn somewhere around 100 new words and phrases, but they really learn those 100! The only other bad thing that I have noticed is that my more advanced students seem to pick up the slang more quickly and then find the remaining practice to be redundant. But hey, it could be worse! OVERALL: A wonderful book of current and useful American slang that I would recommend to anyone - teacher, tutor or student! I would suggest that you buy the cassette tapes if you are going to use this book as a self-study guide.

101 American English Idioms: Understanding and Speaking English Like an American

Average customer rating:

101 American English Idioms
Get the cassette
101 American English Idioms: Understanding ...
A great book for ESL children
Effective and Fun!

101 American English Idioms: Understanding and Speaking English Like an American
Harry Collis , and Mario Russo
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

101 American English Proverbs (101... Language)
101 American Customs : Understanding Language and Culture Through Common Practices
Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts: A Detailed Guide to Real-Life Conversation and Small Talk
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101 American Superstitions : Understanding Language and Culture through Superstitions

ASIN: 0844254460

Customer Reviews:

101 American English Idioms.......2007-01-09

Very very helpful in editing and writing!

Blessings to Amazon!

Get the cassette.......2006-05-07

Play the cassette whenever possible for hundreds times, for example before bedtime and during sleeping.

You learn by listening. It's the best way to learn idioms, for me.

You don't need to read the book often but only listening to the recording of this book. Highly recommend it.

I also learnt "don't talk with your month full' from this book. Language plus culture.

101 American English Idioms: Understanding ..........2005-09-07

This book it really helps a lot people like me that have English as a second language.
It is now easier for me to communicate with american people.

A great book for ESL children.......2004-09-20

This book includes 101 popular American English idioms along with an illustration for each that children will find amusing. Note that the illustrations are purely for amusement rather than providing visual explanations of the idiom. Some of the idioms are more popular than others but overall a good selection has been made. Each idiom is explained in detail and with example sentences and a larger context.

Older readers will want to spend their money on a more comprehensive idiom dictionary, but this is perfect for children and those who enjoy reading to them. My only criticism would be that the idioms are presented in context and the examples are written at a higher level of English than what the overall genre seems to suggest would be appropriate. This book could be used with older/more advanced learners because of this, but the publisher seems to have aimed a little wide.

Effective and Fun!.......2004-07-28

I use 101 American English Idioms with my students. The idioms are common, and I feel the illustrations add a generous element of fun to a very effective book. Because my students need to understand spoken English, I also use Whaddaya Say, 2nd Edition, to help them accurately hear natural spoken English.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Average customer rating:

Be sure of what you are buying!
Useful Reference for Improving Language Skills
A Real Catch!
Very helpful!

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Richard A. Spears
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions (Mcgraw-Hill Esl References)
NTC's Dictionary of Everyday American English Expressions
Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts: A Detailed Guide to Real-Life Conversation and Small Talk
American Slang Dictionary, 4E. (Mcgraw-Hill Esl References)
101 American English Idioms: Understanding and Speaking English Like an American

ASIN: 0071469346

Book Description

Learn the language of Nebraska . . .and 49 other states

With more entries than any other reference of its kind, McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs shows you how American English is spoken today. You will find commonly used phrasal verbs, idiomatic expressions, proverbial expressions, and clichés. The dictionary contains more than 24,000 entries, each defined and followed by one or two example sentences. It also includes a Phrase-Finder Index with more than 60,000 entries.

Download Description

Language is the life blood of a culture, and to be interested in culture is in some sense to be interested in language, in the shapes and sounds of words, in the history of reading, writing, and speech, in the endless variety of dialects and slangs, in the incessant creativity of the human mind as it reaches out to others. It is surprising then that until now there has been no major one-volume reference devoted to the most widely dispersed and influential language of our time: the English language. A language-lover's dream, The Oxford Companion to the English Language is a thousand-page cornucopia covering virtually every aspect of the English language as well as language in general. The range of topics is remarkable, offering a goldmine of information on writing and speech (including entries on grammar, literary terms, linguistics, rhetoric, and style) as well as on such wider issues as sexist language, bilingual education, child language acquisition, and the history of English. There are biographies of Shakespeare, Noah Webster, Noam Chomsky, James Joyce, and many others who have influenced the shape or study of the language; extended articles on everything from psycholinguistics to sign language to tragedy; coverage of every nation in which a significant part of the population speaks English as well as virtually every regional dialect and pidgin (from Gullah and Scouse to Cockney and Tok Pisin). In addition, the Companion provides bibliographies for the larger entries, generous cross-referencing, etymologies for headwords, a chronology of English from Roman times to 1990, and an index of people who appear in entries or bibliographies. And like all Oxford Companions, this volume is packed with delightful surprises. We learn, for instance, that the first Professor of Rhetoric at Harvard later became President (John Quincy Adams); that "slogan" originally meant "war cry"; that the keyboard arrangement QWERTY became popular not because it was efficient but the opposite (it slows down the fingers and keeps them from jamming the keys); that "mbenzi" is Swahili for "rich person" (i.e., one who owns a Mercedes Benz); and that in Scotland, "to dree yir ain weird" means "to follow your own star." From Scrabble to Websters to TESOL to Gibraltar, the thirty-five hundred entries here offer more information on a wider variety of topics than any other reference on the English language. Featuring the work of nearly a hundred scholars from around the world, this unique volume is the ideal shelf-mate to The Oxford Companion to English Literature. It will captivate everyone who loves language.

Customer Reviews:

Be sure of what you are buying!.......2007-10-06

The book is a comprehensive collection of idioms and phrasal verbs.
The "Download Description" section above is actually for "The Oxford Companion to the English Language", a completely different 1000-page reference on the English language. The two books deal with quite different aspects of English.

Useful Reference for Improving Language Skills.......2007-01-04

This book is one of the most comprehensive I've ever seen when it comes to Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. It gives not only the explanation about the listed terms, but also includes usage examples. At the end of the book, there is a reference index which helps to find any expression contained in there. If you know at least one word from the phrase you are looking for, then you may find it listed and then you just go to the proper page for the necessary details. If you are a language learner or simply a language lover, it is a book that you should have on your shelf.

A Real Catch!.......2006-09-20

Petite enough to fit in purse or pocket, it gives more than 3,000 American-English idioms with their meanings. "Cold as Ice" and many other American idioms are composed of simple words. A cool reference guide for ESL students, foreign travelers in the US, and anybody else. They are listed alphabetically, ID'd according to their part of speech, and categorized as formal, informal, slang, or literary. Every expression is defined and supplemented with an illustrative sentence.

Very helpful!.......2006-07-25

As Brazilian is hard to express myself in english sometimes, so this book is helping me how to use and to understand american idioms and phrasal verbs. I recommend!

Drek!: The Real Yiddish Your Bubbe Never Taught You

Average customer rating:

Drek!
contents
entertaining read
sheer enjoyment
Sorry, but I didn't like it at all!

Drek!: The Real Yiddish Your Bubbe Never Taught You
Yetta Emmes
Manufacturer: Plume
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its Moods (P.S.)
Yiddish with Dick and Jane
Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Yiddish
If You Can't Say Anything Nice, Say It In Yiddish: Say It In Yiddish
How to Talk Jewish

ASIN: 0452278996

Book Description

One doesn't have to be Jewish to recognize the words that have made their way into every fold of popular language: Chutzpah, Mensch, Tokhes, Mishmash, Nudge, Shtick, Schmaltzy, Schlep, Icky, and so on. Then there are phrases whose meaning and syntax are borrowed from Yiddish: "bite your tongue", "drop dead", "enough already", and "excuse the expression". This hilarious, concise guide includes chapters on the Basic Descriptions of People (the good, the bad, the ugly, and the goofy), the Fine Art of Cursing, Juicy Words and Phrases, Exclamations and Exasperations, and the Fine Art of Blessing.

Customer Reviews:

Drek!.......2007-10-01

I had hoped for something more than this skinny, undersized volume. to spin an old gag, "Life is a drek sandwich. Sometimes you get more bread... sometimes you get more drek." Not too much drek in this sandwich. For instance I wanted a definition of "Yutz." I had to go to Google to find it. And a couple of other terms that have more than one meaning left those alternatives unlisted.
But it's better than no sandwich at all. And I found other volumes I might invesetigate later, if I find myself in need of such diversity.
In brief, I got the Drek I paid for, but not much else.

contents.......2007-07-29

What a fun book!! Easy to remember words with the translations right next to them. Even some history on the language of Yiddish. Very enjoyable.

entertaining read.......2007-02-16

I bought this as a guide for my boyfriend, who is technically Jewish but doesn't really practice, as a fun way to learn something more about the culture he comes from as well as to just have some fun with language. This book was easy to read and digest, the phonetic guide was very helpful, and it was entertaining.

sheer enjoyment.......2006-08-09

the phonetic spellings help enormously, and i found myself sounding out familiar phrases from my childhood. a treasure of ethnic communication to be protected and savored

Sorry, but I didn't like it at all!.......2003-12-05

Sorry, but I didn't like it at all!

Speak English Like an American: for Native Russian Speakers (Book & Audio CD set)

Average customer rating:

Quite useful, but still needs some editing
fun to read
Laugh and also learn English
Enrich your knowledge of English !!!!!

Speak English Like an American: for Native Russian Speakers (Book & Audio CD set)
Amy Gillett
Manufacturer: Language Success Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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English for Russian Speakers: Learn to Speak and Understand English as a Second Language with Pimsleur Language Programs (Pimsleur Language Program)
Learn English the Fast and Fun Way for Russian Speakers, Book and Cassettes Package
The New Oxford Picture Dictionary English/Russian: English Russian Edition (Oxford American English)
Everyday English-Russian Conversations
Word by Word Picture Dictionary English/Russian Edition

ASIN: 0972530002

Book Description

This book and CD set is designed to help Russians achieve greater fluency in American English. The set contains over 300 of today's most commonly used idioms and phrases. Idioms are presented in 25 lively dialogues which tell the entertaining story of an American family. The set is appropriate for intermediate to advanced students of English of all ages. The book comes with an audio CD of all of the dialogues. Contains dozens of helpful exercises to reinforce the material, with convenient answer key for self-study.

Customer Reviews:

Quite useful, but still needs some editing.......2004-06-06

****

This is a fine book for classroom use with intermediate-to-advanced level Russian speakers who are acquiring English. A good selection of idiomatic American expressions is presented and illustrated through an engaging 25-chapter story involving a single family (the Johnsons); the specific situations used-- from the family's daily life, work, school and recreation-- are generally clearly delineated and are often instructive for the students in both linguistic and cultural contexts. The various exercises which accompany the texts are varied and competently assembled, and their completion probably gives the students an important sense an accomplishment (however ephemeral) that rote memorization does not by itself provide.

Some editing still needs to be done: there are too many instances of everyday expressions (which most students already understand) being offered up as "idioms"; conversely, there are also several occasions in which odd/unusual constructions go unglossed. While these are not great impediments, the CD which accompanies the book has several more serious problems: the voice of one principal character (Bob, the father) is poorly enunciated throughout [and also happens to bear an unnerving resemblance to that of Vladimir Pozner...]; and several other characters simply miss the appropriate stresses in a number of words and phrases-- as though they were reading the texts aloud for the first time. The instructor is left to explain that, well, what he/she would *actually* say in this situation sounds more like this: "..." One gets the impression that the roles were voiced by a convenient selection of local volunteers-- whereas hiring real actors for the roles could have made a significant difference.

That said, I recommend this book-- and look forward to a second volume (as well as to the remedial tinkering with the first). My students enjoyed it for the most part, and no doubt learned a great deal from the adventures of the Johnson family.

fun to read.......2003-06-14

This book is useful and fun. It teaches American expressions by telling funny stories, and it has amusing pictures.

Laugh and also learn English.......2003-04-27

Easy to understand and written with a great sense of humor, this book is an essential aid to improving English understanding and speech. Learn how to correctly use language of daily life (at an interview, on the job or at the store). The additional CD teaches proper pronunciation. A great help for new immigrants and also for those who want to increase their knowledge of English idioms.

Enrich your knowledge of English !!!!!.......2003-04-18

I found this book very useful and helpful; great CD too. One can learn new phrases and listen to the correct prononciation at the same time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve his/her English skills.

Average customer rating:

The Dictionary of American Slang
The best book of American Slang available
Ends: a definition
I doubt this dictionary
One Indispensible Reference

The Dictionary of American Slang
Robert L. Chapman
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
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McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions (Mcgraw-Hill Esl References)

ASIN: 006270107X
Release Date: 1998-02-17

Amazon.com

Dollars to doughnuts, your reference shelf lacks a good slang dictionary, and that's a fine how-de-do. Whether you're a stuffy writer looking to gussy up your prose, a poindexter who thinks studying dictionaries is the cat's pajamas, or a muttonheaded fogey hoping to get a clue, Robert Chapman's Dictionary of American Slang fills the bill. Containing more than 19,000 terms of American slang, this lexicon represents all periods of American history, from phrases out of the 1880s, such as carrot-top for "redhead," to current '90s jargon such as carjacking. It covers the widely acceptable and the taboo, slang from cowboys and railroad workers and slang from rock & rollers, corporate America, and the gay community. It includes obsolete phrases such as canoeing for "making-out," and up-to-date terms relating to technology, such as listserv for "electronic mail list." Each item features pronunciation guides, word origins, and usage examples, and words that are derogatory or impolite are clearly labeled as such. A righteous reference and a lulu of a browser, the Dictionary of American Slangis an elegantly produced and scholarly rigorous linguistic knockout. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Originally published in 1960, The Dictionary of American Slang is widely regarded as the standard in its field. Expanded and completely updated, this third edition contains more than 19,000 terms of representing the variety and vigor of American slang, from the most widely acceptable to the taboo, and covering all periods of American history -- from the gypsies, soldiers, railroad workers and cowboys of the 19th century to more modern spawning grounds such as the rock 'n' roll world, the corporate sector, African-Americans, gays and lesbians and many more.

Intimately connected with the fringes of our culture and responding with vigilance to new developments in technology, slang is the fastest changing part of our language. This new edition considers the subcultures that have emerged in the wake of the past decade's technological and communication advances, including the advent of computer usage at home and in the workplace and the explosion of the Internet and the World Wide Web. With more than 2,000 new terms, the Lexicon of the '90s is recorded here in definitive detail.

Like previous editions, this edition features pronunciation guides, word origins, examples of appropriate usage as well as a helpful highlighting system that lets you know which terms should be used with caution, and never in polite company. Both as important archive of the way America is really talking and a lot of fun to read,The Dictionary of American Slang will prove to be an invaluable companion in keeping up with the dauntingly jargon-filled, quickly evolving language of today.

Customer Reviews:

The Dictionary of American Slang.......2007-01-10

I had seen this book at a friends and wanted to own it. It is the type of book that you can open at any page and find an interesting subject. It is also helpful for researching the origins of phrases and words that have long been used without really knowing how they originated. It is a worthwhile book to have at your bedside.

The best book of American Slang available.......2006-03-15

I've been using Chapman's slang dictionary for years and I definitely couldn't do without it. It's comprehensive, contains sample sentences, and spans a wide area from black slang and youth slang to business, politics, computers, you name it. This book has almost never failed. By now, a lot of expressions and words can also be found in the best English dictionary around: Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, with much more current examples of usage. But looking for words in Chapmans book also takes some getting used to, but once you've figured it out you're all set. For example: "to be in the driver's seat" cannot be found under "driver" or "seat", but under "in the ...", which is awkward. Although there's a cross-reference under "driver's seat" to "in the driver's seat", in a whole lot of other cases there's no such reference. And "All over the ballpark" is listed under "all over ...", not "ballpark". For this reason, you sometimes have to take each word of a longer expression and go on a wild goose chase to find the whole expression in the book. Yet, once you've gotten the hang of it, it's ok. Still, great dictionary of slang.

Ends: a definition.......2005-01-25

Ends: Money.

1960: C.L. Cooper(Scene 62) His woman is making some ends for him.

1964: B. Jackson: Swim Like Me(106) My ends was pretty low.

1968: Andrews & Dickens: Big House(15) I'll get you a piece, on a short term lease/And you don't have to put up no ends.

1970: Horman & Fox: Drug Awareness(466) Ends--money.

1971: Goines: Dopefiend(143) If Porky can support that oilburner Smokey got, we should have no problem taking care of ours, plus making a few ends.

This is from Volume 1 of the Random House dictionary of American Slang by J.E. Lighter, a 3 volume set that was not completed due to Random House's decision to pull the plug on the project after the first two were released. Thus making this book a neccessity for anyone using that set (or wishing to avoid it altogther).

I doubt this dictionary.......2004-11-26

I have a "New Dictionary of American Slang" written by this author in 1986. I didn't like the book from day one, but at the time I couldn't find a different one. No example in the dictionary is from the author himself. This is something I don't like at all. Moreover, many words are not included in the dictionary. I'm now looking for a better slang dictionary definitely NOT BY THIS AUTHOR.

One Indispensible Reference.......2003-05-29

If you're into words, slang, and idioms like I am, then you probably already own a reference book like this and realize that you need at least 2-3 similar books to find the real nuances of meaning that you want.

Book Description

With more than 7,000 up-to-date phrases, this dictionary covers situations from talking to a doctor to ordering a meal, and helps learners communicate personal feelings, and make small talk.

Customer Reviews:

extremely helpful dictionary.......2005-11-10

This is an extremely useful dictionary for an English as Second Language learner like me that has okay vocabulary and speaking ability but often doesn't know exactly how to express myself under some contexts. The dictionary cover mundane topics like "placing a telephone order for pizza", but I don't see that as drawbacks. Quite on the contrary, the book becomes so useful right because the topics and approriate expressions are very handy and can be applied everyday!

not really.......2005-04-03

i found this book honestly not very useful, i mean, the context, and the purpose of this book is not clear, if they were trying to teach us how to speak in some basic places, they had to teach by writing a vocabulary list for each situation, not sentences, you can't apply them everytime in a daily life, but some works, i'm okay with that,but generally i perefer a vocabulary builder for that,...

Good tool for increasing your spoken expressions!.......2003-08-05

I found this book very useful for someone who wants to increase his conversational skills in a short period. You can find lots of expressions organized by topic. It is helpful in the sense that there are words with which you were acquainted at some point, and this book serves to refresh your memory of some forgotten expressions. It's just like entering data to your brain. This book is not intended to entertain you; it is rather in the form of a dictionary, and reading a dictionary is no fun. But if your ultimate goal is to broaden your expressions, this book is an excellent tool.

I dare to speak English because this book........2001-06-18

If you have the basic knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary, this book is definitely for you. The first complex phrase that I dared to speak in front of the native English speaker was from this book. The questions that I asked frequently in the public were from this book. The topics that we talked a lot were also from this book. Even I learned some very useful phrases from this book for flirting with the people who I like and turning the people who I dislike down in chat-room. This is a must-have book for the learner of English.

An excellent book for learning Amercian spoken English.......2000-03-28

I strongly recommend this book for those who (especially, international students, businessmen and tourists) would like to understand American spoken English and express themselves using American spoken English. All the everyday expressions are arranged according to real situation. You can learn everyday expressions very effectively by reading and using this excellent book!

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions (Mcgraw-Hill Esl References)

Average customer rating:

Excellent acquisition!

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions (Mcgraw-Hill Esl References)
Richard A. Spears
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
NTC's Dictionary of Everyday American English Expressions
American Slang Dictionary, 4E. (Mcgraw-Hill Esl References)
Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts: A Detailed Guide to Real-Life Conversation and Small Talk
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

ASIN: 0071461078

Book Description

More bling for the buck! The #1 guide to American slang is now bigger, more up-to-date, and easier to use

This new edition of McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions offers complete definitions of more than 12,000 slang and informal expressions from various sources, ranging from golden oldies such as . . . golden oldie, to recent coinages like shizzle (gangsta), jonx (Wall Street), and ping (the Internet). Each entry is followed by examples illustrating how an expression is used in everyday conversation and, where necessary, International Phonetic Alphabet pronunciations are given, as well as cautionary notes for crude, inflammatory, or taboo expressions.

This edition also features a fascinating introduction on “What is Slang?,” a Thematic Index that cross-references expressions by standard terms--such as Angry, Drunk, Food, Good-bye, Mess-up, Money, and Stupidity--and a Hidden Word Index that lets you identify and locate even partially remembered expressions and phrases.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent acquisition!.......2007-05-18

The book arrived in excellent conditions and on time. Thank you for your service and help. I will use it for my graduate courses.

Street Talk-1: How to Speak and Understand American Slang

Average customer rating:

NEW!! UPDATED VERSION NOW AVAILABLE!
best for people as us
Street Talk 1 is the best
Street Talk 1 is the best
An excellent tool to grasp american slangs!

Street Talk-1: How to Speak and Understand American Slang
David Burke
Manufacturer: Optima Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Street Talk -2-: Slang Used by Teens, Rappers, Surfers, & Popular American Television Shows
Street Talk-3: The Best of American Idioms
Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts: A Detailed Guide to Real-Life Conversation and Small Talk
101 American English Idioms: Understanding and Speaking English Like an American
The Slangman Guide to Street Speak 1: The Complete Course in American Slang & Idioms

ASIN: 1879440008

Book Description

Street Talk 1 contains more than 1,150 commonly used American slang terms and expressions...the words and phrases heard everyday that don't always make sense. If you are confused by American English and would like to speak and understand like a native, you need to read this book!

Street Talk 1 is the first self-teaching book on American slang that is written for the non-native speaker. Readers will learn the "inside" language that is heard in everyday conversations, at the movies, on the radio, and seen in books, magazines, and advertisements. This often mysterious language of slang and idioms is clearly explained through dialogues, pronunciation tips, word games, and illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

NEW!! UPDATED VERSION NOW AVAILABLE!.......2005-04-07

***from David Burke, author of the "old" Street Talk series***

Thank you all very much for your interest in my products! Please note that "Street Talk 1" is now out of print, but I now have a NEW updated version called "The Slangman Guide to STREET SPEAK 1," published by SLANGMAN PUBLISHING. Please do an amazon.com search for it and you'll be able to search through the entire book!

Happy reading!

"Slangman" David Burke

best for people as us.......2002-01-13

surely you can find many interesting slang which are quite different from the former dicionaries that you used to use.
i am a chinese man,as china's entry into the wto,i have to learn english well,and this book helps me to master the true english and how to make boring leaning into a pleasant work.that sounds excellent ,you can have a try!

Street Talk 1 is the best.......2001-11-30

Studying English as a second language for nearly 20 years, I found Street Talk I may be the best reference of it kind I have ever seen. Often times, one copy of this kind of book is just a revised copy of another. However, from this Street Talk I, you can learn someting fresh and not readily available from elsewhere. I particularly appreciate the author gathers "talks" directly from ordinary people, rather than copy some common slang or idioms from other books. That is why this Street Talk I distingushes itself from others. Most non-English-speaking people would agree that this is a must-read reference if they really like to learn how to talk just like Americans. I would highly recommend this book to my friends and any one who would like to speak better American English.

Street Talk 1 is the best.......2001-11-30

Studying English as a second language for nearly 20 years, I found Street Talk I may be the best reference of it kind I have ever seen. Often times, one copy of this kind of book is just a revised copy of another. However, from this Street Talk I, you can learn someting fresh and not readily available from elsewhere. I particularly appreciate the author gathers "talks" directly from ordinary people, rather than copy some common slang or idioms from other books. That is why this Street Talk I distingushes itself from others. Most non-English-speaking people would agree that this is a must-read reference if they really like to learn to talk just like Americans. I would highly recommend this book to my friends and any one who would like to speak better American English.

An excellent tool to grasp american slangs!.......2000-03-12

If you are a foreigner in USA who want to communicate more effectively with american people, you should have this book. It teaches you slangs and idioms in an easier and faster way rather than just lists them as a dictionary does. You not only learned the meaning of these weired words in English but also learned how to speak them out with the right accent and under the appropriate condition.

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