Overview

"The first edition of Paul Dickson's ""Slang"" was selected by William Safire of ""The New York Times"" as one of the best language books of the year. Completely updated with more than twice as many entries, this latest volume truly encompasses the whole colorful range of current American slang. Divided into twenty-nine broad categories, these are the words that make American English as expressive as it is fascinating. From high schools to the halls of Congress, this invaluable resource reveals the way Americans speak and think today. Burgeoning from the web of new words on the Internet, the fluid language of the drug culture, or the brutal and ironic parlance of the Vietnam and Gulf wars, these verbal inventions have carved their places in the vernacular. Consider such recent coinages as digerati (digital equivalent of literati), spam (to deploy mass postings on the Internet), and phat (good, cool). Drawing from fields as diverse as aviation, the media, and real estate, Dickson has unearthed thousands of pithy expressions for the common denominators of American life, including: wrong side of the curtain (tourist or economy class on an airline), roboanchor (a TV anchor who reads but does not understand the news) and house on steroids (a small home that's bigger after major remodeling work). With each section prefaced by illuminating discussions of that particular culture's language, ""Slang"" goes well beyond the role of a traditional dictionary; it lays claim to a treasured place in any language-lover's library."

Full Product Details

9780671549190

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""Boston Herald American"" Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. ""Library Journal "" Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. ""Baton Rouge Advocate""Read ""Slang"" and you'll know what you're doing when you gronk out....For those who enjoy a little word-play it's ""deffest"" (the coolest). And for those with teenage children or sports-loving spouses, it may help you understand what it is they're talking about. ""Boston Herald American""Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. ""Cedar Rapids Gazette"" IowaIn a word, it's phat (good, cool). ""Courier Journal"" Louisville, KYWhat's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23. ""Hartford Courant""What do doctors say behind our backs? Paul Dickson, that vacuum of the vernacular, has collected the blunt, irreverent lingo of doctors, nurses and hospital technicians in the latest edition of his fascinating book ""Slang."" ""Library Journal""Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. ""San Antonio Express News""A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. ""Slang"" is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, ""da bomb."" ""Savannah News""GeorgiaA lively, amusing new survey of slanguage, neatly divided into twenty-nine broad categories...A worthwhile addition to any library. Minneapolis ""Star Tribune""An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went. Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.author of ""The New Dictionary of American Slang"" and editor of ""Roget's International Thesaurus""""The"" great American topical slang compendium. ""A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, 'da bomb.'"" -- San Antonio Express News ""Baton Rouge Advocate""Read ""Slang"" and you'll know what you're doing when you gronk out....For those who enjoy a little word-play it's ""deffest"" (the coolest). And for those with teenage children or sports-loving spouses, it may help you understand what it is they're talking about. ""Boston Herald American""Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. ""Cedar Rapids Gazette"" Iowa In a word, it's phat (good, cool). ""Courier Journal"" Louisville, KY What's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23. ""Hartford Courant""What do doctors say behind our backs? Paul Dickson, that vacuum of the vernacular, has collected the blunt, irreverent lingo of doctors, nurses and hospital technicians in the latest edition of his fascinating book ""Slang."" ""Library Journal""Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. ""San Antonio Express News""A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. ""Slang"" is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, ""da bomb."" ""Savannah News""Georgia A lively, amusing new survey of slanguage, neatly divided into twenty-nine broad categories...A worthwhile addition to any library. Minneapolis ""Star Tribune""An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went. Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.author of ""The New Dictionary of American Slang"" and editor of ""Roget's International Thesaurus"" ""The"" great American topical slang compendium."

Boston Herald American Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. Library Journal Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. Baton Rouge Advocate Read Slang and you'll know what you're doing when you gronk out....For those who enjoy a little word-play it's deffest (the coolest). And for those with teenage children or sports-loving spouses, it may help you understand what it is they're talking about. Boston Herald American Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. Cedar Rapids Gazette IowaIn a word, it's phat (good, cool). Courier Journal Louisville, KYWhat's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23. Hartford Courant What do doctors say behind our backs? Paul Dickson, that vacuum of the vernacular, has collected the blunt, irreverent lingo of doctors, nurses and hospital technicians in the latest edition of his fascinating book Slang. Library Journal Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. San Antonio Express News A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, da bomb. Savannah News GeorgiaA lively, amusing new survey of slanguage, neatly divided into twenty-nine broad categories...A worthwhile addition to any library. Minneapolis Star Tribune An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went. Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.author of The New Dictionary of American Slang and editor of Roget's International Thesaurus The great American topical slang compendium. A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, 'da bomb.' -- San Antonio Express News Baton Rouge Advocate Read Slang and you'll know what you're doing when you gronk out....For those who enjoy a little word-play it's deffest (the coolest). And for those with teenage children or sports-loving spouses, it may help you understand what it is they're talking about. Boston Herald American Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. Cedar Rapids Gazette Iowa In a word, it's phat (good, cool). Courier Journal Louisville, KY What's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23. Hartford Courant What do doctors say behind our backs? Paul Dickson, that vacuum of the vernacular, has collected the blunt, irreverent lingo of doctors, nurses and hospital technicians in the latest edition of his fascinating book Slang. Library Journal Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. San Antonio Express News A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, da bomb. Savannah News Georgia A lively, amusing new survey of slanguage, neatly divided into twenty-nine broad categories...A worthwhile addition to any library. Minneapolis Star Tribune An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went. Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.author of The New Dictionary of American Slang and editor of Roget's International Thesaurus The great American topical slang compendium.

A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, 'da bomb.' -- San Antonio Express News Cedar Rapids Gazette IowaIn a word, it's phat (good, cool). Library Journal Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. Minneapolis Star Tribune An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went. Boston Herald American Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. Savannah News GeorgiaA lively, amusing new survey of slanguage, neatly divided into twenty-nine broad categories...A worthwhile addition to any library. San Antonio Express News A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, da bomb. Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.author of The New Dictionary of American Slang and editor of Roget's International Thesaurus The great American topical slang compendium. Hartford Courant What do doctors say behind our backs? Paul Dickson, that vacuum of the vernacular, has collected the blunt, irreverent lingo of doctors, nurses and hospital technicians in the latest edition of his fascinating book Slang. Baton Rouge Advocate Read Slang and you'll know what you're doing when you gronk out....For those who enjoy a little word-play it's deffest (the coolest). And for those with teenage children or sports-loving spouses, it may help you understand what it is they're talking about. Courier Journal Louisville, KYWhat's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23. Library Journal Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. Boston Herald American Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. Courier Journal Louisville, KY What's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23. Baton Rouge Advocate Read Slang and you'll know what you're doing when you gronk out....For those who enjoy a little word-play it's deffest (the coolest). And for those with teenage children or sports-loving spouses, it may help you understand what it is they're talking about. Hartford Courant What do doctors say behind our backs? Paul Dickson, that vacuum of the vernacular, has collected the blunt, irreverent lingo of doctors, nurses and hospital technicians in the latest edition of his fascinating book Slang. Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.author of The New Dictionary of American Slang and editor of Roget's International Thesaurus The great American topical slang compendium. San Antonio Express News A wonderful compendium of Americanisms that help define us as a people. Slang is a lot of fun; or perhaps we should say, da bomb. Savannah News Georgia A lively, amusing new survey of slanguage, neatly divided into twenty-nine broad categories...A worthwhile addition to any library. Boston Herald American Like dictionarist Samuel Johnson, Paul Dickson is good at words, great at definitions. Minneapolis Star Tribune An easy book to pick up and get lost in and then wonder where the hours went. Library Journal Paul Dickson is a national treasure who deserves a wide audience. Cedar Rapids Gazette Iowa In a word, it's phat (good, cool).

Courier Journal Louisville, KYWhat's different about this slang dictionary is that it is organized by category -- there are twenty-nine in all -- not just alphabetically. If you're interested in emergency room slang, dive into Chapter 16. If you can't understand your teenager, check out Chapter 25. If you want to understand young people talking about sex, head for Chapter 23.

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available