xviii, 524 pages ; 24 cm, A fun way to explore the nuances of the English language -- learn that a group of lions is called a pride; A group of whales, a pod; one of owls a parliament. Distinguish between a quack and a shyster. Learn that \"tabling a motion\" in a U.S. Court has an opposite meaning to the same term in England. This book picks up where other language dictionaries leave off: it includes common proverbs, a sampling of American English vs. British English, popular American expressions and slang, acronyms, and varied information on everything from wildlife to currency. In this new edition, the staples have been updated, and fresh chapters, including spelling, punctuation, and pronunciation; odd-ball English words, and even \"youthspeak,\" which deals with Twitterspeak and other online language. --Publisher's description, Previously published as: 21st century American English compendium, 3rd ed., 2006, Includes bibliographical references and index, American spoken here, English understood -- Proverbs, slogans, and aphorisms -- Popular American expressions -- Proverbial commentaries -- Similes and metaphors indicating extremes -- A pronounced difference -- American slang and colloquialisms -- Oddball American English words -- British vs. American English (and vice versa) -- Worldwide English -- Foreign words and phrases frequently used in English -- Common American legal terms -- Common American medical terms -- Business colloquialisms, slang, and acronyms -- Neologisms -- Acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms -- Acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms in the computer, internet, and communications industries -- From where do you hail? -- For the symbol minded -- Currencies of the world -- International measurements -- Baby talk -- The birds and the trees -- The colorful American language -- Color commentaries -- Language and laughter
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