Product Description

This guide to idioms provides the student with an opportunity to bring color to their speech every day. Included are idioms from Native American and African American speech as well as the Bible, Aesop, and Shakespeare.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #120289 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Humor and illustrations add spice to over 600 definitions and origins of common idiomatic phrases. Not to let the cat out of the bag, but this one's it's a barrel of monkeys. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-7. Terban explains the meanings and origins (if known) of more than 600 idioms and proverbs in this intriguing book. Although no sources are provided, Terban has obviously done a great deal of research. In some cases, such as "open a can of worms," he discusses the meaning of an idiom without really explaining its origin and bizarre originality. In others, like "face the music," he provides more than one possible explanation. Each page includes one lightly comical line drawing of a child expressing feelings such as quizzical, annoyed, amused, or distressed. Not only is this a good resource for teachers who discuss idioms in the classroom but it also has some appeal for browsers, though readers who come looking for the logic behind the English language may leave thinking it "curiouser and curiouser." Carolyn Phelan

Customer Reviews

A Masterpiece!
Finally, a book that explains idioms in a way my son can understand-clearly and unambiguously. Because he has an autistic spectrum disorder, he tends to be very literal. He has read this book from cover to cover and is starting to incorporate idioms, usually correctly, into conversation. In addition, the author presents the history (if known) of each idiom, something children(mine) who enjoy factoids love.

This book should be required reading for speech therapists, teachers, the language-delayed, and those learning English as a second language.

Excellent book to aid kids understand grown-up talk!
My husband and I often unconsciously speak in idioms to our kids. Now, when we say things like "don't burn your bridges"; "I'm tickled pink"; or "snug as a bug in a rug", and the kids can find out what we are talking about!

I LUV THIS BOOK!!!!
Back in around 97 or 98, I was crazy about these two guys in a movie and started setting up funny situations in a roleplay where one guy would use idioms and the other would take them all literally. I was sooo happy to find this book to use as an idiom reference!!! I tried a couple of other idiom books, but this one is by far the best! ^_^ So warm and friendly, and I luv the cartoon kids who host the thing :) I am totally hooked on this book! ^_^ Buy it, BUY IT!!!