Idioms dictionary probably refers to the most famous idiom dictionary, which is published by Cambridge Presses. Cambridge has three version of this dictionary: an American one, an international one and a third one which is a compilation of both. This third dictionary is the most comprehensive resource for idioms available. Idioms are expressions and sentences that are used as metaphors to
. describe a situation that does not correspond to the literal meaning of the expression. To use and understand idioms, the speaker and the interlocutor must have a common system of reference or have heard the idiom used in context before. Because idioms can be so tricky, it is best to look them up before using them. In many cases, the apparent meaning of an idiom is not the right one. The Cambridge Idioms Dictionary provides a detailed explanation of the meaning of each idiom along with a few examples. These examples allow readers to recognize the type of situations where this idiom is used much better. Even if it is possible to communicate without using idioms, these expressions definitely brings a lot more to a conversation. Some idioms help the speakers approach a situation from a humorous perspective or imply a subtle reference without having to clearly word it. Overall, idioms allow people to relate to each other and to different situations by using one same expression that works in several contexts. Using an idiom dictionary could be an excellent way for non-native speakers of English to give more personality to their texts or conversations by making references to popular idioms. Any writer should use one of these dictionaries to double-check the meaning of an idiom before using it, or perhaps to find a better one to replace what they had in mind. And an idiom dictionary is simply fun to browse through for someone who enjoys learning new expressions. More Reference Links: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ http://www.idiomsite.com/
