SCHOLASTIC DICTIONARY OF IDIOMS

Explanations of the meaning and derivation (where known) of over 600 common expressions (``chew the fat,'' ``mad as a wet hen,'' ``straighten up and fly right,'' etc.). Terban (Funny You Should Ask, 1992, etc.) traces many back to Latin and Greek sayings, while others come from more obscure sources. Each entry opens with the idiom in bold type, a sentence in which it is used in correct context, the current meaning of the phrase, and its more literal origins. This fascinating work is not without its frustrations; too often the author attributes a phrase to a writer without identifying him or her, or leaves out the title of the work in which it is found. The actual usage is rarely quoted. Cross references include page numbers only some of the time; famous uses of a particular expression are cited inconsistently. An extensive key word index is very helpful; the alphabetical one is nearly useless, since the entries are already arranged alphabetically. Nonetheless, this unusual work will intrigue children and may whet their appetites for other explorations of language. (b&w illustrations, indexes) (Nonfiction. 8+)