Bloomsbury Dictionary of Popular Phrases

A selective compendium of catch phrases, colloquialisms, format phrases, idioms, nicknames, sayings, slogans and stock phrases, current or recalled at the start of the 1990s. It explains what they mean, gives details (where possible) of their origins, and provides illustrative examples. It includes many phrases never documented before and contains extensive cross-references. The dictionary provides insights into contemporary life as reflected in the phrases that we use.