Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Allusions - Understand the creative and colorful references that add richness and vitality to our language

Webber Elizabeth. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Allusions - Understand the creative and colorful references that add richness and vitality to our language 1999 [pdf 609sc 597c. 10.72mb] 

• Discover the hidden meanings you've been missing. Offers clear, concise definitions for more than 900 allusions, from Achilles' heel and alpha male to Zen and Zuzu's petals.

• Increase your knowledge beyond the definition. Provides the term's history, pronunciation and contemporary examples of the word or phrase used in context.

• Learn the correct usage from the experts. Examples come from works by leading authors, including John Updike - Nat Hentoff - Cynthia Tucker - Joe Klein - Camille Paglia - Molly Ivins - Jane Bryant Quinn - Henry Louis Gates, Jr. - Anna Quindlen - Dave Barry - George Will

• Learn the terms that are used today. Features thousands of examples taken from today's top publications, including New York Times - The Atlantic Monthly - Life - Rolling Stone - Smithsonian - Vanity Fair - The Wall Street Journal

Fascinating for readers, language lovers, and ESL students.