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Defining itself as ". . .a major international publisher, committed to the widest possible dissemination of scholarship and learning..." Oxford University Press, OUP, is a leading conduit of educational books, journals, and reference volumes. As a department of the University of Oxford, an English 'uni ' noted for academic excellence, OUP publishes an astonishing number of academic and research journals.

Oxford's rich intellectual history adds a certain cachet to the Oxford Dictionary of Slang. Somehow you just know this is not urbandictionary dot com with 'zit-faced ', 'snockered ', 'pot-head ' 'geeks ' defining 'jive-ass ' slang.



The Dictionary is perhaps more thesaurus than dictionary. The content is arranged thematically rather than alphabetically as a true dictionary would be.

The Dictionary is divided into twelve major categories, most with numerous sub-categories within them. The Behavior, Attitudes, and Emotions category might have the most concepts to explore:

- Indifference,
- Laughter and Amusement,
- Trouble,
- Composure, and
- Sincerity and Insincerity

...are just a few examples of the finer division of the nearly fifty sub-categories presented in just this one category. The entire book contains over one hundred and seventy sub-categories spread through the twelve major categories.



If I told you I wanted to 'cobber up ' with you, would you think me 'goopy ' and give me a 'bonk '..?? Or would 'the penny begin to drop ' if I told you I just wanted to be your friend..??

Those questions are constructed from slang found in the Dictionary. It is somewhat awkward to try to construct whole thoughts and sentences from the entries in the book. You would also never really know if you have got the meaning 'right'.

It is much more useful to interpret words or sayings found elsewhere. Given the number of British, Australian, and other nationality writers on Epinions and the web in general, this is a great resource for deciphering the odd word or phrase found in your daily reading, paper or pixel.



Each subcategory is arranged chronologically, by order of when a slang word or phrase was first found in print. As the author notes in the brief introduction, that usually means the word had already been in use for some time in the local language. Each word entry gives a brief definition for each word and a simple citation of its usage follows.

The whole book has a definite 'British' tone to it and has a large amount of British and Australian slang. But do not worry, much of it is American slang also.



The Bottom Line
Given the number of British, Australian, and writers of other nationalities found on Epinions and the web in general, The Oxford Dictionary of Slang is a great resource for deciphering the odd word or phrase found in your daily reading.

I hope I have helped you 'suss out ' how 'chuffed ' I am with this book and perhaps inspired you to 'glom on to ' this one yourself.


Note: Words in the review above that are 'single-quoted and italicized ' were found in this reference dictionary.



Other 'reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic reviews' by sleeper54


Certified 'lean-n-mean' review.


Recommended: Yes