English is particularly rich in idioms - those modes of expression peculiar to a language which frequently defy logical and grammatical rules, but without which both speech and writing would lose much of their vitality and colour.

The Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms is a compact guide through this fascinating
linguistic maze. It not only gives the meanings of idiomatic expressions in simple form, but gives also example sentences and phrases showing the idioms as they are actually used, and where appropriate explains the background and the etymological origins.
For the longer phrases, too, all the various keywords are here fully cross-referenced, making the Wordsworth Dictionary of Idioms the perfect handbook to the variety and humour of the English tongue.