Rating: 
Summary: The best idiom reference I have found
Review: This book has more idioms and better definitions than any of the other four idiom references I've purchased. It also goes into origins more than the other references.One of the reviewers complained about this reference and suggested that potential buyers should look else ware. Maybe they should have mentioned where to look because I haven't found a better reference.
Rating:
Summary: Great for lovers of language!!!
Review: This fascinating reference provides historical information about the derivation of many idioms we hear everyday. Often the meaning has changed in surprising ways over the years, and the author's exploration of alternative possible origins for these phrases is like a mystery novel for language lovers! While it is easy to look up a particular idiom, the book also makes for fun light reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong on meanings, weak on histories
Review: This idiom dictionary is comprehensive, beautifully written, and well-organized. All of the idioms are listed alphabetically with clearly written explanations and examples. In addition, with many of the idioms, Ammer gives a brief (almost too brief, in my opinion) explanation of the origin of the idiom. My one complaint with this dictionary is that it is weighted toward older idioms (i.e. those related to the folk tales, drama, novels, the King James Bible, and the lifestyles of Medieval-Renaissance period in western Europe). This is understandable since many American idioms come from that place and time period, but The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms is definitely not the book to get for a comprehensive post-1950s listing of Americans idioms. Overall, this is a great resource for American idioms and a must for anyone creating ESL books and materials like myself.
Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive and easy to use; weighted toward "old" idioms
Review: This idiom dictionary is comprehensive, beautifully written, and well-organized. All of the idioms are listed alphabetically with clearly written explanations and examples. In addition, with many of the idioms, Ammer gives a brief (almost too brief, in my opinion) explanation of the origin of the idiom. My one complaint with this dictionary is that it is weighted toward older idioms (i.e. those related to the folk tales, drama, novels, the King James Bible, and the lifestyles of Medieval-Renaissance period in western Europe). This is understandable since many American idioms come from that place and time period, but The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms is definitely not the book to get for a comprehensive post-1950s listing of Americans idioms. Overall, this is a great resource for American idioms and a must for anyone creating ESL books and materials like myself.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE BUY THIS REALLY GOOD BOOK!
Review: This is a great reference book. I spent nine entire years writing this book. You know what? Chicken Butt. I mean....hi.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing for native English speakers
Review: This is probably a great book for people learning English as a second language. But if English is your first language, it's very doubtful that you need it. I don't consider myself very knowledgeable about idioms, yet I could scarcely find more than a few that I didn't already know the meaning of. To an average American, 90 percent of this is useless. One thing I did learn was what "chickens come home to roost" means -- but that's surely not enough knowledge to justify the price of the book.
| 
