<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Great
Review: British English A to Zed takes one back in time to a romantic age where an old people's home was called an almshouse, and a car battery was called an accumulator. Alas, this book is so outdated that it is not of much practical value to the average American who is headed to England. On the plus side, it is an enjoyable book full of rich expressions and makes good reading for those not in need of a practical reference book.
Rating: 
Summary: Rather outdated, but amusing
Review: British English A to Zed takes one back in time to a romantic age where an old people's home was called an almshouse, and a car battery was called an accumulator. Alas, this book is so outdated that it is not of much practical value to the average American who is headed to England. On the plus side, it is an enjoyable book full of rich expressions and makes good reading for those not in need of a practical reference book.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun!
Review: Even if you don't normally think dictionaries are fun, you will enjoy this one. It is laid out in a manner easy to understand and the entries include humor, both British and American in style. There are some things that are never explained to my full satisfaction, but overall I enjoyed it and will continue to have fun with it.
If you like BritComs, British movies or other Anglo-media, you need this book. Everything makes much more sense! If you enjoy English literature, this dictionary can help you understand things more fully, better than you ever could simply using contextual clues or a standard American dictionary.
I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: very interesting & amusing
Review: Having a bunch of British friends, I found this book to be interesting, informative and amusing. It really bridges the England/America language gap!
Rating:
Summary: A fun book
Review: It was Antony of a Poly-Thinkers board who reminded me of this book which we have had for over a decade and for anyone who loves the BBC, or PBS programs with a British flare it is a valuable asset. It is helpful when watching Monty Python, All Creatures Great and Small and programs pre 1990 to have the terms explained. The book is basically about the General differences between British and American English. On page 5 there are examples of different words used to define in British and American English: Blunt (of a pencil) in British English would be said dull in American English
engaged in British English would mean busy and in American English tied-up
motor car in British English would be car or automobile in American English
Petrol would be in British English what gas or gasoline would be in American English. On page 129 Americans who are used to hearing the term faggots as a derogatory term for a homosexual will learn that in country English it means a battered old woman or a cigarette. Fanny in American English refers to someone's (usually a woman's) buttocks. In British English it is much more interesting. There is a section on food names, botanical and zoological names and the whole Britain, Briton, British English elements as well. Cricket terms and connotative place-names and connotative names of periodicals i.e. The Daily Telegraph, Punch etc. What is Zed? On page 406: zed, n (noun) This explains the title! (letter) Z And now I am hungry for some bangers and mash.
Rating:
Summary: A fun book
Review: It was Antony of a Poly-Thinkers board who reminded me of this book which we have had for over a decade and for anyone who loves the BBC, or PBS programs with a British flare it is a valuable asset. It is helpful when watching Monty Python, All Creatures Great and Small and programs pre 1990 to have the terms explained. The book is basically about the General differences between British and American English. On page 5 there are examples of different words used to define in British and American English: Blunt (of a pencil) in British English would be said dull in American English
engaged in British English would mean busy and in American English tied-up
motor car in British English would be car or automobile in American English
Petrol would be in British English what gas or gasoline would be in American English. On page 129 Americans who are used to hearing the term faggots as a derogatory term for a homosexual will learn that in country English it means a battered old woman or a cigarette. Fanny in American English refers to someone's (usually a woman's) buttocks. In British English it is much more interesting. There is a section on food names, botanical and zoological names and the whole Britain, Briton, British English elements as well. Cricket terms and connotative place-names and connotative names of periodicals i.e. The Daily Telegraph, Punch etc. What is Zed? On page 406: zed, n (noun) This explains the title! (letter) Z And now I am hungry for some bangers and mash.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Not just useful but entertaining. I got this book in exasperation when I couldn't make sense of Peter O'Toole's autobiography, because of all the English slang. This dictionary saved the day.
<< 1 >>
| 
