Choice Review

Gathered in this compact volume are more than 2,000 idioms in current standard use for the Italian and English languages. Entries in each section are presented alphabetically by keyword and contain an expression, its meaning, a complete sentence to put the idiom into a conversational context, and a translation of the sentence. The aim of this second edition is to offer a fuller account of idiomatic expressions and accurately reflect everyday written and spoken Italian and American English. The specific sources and criteria for expressions included in the text are not identified, and since most expressions it lists can be found in a bilingual desk dictionary of either language, this book might seem to have limited appeal. However, it will be useful for students of either culture seeking to understand or translate a particular idiomatic expression. Such expressions are not always easy to find in comprehensive bilingual dictionaries, especially when an expression in one language relies on more than one keyword in the other, or when dozens of idioms are listed. An index at the end of each section provides a complete listing of keywords and phrases. Recommended for general and undergraduate readers. R. Hanson Muskingum College