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English language -- Terms and phrases The American Dialect Society 
 Find current and archived lists of the Society's "Words of the Year" ("words which most colored the nation's lexicon, or otherwise dominated the national discourse," such as "truthiness"), discussion lists, and links to related sites. "Founded more than a century ago, the American Dialect Society is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by it." http://www.americandialect.org/ Topics: English Language, Regions of the World Last updated Jan 12, 2006 Banished Words List
This "annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness" began in 1976 as a tongue-in-cheek effort to publicize the "little-known" Lake Superior State University (LSSU); the list is now selected from worldwide contributions. The site features the current list; lists for previous years; a master, alphabetical, compilation of all the lists; a word submission form; and archived, printable posters for several years' lists. http://www.lssu.edu/banished/ Topics: Dictionaries, English Language Last updated Jan 21, 2004 Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
As any reference librarian knows, Brewer is the first place to look for the meaning and origin of phrase and fable. And although this edition is taken from the 1898 edition of the book, many of the phrases and fables we encounter today will appear in this classic source. The text is browsable or easily searched by keywords. The site is brought to the Web by Bartleby.com, a source for many titles of classic literature. http://www.bartleby.com/81/ Topics: Dictionaries, English Language, Language, Literary Movements and Periods, Literature & Books, Literature: Fiction, Religion Last updated Aug 19, 2003 ClichéSite.com
A list of "clichés, euphamisms, sayings and figures of speech complete with definitions and explanations." Searchable by keyword, and browsable by topic (including aging, business, children, death, hope, marriage, money, sex, and weather). http://www.clichesite.com/ Topics: English Language, Senior Health Last updated Jun 7, 2005 Cliche Finder
Anyone looking for "a metaphor characterized by its overuse" will be sure to enjoy this site. Cliches of all sorts are to be found here. Users may search by keyword, ask for a random ten cliches at a time, or check the links to other sites. http://www.westegg.com/cliche/ Topics: English Language Last updated Jan 21, 2004 Figures of Speech From Early Modern Literature
From a course in early modern literature, this page provides definitions of various figures of speech and examples from literature of the period. Categories include tropes, metaplasmic figures, as well as figures of omission, repetition, unusual word order, and thought. From a professor at Nipissing University, Ontario, Canada. http://www.nipissingu.ca/faculty/williams/figofspe.htm Topics: English Language Last updated Oct 8, 2003 The Phrase Finder
This site provides a searchable list of the "meanings and origins of over 2,000 English phrases and sayings." There is also a forum (searchable and archived) for discussing the meanings and derivation of English phrases. http://www.phrases.org.uk/ Topics: English Language Last updated May 22, 2004 The Word Detective
Online edition of the newspaper column of same name, written by Evan Morris, "answering readers' questions about words and language." Contains an archive of past columns, browsable by word or phrase. http://www.word-detective.com/ Topics: English Language, Language Last updated Aug 16, 2005 World Wide Words: Exploring the English Language
A "British viewpoint" to the uses of English and American slang. " World Wide Words is devoted to the English language - its history, quirks, curiosities and evolution." Short, and sometime extensive, answers to questions about words and phrases, such as fuddy-duddy and balderdash . The page also looks at new words that have not yet made it to the dictionaries, offers short articles on issues relating to language, and reviews on the new dictionaries and CD-ROMs. Use the index for a starting list of words already explored, or use the search engine. Updated weekly. From word lover and contributing writer for various Oxford dictionaries, Michael Quinion. http://www.worldwidewords.org/ Topics: Dictionaries, English Language, Literature & Books Last updated Jul 19, 2002 |
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