NTC's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

June 15, 2000
This compact and well-formatted book features "more than 8500 contemporary slang and informal expressions." With 800 more entries than the previous edition, this third edition includes street slang, popular culture terms, and the telegraphic language peculiar to the Internet. Arranged alphabetically, entries include usage information, slang type or source, and additional information about whether the term is, e.g., objectionable, derogatory, or standard English. The entries for some "difficult or unpredictable" words may include pronunciation information. The alphabetic arrangement is augmented by a phrase-finder index and Go to/See also references. If you don't know the meaning of expressions such as "Baldwin" (a good-looking male), "Vietnik" (someone who opposed the Vietnam War), or "face time" (time spent face to face with someone), this book will explain. Some obvious terms such as "nervous Nellie" (any nervous person), "naw" (no), "what the heck" (it doesn't matter), and "square" (old-fashioned) seem out of place. Wordsmiths may find this resource more useful and entertaining than NTC's American Idioms Dictionary (LJ 5/15/00), also edited by Spears. Readers seeking etymological or historical information may wish to consult more comprehensive slang resources such as The Cassell Dictionary of Slang (LJ 5/1/99), The Oxford Dictionary of Slang (LJ 3/1/99), or Random House Historical Dictionary of Slang (LJ 11/15/97). In general, users will appreciate this work's ease of use and wealth of contemporary American terms. Libraries will want to purchase it for its currency, vibrancy of American language, and affordable price.--Elizabeth Connor, Medical Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Charleston

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2000
This is the perfect slang dictionary for young adults. Many of the 800 new expressions come from the Internet and submissions from college students. It is a dictionary in the strictest sense of the word. The 10,000 words are simply defined, with at least one usage example and the part of speech of the word. Some entries include pronunciation, but there is no indication of derivation or date of first use. The author has included terms that he believes are currently in frequent use.Because so much of slang is derived from crime and vice, it is not surprising that many of the slang words deal with criminals, drugs, alcohol, and sex--"fink, doobie," "kegger," "hook shop." The worst (ethnic) slang has been omitted, but there are a number of words with the warning "taboo" or "objectionable." Slang of the nineties is represented by examples such as "kevork "("to kill someone," based on the name for Dr. Jack Kevorkian), "SYSOP" ("system operator"), and a quarter page on keyboard "Smiley"s."The Cassell Dictionary of Slang" [RBB My 15 99] remains the most extensive one-volume slang dictionary, but "NTC's Dictionary" will be a popular purchase in public, high-school, and academic libraries. ((Reviewed July 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)